Michael Gerard Knott, born on December 22, 1962, in Aurora, Illinois, was an American singer-songwriter known for his contributions to alternative rock and Christian rock. He emerged from Southern California's Christian punk scene. His 1987 album Shaded Pain challenged church morality and abusive church leaders, and faced controversy leading to it being banned. Knott's band, Aunt Bettys, later faced controversy for the profane lyrics and artwork on their self-titled album showing Jesus as a bartender. Knott released several solo albums, including Rocket and a Bomb (1994), Strip Cycle (1995), and Life of David (2001). He founded the independent record label Blonde Vinyl Records in 1991 and co-founded Tooth and Nail Records with Brandon Ebel. In 2010, he released PTSD by L.S. Underground, a concept album addressing post-traumatic stress disorder. Knott passed away on March 12, 2024.
