Founding member of Weapons of God, Steve has been playing guitar for over 38 years. He can play the bass guitar and has played for several local bands in his hometown area in the past. As of October of 2022, Steve is now on the praise and worship team at The Ark Church in Miamisburg, OH,
under the Pastorship of Ron Campbell: ( Drummer for Messenger and Monsterous ). His guitar influences are Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Darryl "Dimebag" Abbott, Eddie Van Halen, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith.
Bringing the fire and electricity to the band, Steve hopes to reach out to those who are lost, hurting, misguided or just need a refresher in Christ.
"The songs that are written are the trials and testimonies of what myself, Leon, and Ed have gone through in our lives. I pray that we reach those that are going through the hurt, the pain, the guilt, the suffering, the drug addicts, the alcoholics and bring healing and blessings where need through Jesus' name. If God can turn around beat up, misfit guys like us, rearrange us and change us for the better, God alone can do the same for you."
Leon has been playing guitar and writing music for over 30 years. He started writing original metal music about a year after picking up the guitar and began singing in the first band he was ever in because they never could find a singer. He has played in venues around the tri-state area for almost as long as he has been playing guitar.
Leon's early influences were Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Doors among others and later on thrash metal and hardcore bands. He likes heavy, aggressive music and that’s what he prefers to play and write. He also plays bass and dabbles in all kinds of experimental electronic music. He doesn't like to be put into a specific genre because that limits the possibilities. Leon says, "I'm willing to play whatever anyone in the band writes or wants to play as long as we do it for the right reasons."
Leon started listening to Christian rock and metal even before he started playing and has always been drawn to music
that has a more positive message.
"God put me in this band for a reason and I believe we are doing what we can to submit to his higher purpose for us and hope to reach
as many people as possible with the message of
salvation through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross."
With over 42 years playing experience on the Bass and the musical influences of Steve Harris, John Entwistle, Geezer Butler and Ian Hill to name a few, Ed has been a great asset to the band since he joined Weapons of God in Aug of 2018.
Most recently Ed played locally with Four Star Revival and Next To Nowhere for several years. “Rockin' for the Rock is where it’s at! Using my talents for Christ is not only fun, but very important to me”
Born and raised in Northern Kentucky, Jay Hurt was introduced to music at a very early age. Coming from a long line of family musicians, it was inevitable that he too would become a musician as well.
“It’s in my blood.” As Jay would say.
At age 5 his dad started teaching him how to play guitar. Jay stuck to it and worked diligently learning everything he could possibly learn on the guitar mostly by ear but with some help from others along the way. His earliest influences were mostly many of his own family members but also many popular acts such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly,
Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and The Temptations.
At age 10 and still working hard on guitar, a childhood friend introduced Jay to the world of drums that would ultimately become a game changer.
The guitar eventually became a secondary instrument because of Jay’s new interest. Playing the drums felt more natural to him and he stayed with it. While with help from other drummers that he knew and learning by ear listening to various popular artists, Jay stumbled upon hard rock music and immediately knew that he wanted to be a drummer in a rock band.
Although he was raised on Motown, Oldies and Classic Country,
Jay preferred to listen to groups like Deep Purple,
Kiss, Van Halen, Scorpions, Queensryche and Rush.
Earlier influenced by drummers like Alex Van Halen and Tommy Lee,
Jay later became a fan of more progressive style
drummers like Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy.
Jay has been a Christian all of his life and has served as a deacon and a musician in several churches throughout the Cincinnati Tri State area. Jay has played with many Contemporary Christian groups and he is also an accomplished singer and multi-instrumentalist as well.
Most recently Jay had been working with numerous local bands doing bar gigs to keep his “chops” up, all the while still looking for something else. Not satisfied with playing in bar bands and becoming tired and burned out, Jay began a new search that would eventually
lead him into a new direction and back on track.
Joining Weapons of God, Jay believes that he has found a new home with a rock solid foundation. Jay hopes that his creativity and talents added to the band will be an inspiration for one and all. But most importantly,
he wants to make God proud.
