POP/ROCK - Feb. 27, 1987

It may be the Christians versus the punk rockers today outside Atlantic City, N.J., where record-burning members of the Mainland Assembly of God Church are expected to confront members of a local band called the Misfortunes of Virtue. The controversy centers around an anti-rock film, “The Truth About Rock,” that accuses various rock artists of promoting immorality, non-Christian brainwashing and other “indecencies.” After viewing the film on Wednesday, the church members called for a record-burning party. But leather-clad members of the punk band, who also viewed the film, merely found it a hoot, with one of them commenting to the Associated Press, “I do believe people have a soul and a spirit, but I don’t think what you do here on Earth decides where you’re going.” The band members say they will bring copies of the Bill of Rights to the burning.