Michael Knott decides to go for a darker sound and changes the name of his band from Lifesavers to Lifesavers Underground (L.S.U.). This is THE classic Knott album. Michael has gone on to bigger and better things since this, but this is the place where he stepped out of the constraints of CCM music and began doing what he wanted to. Shaded Pain is dark, honest and realistic about the struggles that Christians face in life. This type of brutal reality was unheard of in Christian music at the time it came out. Shaded Pain changed all of that as it influenced countless bands to be real with thier lives – not just give cookie-cutter ansswers for all of life’s problems.The music was also a huge leap forward for Michael, as Shaded Pain found him going loud and intense, as well as modern and current. Classic album, although still fairly obscure.
“Lonely Boy” is a song about bass player Brian Doidge, and Knott even painted him in the re-issue artwork paintings.
Ojo Taylor recently told a story about how the distinct background vocals in the intro to “Bye Bye Colour” are actually Terry Scott Taylor. While recording the album, Doug Doyle found a digital sample of vocals that Knott liked and wanted to use in the song. They debated how to use and credit a digital sample, so they just used it without telling anyone. Until 2024, Terry had no idea that they had used it.
According to Knott in an interview in 2020, he got into painting when he needed artwork for Shaded Pain. He drew what came to be known as “Bunge Boy” – because he is all bunged up. Knott pronounced it with no long e on the end. This was before the bungie cord was called the bungie cord.
Other information:
Re-released in 1993 on Metro One Records with a slightly different cover and extra artwork.
| Label: | Frontline Records |
| Format: | Vinyl, Cassette |
| Released: | 1987 |
| Genre: | Gothic / Alternative Rock |
| Producer: | Chris Brigandi |
| Re-Issue: | CD, Cassette; 1993 Metro One Records |
| Michael Knott: | Vocals and 3 keyboard parts; cover art and all paintings |
| Brian Doidge: | Less Paul gold top, Ibanez 12 string acoustic, Yamaha 6 string acoustic, and a black bass |
| Kevin Lee: | Drums and cymbals |
| Bridgett Knott: | Vocals on “Jordan River” & “Lonely Boy” |
| Terry Scott Taylor: | Digitally Sampled Vocals on “Bye Bye Colour” |
| 01) | Jordan River | 3:55 | Knott | |
| 02) | Bye Bye Colour | 4:02 | Knott | |
| 03) | Die Baby Die | 2:25 | Knott | |
| 04) | Lonely Boy | 3:49 | Knott, Doidge | |
| 05) | Our Time has Come | 3:37 | Knott | |
| 06) | Tether to Tassel | 3:36 | Knott | |
| 07) | I’m Torn | 3:52 | Knott | |
| 08) | Plague of Flies | 1:27 | Knott, Doidge, Lee | |
| 09) | More to Life | 3:39 | Knott, Doidge | |
| 10) | Shaded Pain | 4:10 | Knott | Re-recorded as “A Shade of Pain” on PTSD |
Other Images
Lyrics and Credits
To read the complete lyrics and credits, please see this document. If anything is incorrect, please let me know.
Live Video
L.S.Underground – Bye Bye Colour (live)
Listen/Purchase
Related Paintings
Michael Knott often liked to paint paintings that related to or referenced his music. These are seven that he painted related to this album: “Albums Redux: LS Underground – American Made,” “LSU Shaded Pain Band,” “Jordan River triptych,” “Die Baby Die,” “Bunge Boy Series – Jordan River Blue,” “Bunge Boy Series – Shaded Pain,” and “Shaded Pain” (click to enlarge).
Michael Knott also created a series of paintings called “Shaded Pain Circus” that had at least 8 entries: “Shaded Pain Circus,” “Jumbo, Elephants, Music, and Clowns,” “Jumbo, Stars, Clowns, Moons, Balloons, and Horses,” “Giraffes,” “Hippos,” “Jumbo, Lion, Tiger, and Snake,” and “Colourphobia” (click to enlarge):
This album rocks!!
This is my favorite Lifesavors/Lifesavers/LSU album. At the time it came out it was light years ahead of anything Christian bands were doing. This is a “must have” for any Michael Knott/Lifesavers fan.
What a great record. “More to Life” is the perfect song, but there’s so many great tracks. So good.
Masterpiece from start to finish. Not just one of the best Christian albums I’ve ever heard, but one of the best alternative albums ever, period. I was a latecomer to L.S.U. (I discovered them retroactively through name checks by Jason Martin of Starflyer 59 and Knott’s T&N release, Strip Cycle). Misunderstood by so many in mainstream CCM, Shaded Pain is the epitome of the term “pioneering.” Yes, the music and lyrics are dark (at least on the surface). Those willing to dig a little deeper will find a lot of hope and Christian themes in Knott’s words.
This one of my first bands in the 80’s that i loved. I remember this music was banned in Christian circles. Me being a assembly of God goer, i really fell in love with this sound.
Its sad to hear that Knotts has passed in march 2024 but his sound will forever be in my mind.
Rest in God’s Grace Michael.