Stryper

Stryper

Stryper at the To Hell with the Devil tour in 1986
Background information
Origin Orange County, California, United States
Genres Christian metal
Heavy metal
Glam metal
Hard rock
Years active 1983-1992
2003-present
Labels Enigma
Hollywood
Big3
Associated acts Boston
SinDizzy
King James
Blissed
Website Stryper.com
Members
Michael Sweet
Robert Sweet
Oz Fox
Tim Gaines
Tracy Ferrie
Past members
Matt Hurich
Kenny Metcalf

Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass guitar), and Robert Sweet (drums.) In 2004 Gaines left the band and was replaced by Tracy Ferrie (bass guitar) but rejoined in 2009.

Formed in 1983 as Roxx Regime, they would change their message and name to Stryper to go on to be the first Christian rock band to be recognized by the mainstream.[1] In 1983 they were signed by Enigma Records and released their first album The Yellow and Black Attack. By the mid-1980s, Stryper saw their most successful period starting with the release of To Hell with the Devil which achieved Platinum sales status. Stryper would go on to release two more Gold albums before breaking up in 1992.

In 2003 Stryper came out of retirement for a reunion tour and subsequently signed a multi-album contract with Big3 Records in 2005.

The name "Stryper" derives from the King James Version of the "Holy Bible".[2]

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.[3]

The reference, Isaiah 53:5, is frequently included as part of their logo. Stryper's drummer, Robert Sweet, also created a backronym for their name:

Salvation
Through
Redemption,
Yielding
Peace,
Encouragement, and
Righteousness.[4]

Contents

History

Foundation and mainstream success (1975-1990)

The Sweet brothers became Christians in 1975, but began to pull away from this faith. They played in a band called Parliament and Kirkadelic, which received critical acclaim from the southern California rock community, causing lead singer Clayton Kirk to quit the band. The Sweet brothers rejoined the church after their friend Kenny Metcalf (who later became the original keyboardist for Stryper) persuaded them to do so.

[5][6] Inspired by bands such as Van Halen, but distressed by their message, they sought to form a band that would extol their worldview and beliefs.[6] Stryper was originally known as Roxx Regime and composed of brothers Michael Sweet on lead vocals and lead guitar and Robert Sweet on drums as well as Oz Fox on lead guitar.[5] Before Oz Fox joined the band, a number of guitarists had played with Roxx Regime/Stryper, including Poison's C.C. DeVille. The name "Stryper" was adopted when bassist Tim Gaines joined the band. The name "Stryper" first came when they were recording from a passage in Isaiah "by his stripes we are healed." Shortly afterward, they released the EP The Yellow and Black Attack on July 21, 1984. During this period, Stryper opened for bands like Ratt and Bon Jovi, leading some fans and critics to claim that they were not a true Christian band. Stryper's first full-length album, Soldiers Under Command released on May 15, 1985, was the band's first gold record, selling more than half a million copies. Capitalizing on this unexpected success and in an attempt to make up for the EP's extremely limited release (less than 20,000 copies), their record label, Enigma, re-released The Yellow and Black Attack on August 10, 1986 with two new tracks and new cover artwork. At the time, audiences generally responded well to the band as Los Angeles Times reported in 1985 that "the band gets sullen fans of Twisted Sister cheering and poking stubby 'one way' fingers heavenward—a refutation of the double-fingered 'devil horns' salute of many metal groups"[7]

Stryper's third album, To Hell with the Devil, was released on October 24, 1986 and went platinum after spending three months on Billboard's album charts,[8] eventually selling more than 2 million copies. In addition to being Stryper's most successful record, it was both the first contemporary Christian music and Christian metal album to achieve this feat.[5] "Calling on You", "Free" and "Honestly" were hugely popular MTV hits in 1987—so much so, that "Free" and "Honestly" both became most-requested songs on MTV. They were also the first Christian band to get any airplay on MTV. [9] "Honestly" is Stryper's best-known song, peaking at #23 on the Top 40 charts.[6] The album received a Grammy Award nomination.

Bassist Tim Gaines did not participate in the recording of this album, and for a period of time prior to the release of the record he was replaced by another bass player, Matt Hurich. Hurich wasn't with the band more than a month, although he was outfitted with a Yellow & Black striped bass and a racing costume that was later handed down to Tim Gaines, who didn't wear it often because it was too small. Brad Cobb played bass on the album.[9] However, when the promotional photos for the album were being shot, Gaines decided to return to the band and participated in its successful world tour. In 1987 the band headlined the Dynamo Open Air Festival in the Netherlands.[1] There is one To Hell with the Devil promotional photo of the band with Matt Hurich is that seen on some websites. Prior to his time in Stryper, Matt was in the band Leatherwolf. In 1989 he performed with the group Divine Right who featured Kevin Brandow (Petra) on lead vocals and guitar.

