Randy Newman is a composer, entertainer, and a brilliant lyricist.  Along with many studio and live albums, he's written music for over 22 films, including Toy Story and Forest Gump.   After being nominated 19 times for an Oscar, Newman received one -- the 2002 Oscar for Best Original Song for "If I Didn't Have You," from the film Monsters, Inc. Newman lets people believe what they need to believe.  "I never had faith,  But I have respect for the idea. There's no joy being an atheist." And the Lord said: I burn down your cities-how blind you must be I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we You all must be crazy to put your faith in me That's why I love mankind... You really need me... That's why I love mankind. - "God's Song"  from Sailing Away (1972)  Visit: http://www.randynewman.com/

Gary Numan has written dark electronic synthesizer technopop rhythmic rock music as well as performed it and sung since the late 1970s.  He has over 16 albums and his music has inspired many others artists.  He is pictured here with his wife Gemma. Numan wrote "I am not religious, quite the opposite... I worship nothing. Not a good lie nor a dark one. If nature is proof of God's amazing creation then I have truly seen the light, and the light is black. Nature is genius at its most cruel and savage. No benevolent God could have come up with such an outrage." Visit NuWORLD at: http://www.numan.co.uk/

ADD OASIS

Phil Ochs, was an American folk singer (1941-1976) who was a prolific writer of protest songs.  Most of Phil's songs were very political, some humorous and some very serious. He saw religion as facilitating aggression and war.  Phil suffered from manic depression and alcoholism and committed suicide on April 9, 1976 at the age of 35.  He remains a major influence on folk and protest music and musicians. "God isn't dead--he's just missing in action." Phil's sister, Sonny Och's tribute site:  http://www.sonnyochs.com/remembering.html http://www.sonnyochs.com/events.html#phil Phil's brother, Michael Och's website http://www.michaelochs.com/

Niccolo Paganini  (1782-1840) was a great Italian violin virtuoso and composer.  He wrote his first sonata when eight years old and made his first public appearance at age 11.  He gained great popularity throughout Europe during his life and became wealthy, though he had a propensity toward gambling and fast living.  His chief biographer, Count Conestabili, wrote that Paganini practiced "religious indifferentism."  He was well known as "an atheist," he had no religious service at his funeral. Read more about Paganini at: http://www.composers.net/database/p/Paganini.html  http://www.paganini.com/nicolo/nicindex.htm

Find out more about XTC at: http://chalkhills.org/who.html

Andy Partridge is lead singer and songwriter of the band XTC.  His views are expressed in the band's song "Dear God" about which Andy says, "It should've been a nail in throat of the public, but instead some took it as a declaration of faith when I wanted to make it clear that I don't believe in God."

Visit the Official XTC website at: http://www.xtcidearecords.co.uk/

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Neil Peart is a Canadian-born author and lyricist and the drummer for band Rush since the mid-1970s.  He is admired both by fans and other drummers.  In his late teens he discovered and was inspired by Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.   Peart says he is a "linear-thinking agnostic, (but not an atheist, folks)." The Rush album, Roll The Bones has a number of songs that question religion, including the title track: "Faith is cold as ice Why are little ones born only to suffer For the want of immunity  Or a bowl of rice? Well, who would hold a price On the heads of the innocent children If there's some immortal power To control the dice?"  Rush official website: http://www.rush.com/

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 A quote from the FAQ of their official web site:

 Are Crash Test Dummies Satanists?

 The fact that this question even needs to be included here is testimony to how humour-impaired
 some individuals can be... The origins of this absurd rumour no doubt lie in a remark made by Brad
 when he was asked in an interview how he felt about receiving three Grammy nominations. In his
 typical, self-deprecatory, tongue-in-cheek manner, Mr. Roberts replied with something to the effect
 of "it looks like all those pacts with Satan are finally paying off..." In all truth, Brad is a
 self-proclaimed "icy rationalist," and it is doubtful that he believes in the existence of any deific
 higher power, divine or diabolic.

 The full site is here:

 http://www.crashtestdummies.com/dummyfaq.html

 From a January 24, 1991 profile in Rolling Stone by Kim Neely:

 Chris, who contends that the Crowes' interest in voodoo paraphernalia springs from nothing more
 than a love of the exotic, says he found the article funny. Some, however, didn't find it so comical.
 The piece spawned a panicky rash of LP-and-concert-ticket bonfires organized by alarmed
 Christian parents in Texas and Virginia. Naturally, Robinson is eager to share his views on that
 sector of society. "Jesus Christ loved everyone," he says bluntly. "Jesus Christ probably loved
 Satan. I mean, I don't believe that God and Satan are real, but if you're a Christian, then you love
 everyone. And if you're a Christian and you think I'm f---ed...then f--- you."

Ned Rorem