Gold records are given to industry figures that impact sales, and for years HM was the only place to read about P.O.D. plaque that hangs in his magazine's Austin offices. It's no surprise that Atlantic Records bestowed upon Van Pelt the gold P.O.D. can claim a gold record and a spot on Ozzfest's main stage. The 'sheep' Van Pelt speaks of are die-hard Christian rock fans who have been reading HM for 15 years - from its days as a fanzine covering Stryper to now, when Sept./Oct. Then again, you've probably never heard of Pete Stewart, Stavesacre, the Huntingtons, Project 86, PAX217, or Extol - Christian punk, ska, rap-core, and white metal bands who have recently graced HM's cover. As founder, editor, and publisher of HM magazine, Van Pelt has become one of the widest-read and most respected Austinites writing about music that you've probably never heard of. In a lot of ways, I see myself as a pastoral voice for rock & roll sheep,' says Doug Van Pelt in a moment of uncharacteristic immodesty.