In 1986 Brent Jeffers replaced Kenny Metcalf on Keyboards and toured with Stryper until 1990.

Their next album, In God We Trust, released on June 28, 1988, also went gold, and the song "Always There for You" briefly entered the lower levels of the pop charts peaking at #71 though it was another massive hit on MTV. However, the sound of the album was more pop-oriented than previous releases[5] and a number of critics, as well as Stryper fans, criticized the songs as being too commercial and over-produced. In addition, the image of the band was moving even closer to the glam metal look of the era, giving fans something else to criticize. These factors led to lower sales, and the album spent only 5 weeks charting on Billboard.[8] . The second single & video "I Believe in You" peaked at #88 and a third single "Keep the Fire Burning" failed to chart at all. As with the previous album, Tim Gaines did not participate in the recording of In God We Trust and Brad Cobb once again played bass, but later Tim Gaines rejoined the group for another world tour. In God We Trust also garnered two GMA Dove Awards for "Hard Music Album" and "Hard Music Song" for the title track.[10]

Decline, break-up and solo projects (1990-1999)

On August 21, 1990, Stryper released the controversial album Against the Law, which drastically changed the band's image and lyrical message.[5] While their earlier albums all had yellow and black colors in the covers and the lyrics spoke of God and salvation, Against the Law featured the band with black leather clothes and with no mention of the word "God" in the lyrics at all.[1] The band's musical sound was also heavier, closer to classic metal.[5] Drummer Robert Sweet said that the change of image and sound was in response to the criticism of the previous album and an attempt to leave behind their glam metal image. But the band's original fan base claimed that they were not being true to their roots, and the album sold poorly. This was partly due to rumors in the press (both mainstream and Christian) that Stryper's music was trending towards a more mainstream sound as their Christian faith weakened.[5][11] Fans would wonder why they covered the 1975 Earth Wind & Fire's #1 hit "Shining Star." The video for it would not be a hit on MTV, the first Stryper video that wasn't. Two other videos followed for "Two Time Woman" and "Lady" which generated minimal airplay. However, many critics still considered the album to be Stryper's best musical production to date.

On July 20, 1991, after being signed to Hollywood Records, Stryper released a greatest hits collection called Can't Stop the Rock, which featured two new songs. One of which was the Gulf War inspired "Believe." The band continued to tour until February 1992, when frontman Michael Sweet departed the band citing artistic differences and to pursue a solo career.[5]

Stryper continued as a trio for several European dates. Sometime during this period while touring with the Christian band Bride, Dale Thompson would fill in at vocals. It was during one of the concerts that Robert Sweet unexpectedly announced that Bride's frontman Dale Thompson was going to be their new lead singer. This, however, was later denied by Thompson. Upon returning to the United States, the remaining members decided to go their separate ways.

Oz Fox and Tim Gaines formed their own band, SinDizzy, and released the album He's Not Dead in 1998. During the 1990s, Michael Sweet released four solo albums which were hugely successful in the Christian music market. Drummer Robert Sweet played in several bands, among them Blissed, who released an album in 2002.

Other bands include King James, dbeality, Final Axe, and The Seventh Power.

Reunion (1999-2005)

The former members of Stryper first reunited in 1999, when Michael Sweet and SinDizzy were invited to play at a summer rock festival in Puerto Rico. As an encore, Sweet joined Oz Fox and Tim Gaines on stage and played several Stryper songs. Later, in 2000, the first "Stryper Expo" was held in New Jersey, and for the first time in 8 years the complete line-up of Stryper took the stage. That same year, a concert was held in Costa Rica at which the four members played together. A second "Stryper Expo" took place in Los Angeles in 2001..[5]

Hollywood Records asked the former members of Stryper to record tracks for a new greatest hits compilation in 2003 7: The Best of Stryper which also had two new songs, "Something" and "For You." A tour followed in support. The band played 36 shows in the United States and finished the tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A live album, titled 7 Weeks: Live in America, 2003, was released the following year, and the concert in Puerto Rico was filmed for a live DVD produced and directed by Jack Edward Sawyers. However, that show in Puerto Rico proved to be the last for the original line-up of Stryper. Gaines left the band in 2004 before they were slated to play Disney's Night of Joy in Orlando. Michael's bassist on his previous solo tours, Tracy Ferrie, replaced him.

After the "Night of Joy" show and with new found energy, Stryper decided to go back into the studio to record a new CD, Reborn and another tour followed in the fall of 2004.

Stryper's next album, Reborn, was released on August 16, 2005, and was the band's first recording of original material in 15 years. The new album received a positive response from fans and critics, some of whom labeled Reborn as one of the best albums of that year [12]. With a more modern sound incorporating aspects of alternative rock and grunge, along with fewer guitar solos, the new record updates their style while keeping the Stryper identity, though a few songs do have a familiar sound to Michael's solo recordings. In fact, he had originally written the album with the intent of releasing it as a solo project.[13] The lyrics also have returned to the band's familiar themes of God and salvation.

