Vocalist Amy Lee said in the interview printed in the April 18th issue of Entertainment Weekly, "There are people that are hell-bent on the idea that we're a Christian band in disguise, and that we have some secret message. We have no spiritual affiliation with this music. It's simply about life experience." Lee adds, "I guarantee that if the Christian bookstore owners listened to some of those songs, they wouldn't sell the CD."

Evanescence’s Ben Moody added, "I'm not ashamed of my spiritual beliefs, but I in no way incorporate them into this band. We're actually high on the Christian charts, and I'm like, What the f--k are we even doing there?"

This has caused a stir among the Christian music community and Wind-Up Records has responded by asking Christian music retailers to pull the Evanescence album from their shelves and for Christian radio stations to pull the single, “Bring Me To Life” from their play lists.   (Remember Wind-Up is also home to Christian leaning rock acts Creed and 12 Stones). 

The Christian Music Central website (CMCentral.com) has posted excerpts from a letter written by Wind-Up Records chairman Alan Meltzer, which he reportedly sent to Christian retailers and radio stations last week. 

"Despite having roots within the Christian community prior to the release of Fallen," said Meltzer in the letter, "recent statements by band members have made it abundantly clear that Evanescence is a secular band, and as such view their music as entertainment. No more, no less. As such we strongly feel that they no longer belong in Christian retail outlets. Despite the spiritual underpinning that has ignited interest and excitement in the Christian religious community, the band is now opposed to promoting or supporting any religious agenda. The decision to release Fallen into the Christian market was made subsequent to discussions with and approval by the artist. Obviously the band has had a change in their perspective, as well as changes within the band itself as relates to new band members. Wind-up deeply regrets this situation.

"I have no issues or problems with the band not wanting to promote a religious agenda. That is their opinion. How it has been handled is a separate issue. That being said, I do have a problem with misrepresenting the artist to the Christian community. That is not and has never been the intent of Wind-Up or the band. Nevertheless, it is quite apparent that the landscape has now changed...I apologize for what has become an unfortunate and embarrassing situation."

According to CMCentral, Wind-Up has asked that that Christian stores pull all of the band's products by June 30.

Preview and purchase music from Evanescence