Editing Rotting Christ (section)

== Publicity ==
Over the years, the group has faced controversy due to their name and gained international media attention in November 1999 during the [[Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2000|2000 United States Presidential Primaries for Republican Nomination]], when [[candidate]]/[[Christian right|Christian conservative]] [[Gary Bauer]] accused the band of being "anti-Catholic", among other things. In response to Bauer's criticism, [[Sakis Tolis]] wrote:

{{blockquote|Living in (so called) democratic societies, I think everyone should have the right to call religions as he/she wants. We in fact simply believe they are "rotting"! We are not a "satanic-crusader" type of band but rather one of the many bands that represent the dark side in nowadays Metal music.<ref name=rusmetal.ru>{{cite web|url=http://www.rusmetal.ru/vae_solis/rotting_christ.html|title=Rotting Christ|access-date=August 14, 2016}}</ref>}}

They also have had to cancel some shows, most recently in May 2005, when [[Megadeth]] frontman [[Dave Mustaine]] threatened to refuse to play at a Greek concert if Rotting Christ were on the bill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/rottingchrist2.html|title=Rotting Christ interview @ Tartareandesire.com|access-date=14 August 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110080610/http://www.tartareandesire.com/interviews/rottingchrist2.html|archive-date=10 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmight.com/artist/greece/athens/rotting%20christ|title=MusicMight :: Artists :: ROTTING CHRIST|access-date=14 August 2016}}</ref>

In response to their forced cancellation, Tolis noted:

{{blockquote|I didn't expect something like that from Dave Mustaine, because, you know, he's supposed to be metal — you know, 'metal band,' all metal ... I just feel sorry for him and for every new Christian with new ideas, because we think Christianity is the worst thing to happen in human history. This is a well-organized trick in order to control society, so when I see someone that's very much Christian, that's full of the system, I feel very sorry for him because he's not free.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rotting-christ-mainman-feels-sorry-for-megadeth-s-dave-mustaine/|title=ROTTING CHRIST Mainman Feels 'Sorry' For MEGADETH's DAVE MUSTAINE|last=Blabbermouth|date=February 4, 2007|access-date=August 14, 2016}}</ref>}}

[[Nuclear Assault]] and former [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]] bassist [[Dan Lilker]] defended Rotting Christ and criticized Dave Mustaine's actions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dan-lilker-to-dave-mustaine-break-up-megadeth-and-pursue-your-new-love-for-jesus-on-your-own/|title=DAN LILKER To DAVE MUSTAINE: 'Break Up MEGADETH And Pursue Your New Love For Jesus On Your Own'|last=Blabbermouth|date=22 May 2005|access-date=14 August 2016}}</ref> as did [[Nevermore (band)|Nevermore]]'s [[Warrel Dane]], whose bands appeared on Mustaine's [[Gigantour]] in 2005. Dane added:

{{blockquote|Everybody is free to believe anything he wants to; I just think that Dave misunderstood the whole subject. I have met the guys from Rotting Christ and I don't think that they are Satanists or something. I think that Dave overreacted on this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/musicians/warrel_dane_nevermore.htm?root=14&keep_has_js=1|title=Metal-Temple.com – Warrel Dane interview, 30 June 2005|access-date=August 14, 2016|archive-date=27 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327070944/http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/musicians/warrel_dane_nevermore.htm?root=14&keep_has_js=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

When playing in [[Malta]], a country which in its constitution declares itself as Roman Catholic, trouble from the Church and other Catholic groups ensued when an unknown person stuck a Rotting Christ flyer to a church door. The band was allowed to play eventually even though they had to change venue.

In April 2018, Rotting Christ were scheduled to play in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. Upon arriving in [[Tbilisi]], founding members Sakis and Themis Tolis  were arrested by Georgian authorities under suspicion of terrorism due to their band name, as reported by an announcement from the band's label, [[Season of Mist]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/rotting-christ-arrested-georgia/|title=Rotting Christ Arrested in Georgia Under Suspicions of Terrorism|website=Loudwire|date=16 April 2018 |language=en|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref>  They had their passports and cell phones confiscated and were detained in prison, without being permitted legal representation or contact with the Greek Embassy for 12 hours.  Afterwards, they were informed by their lawyers that the two were included in a "list of unwanted people for reasons of national security" that labeled them as "Satanists" and "suspects of terrorism".  The two were eventually released, after arrangements made by the band's other members in collaboration with the local promoter, "who involved legal experts, journalists and activists in Georgia".  The band was allowed to perform their scheduled concert and left for their next destination, Armenia, without hassle.

A species of prehistoric [[brittle star]], ''Brezinacantha tolis'', was named after the Tolis brothers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/new-fossil-species-discovery-named-after-rotting-christ/ |title=New Fossil Species Discovery Named After ROTTING CHRIST|date=3 November 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-27326-z|title=Brittle-star mass occurrence on a Late Cretaceous methane seep from South Dakota, USA|year=2018|last1=Thuy|first1=Ben|last2=Landman|first2=Neil H.|last3=Larson|first3=Neal L.|last4=Numberger-Thuy|first4=Lea D.|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=8|issue=1|page=9617|pmid=29941907|pmc=6018167|bibcode=2018NatSR...8.9617T}}</ref>