Katy Perry Sang Background Vocals for Christian Metal Band P.O.D. But the Band Denies Further Participation From the Pop Star: ‘This Is Revisionist History’
You know Katy Perry today as the chart-topping pop star who introduced us all to hits like “Teenage Dream,” “I Kissed a Girl,” and “Roar,” among many others. But did you know she got her start as a Christian singer/songwriter and was featured in a Christian metal band?
Don’t worry, many of us didn’t since she went under the name Katy Hudson before becoming famous. The revelation is making its way around fans and media alike, causing confusion. P.O.D. sets everyone straight, saying Perry was “NEVER a backup singer.”
Perry did background vocals for P.O.D. before becoming a chart-topping sensation
Before Perry, real name Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, was the pop sensation that took the industry by storm, she attempted to break into the music industry with a gospel album and featured as a background vocalist for one of P.O.D.’s singles titled “Goodbye for Now.”
P.O.D. (also known as Payable On Death) is first and foremost a Christian band.
While it may not be easy to visualize the Katy Perry we all know and love today (hello, “I Kissed a Girl,” anyone?) as a Christian artist, it makes sense that she would have started in that genre.
According to Biography, Perry’s parents were both very conservative pastors, going as far as refusing to let her listen to rock or popular music. In fact, they quote her saying, “The only things I was allowed to listen to were the Sister Act 1 and 2 soundtracks.”
Giving background on P.O.D. specifically, they were a Christian metal band formed in 1992. Band members included Sonny Sandoval who was the vocalist, Wuv Bernardo the drummer and rhythm guitarist, Marcos Curiel the lead guitarist, and Traa Daniels the bassist.
The band was primarily known for its fascinating combination of drastically different genres in their music, including heavy metal, rap, reggae, Latin music, and punk.
She was not only featured in one of their hit singles but performed with them on Jay Leno
Not only have we had the pleasure of hearing Perry being featured on P.O.D.’s single, but we also have the video proof of the then 22-year-old collaborating on “Goodbye for Now” AND performing the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Remember, however, that this was before we were introduced to today’s Perry and her insane fashion choices.
Once videos of the pop star’s featured music video and Jay Leno performance started resurfacing, many people were quick to call Perry the metal band’s backup singer. The band has stood firm on denying those claims.
“This is revisionist history and disrespectful to our girl Katy who was NEVER a backup singer,” the band said in a statement to Rolling Stones. “We invited her to participate on our record as she was and is still is one of the few pop artists with strong musicianship roots.”
They added, “She paid her dues not as a backup singer but in a van going town to town. This is the problem with music journalism today … Shabby reporting. No research. No history.”
P.O.D. now versus Katy Perry’s current music career
Although she got one of her starts with P.O.D., Perry’s career has since skyrocketed beyond their success and into superstardom. Today, P.O.D. is still considered ‘active’ in the industry after more than 25 years, releasing their 10th album in 2018 titled Circles.
However, they’re not nearly as active or as popular as they were at the beginning of their career in the ’90s and early 2000s. Overall, their music career has earned them one award win (G.M.A. Dove Awards) and seven nominations.
As for Perry, she recently released her new album Smile in 2020, followed by four E.P.’s (extended plays): Camp Katy, Cosmic Energy, Empowered, and Scorpio S.Z.N.
She has also gone home with 20 award wins and 70 nominations in her music career so far, including three Blimp Awards, two V.M.A.’s, and four People Choice Awards. In the last year alone, she earned a Billboard Latin Music Award for Crossover Artist of the Year and an iHeartRadio Music Award for Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song of the Year.
