Slash Singer Myles Kennedy Talks Death, Depression, God

August 3, 2018 By Ryan J Downey

Myles Kennedy was just four years old when his father passed away from appendicitis, a treatable ailment that went undiagnosed. A devout Christian Scientist, Kennedy’s father had refused medical care, in accordance with his religious beliefs. Kennedy’s father died in 1974, the Year of the Tiger, which is the third year in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The singer, whose soulful voice has drawn favorable comparisons to the late Jeff Buckley, explores themes of love and loss related... Read more

Hip-Hop Helped Shape KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

April 24, 2018 By Ryan J Downey

Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach and I spoke about how the “conscious” era of ’90s hip-hop helped broaden our respective worlds. (Listen to that conversation in full here.) What follows is a sampling (by no means thorough but certainly representative and fun) of some of the groups we spoke about. This music speaks in soulful, forceful, thoughtful, and poetic terms about reconciliation, self-realization, spirituality, race, class, and justice. I found many of the things rap artists had to say on these... Read more

Jesse Leach of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on His Evolving Faith

April 19, 2018 By Ryan J Downey

“A God of forgiveness and you’re going to burn for all eternity?” – Jesse Leach The evolving spiritual philosophy of Jesse Leach is all over his lyrics. The Killswitch Engage vocalist is someone who, in a genre sometimes defined by its fantastical imagery, looks inward to the larger mystery of the esoteric and the spiritual. He’s never preached, he’s never proselytized, but he’s never shied away from revealing his struggles with the Christian faith, as someone committed to justice, progressive... Read more

Matty Mullins Opens Up About Mental Health And Jesus

April 16, 2018 By Ryan J Downey

‘I remember looking at myself in the mirror and hearing a voice say: You’re worthless. End it.’ – Matty Mullins When talking about anxiety and suicidal thoughts, Matty Mullins doesn’t mince words. The Memphis May Fire singer gets to play music for a living. He’s married to his high school sweetheart. He has tons of fans, good friends, and a burgeoning small business. Yet despite these gifts, Matty Mullins was hit with a supernatural reminder that fear, panic, and chronic... Read more

The Knights of Wren Day

December 26, 2017 By Ryan J Downey

It’s Wren Day today! Wren Day is a fascinating Irish tradition with pre-Christian roots. There’s no connection to Star Wars. I’m just calling them the Knights of Wren (Day) because I love Star Wars. And puns. The Latin Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Stephen, named for the first Christian martyr, on December 26. (The Eastern Church celebrates it the following day.) As Europeans and Anlgophiles know, it’s Boxing Day today, as well. So what’s Wren Day? It’s still celebrated... Read more

How ‘LAST JEDI’ Echoes Corinthians

December 21, 2017 By Ryan J Downey

Some of the fans freaking out about The Last Jedi should be mindful of Master Yoda. Picture this. Not that long from now, in this very galaxy, Christ the Messiah returns to Earth. Taking on physical form, this time as a female, Christ stands atop a river of molten lava. There, the Sermon on the Mount is delivered anew. The reaction on social media is swift. “What? Jesus can only walk on water, not hot lava! And I don’t care that you’re... Read more

SOLDIERS FOR JESUS Are Bikers With Bibles

December 21, 2017 By Ryan J Downey

Bikers and Bibles aren’t generally thought about in the same sentence. But guys like Slo-Roll are changing that. Patrick “Slo-Roll” McKinney joined a recent episode of No-Prize From God. Slo-Roll is a National Officer with the Soldiers for Jesus MC. He preaches at a small biker church in North Carolina and is a retired Army veteran who spent most of his career stationed at Fort Bragg. He’s the author of the book Unchained Rebel: An Outlaw Biker’s Toughest Fight,... Read more

Welcome to No-Prize from God

October 31, 2017 By Ryan J Downey

No-Prize from God. Conversations about belief, unbelief, and everything between. My name is Ryan J. Downey. I’ve worked for MTV News, MSBNC, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard, as reporter, writer, and producer. I’ve contributed to Huffington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle. My writing and production credits include work with Marvel Entertainment, Lionsgate, Sony, Warner Bros., Universal, Hearst Digital, Verizon go90, and IFC. I’ve written over a dozen cover stories for publications like subcultural tastemakers Alternative Press, Metal Maniacs, and Rockpile. I’m... Read more