In 1983 Dale and Troy Thompson started a band named Matrix in Louisville, Kentucky. Matrix recorded four self-financed demos which were distributed at live shows and through the mail via Contemporary Christian Music Magazine(CCM) and various fanzines of the day. Their metal ministry continued to grow in the Christian rock and metal underground but it was not until 1986 that they managed to break into the mainstream. Opening for Daniel Band in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Matrix caught the eye of the representatives of Refuge Records who were forming their subsidiary label Pure Metal. In the latter part of 1986, there were two events that occurred simultaneously that would ultimately be a major turning point for the band. It had been nearly six months since Refuge Records expressed serious interest in the band. In an effort to expedite an impending offer from Refuge, Dale and Troy mailed to the Refuge office all of the hundreds of letters from fans all across the United States. Additionally amid the growing popularity of the Ohio based secular Matrix, the decision was made to change the name Matrix to Bride. Shortly thereafter, Bride became the second band to be signed to the Refuge Records subsidiary label Pure Metal. In October 1986, Bride began work on the first album of a three album recording contract. The three albums recorded for Refuge/Pure Metal were, Show No Mercy, Live To Die, and Silence Is Madness.

In late 1990, Star Song Communications purchased Pure Metal Records. Bride believed that Star Song, a powerful force in the industry, could take them in directions never before possible. Not all of the former Pure Metal acts were retained. But Bride was immediately signed to a one album contract to produce a Best of... project with two bonus tracks, one of which, "Everybody Knows My Name", would rapidly rise to the top of both the CCM and Pure Rock Report metal charts and occupy that #1 position for several months. Needless to say, Star Song went on to sign Bride to a multi-album contract. While their first Star Song release entitled "Best of Bride, End of the Age", signals the end of a chapter in Bride's history, it more importantly signals a new beginning in Bride's future. The chart topping success of the new song, "Everybody Knows My Name", is positive proof that Bride can successfully change musical styles from a heavy, almost thrash metal sound, to a more commercial hard rock sound. Bride went on to record 3 albums with Star Song - Kinetic Faith, Snakes In The Playground, and Scarecrow Messiah. Star Song even compiled another "best of" from these three albums and released it in 1995 under the name Shotgun Wedding. The 11 songs on Shotgun Wedding were the #1 radio hits that Bride had. During the four years that Bride worked with Star Song, they managed to obtain 4 DOVE awards, 11 #1 radio singles, and numerous awards from SESAC, their performing rights organization. (See Awards and Accolades for a complete list) Once Bride's contract with Star Song was over, they decided to sign a one ablum deal with a new independent label called Rugged Records. With this label, Bride recorded, what they felt, was their best album to date - Drop. Being a smaller label, Rugged did not have the capabilities to exploit Drop to its potential. Also, the marketing philosophy of the band did not match up with that of Rugged. Additionally, Bride's ministry has become more focused and aggressive. As always, Bride's message goes out to anyone who will listen, but has been specifically targeted to reach the "misfits" of society. These "misfits", are those people that cannot be reached through conventional means. Bride's music also provides a source of strength and edification to those already a part of the body of Christ, by dealing with socially relevant issues from a biblical perspective in terms that everyone can understand. As a band preparing to work on their eight album (this does not include best ofs and compilations), Bride will continue the same course for the future. Bride feels they have been blessed with much fruit to show for their efforts to glorify the Lord. From sharing the Lord to 130,000 people in Brazil to travelling the world and the United States, Bride's message is always consistent. Their message can be summed up quite simply in a quote that Dale made in the early days of Matrix which still rings true today in the growing ministry of Bride. "If it wasn't for Jesus Christ, we wouldn't be playing music. He is the music. He is why we play".

From theOfficial Bride Web Site