In 2006, the band released the DVD Greatest Hits: Live in Puerto Rico with Music Video Distributors.

New album and back on the road (2006-present)

In November 2006, Stryper announced new management. They also announced a follow-up to Reborn tentatively due in spring/summer 2007. However, that February saw lead singer Michael Sweet postponing the release of the new album two days before its recording was to begin. Sweet's wife Kyle had been diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, and the new album was put on hold so that he could care for his family and ailing wife. She underwent surgery and treatment from February 14 to July 14, eventually resulting in her complete, although brief, recovery and restored health. In April 2008, Kyle announced that her cancer had returned as of October 2007. The new album was in the mixing stage as of January 2008, and Sweet said that it should be released in July or August.[14].

Michael Sweet performed with the band Boston in 2007 and was asked to join the band as co-lead vocalist and guitarist and toured with Boston in 2008 with Styx as the opening act.

On March 5, 2009, Michael Sweet's wife, Kyle, died from cancer.[15]. Murder by Pride was released on July 21, 2009; with the lead single "Peace of Mind" preceding it.

In addition to still playing in Stryper, Oz Fox is also one of the guitarists in the Christian metal band Bloodgood, who was also a frontrunner in the early '80s Christian metal scene.

Since late 2008, Tim Gaines has played bass in concert with Tourniquet. The band has since added the song "To Hell With The Devil" to their set list to highlight Tim's involvement. Recently, Oz Fox joined Tourniquet on stage in Germany to perform the same song.

It was announced in September 2009, that Stryper would be touring with Michael Sweet's son's band Flight Patterns and Canadian band Manic Drive.

Music and image

During 1980s, Stryper represented the popular glam metal style for the time which is characterized by highly visual performances, twin guitar solos, Michael Sweet's high-pitched, multi-octave screams and big hair. A trademark of the band's stage act was drummer Robert Sweet's practice of turning his enormous drum kit sideways to the audience so that the crowd could see him playing. This is why Robert was more often called a "visual timekeeper" rather than a drummer.[16] A characteristic element of the band was that all their outfits, sets, and instruments were painted in yellow and black stripes. The number of the stripes represented in various stage props and costumes increased during the show, leading up to In God We Trust, when drummer Robert Sweet would also have his drums painted in yellow and black. The band would explain the symbolism of the stripes: a direct reference to the whiplash scourges given by Pontius Pilate to Jesus, derived from the King James Version of the Bible's Isaiah 53:5.[17]

Apart from its ubiquitous yellow and black stripes, Stryper had other distinctive trademarks. During concerts, Stryper threw Bibles to the concert crowd—specifically editions of the New Testament with the band's logo stickers affixed to them. As a protest against "666" symbols popular among many heavy metal fans of the era, Robert Sweet promoted an alternative numerological symbol; Stryper's trademark use of the "777" symbol subsequently became quite popular among Christian metalheads. Although the number "777" is not actually referenced by the Bible (as opposed to 666, which is famously mentioned in The Book of Revelation as The Number of the Beast) the number "7" is traditionally (in Christian symbolism) associated with divine perfection. Some of the band's stage sets included the crossed out symbols of "devil" and "666".

Legacy

Stryper is recognized as the first openly Christian heavy metal band to gain recognition in the mainstream music world.[1] Their message of salvation has also made them popular with some elements of the media.

However, Stryper has not been free of controversy. Many Christian critics did not approve of the group's association with the heavy metal subculture, which has often been associated with Satanic imagery.[11] Other Christian detractors viewed the band's flashy costumes as incongruous with the modesty in dress often associated with sincere practitioners of devout Christianity.[18] Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart was a particularly prominent critic, likening Stryper's practice of distributing the New Testament at their shows to "casting pearls before swine".[5] In 1990, Rolling Stone magazine reported that the band had become disillusioned with Christian music.[5] This, combined with a notable shift in tone in the band's lyrics, led to Against the Law being banned from many Christian bookstores. The Benson Company, Stryper's sole tie to the Christian market, dropped this album from distribution.[9] Swaggart's condemnation may not have been a surprise, however, as Stryper was supported by the rival Jim Bakker ministries, who are thanked on several Stryper albums.

Stryper has sold over 10 million recordings worldwide,[9] and it is estimated that two-thirds of their albums were bought by non-Christians.[5]

Ian Christe, author of the heavy metal history book Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal, mentions the album To Hell with the Devil in his book as one of the landmarks of the glam metal movement.[19]

The song To Hell with the Devil appears on the Rhino Records release The Heavy Metal Box, a compilation mainly of secular Classic Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Metallica, as well as hair bands like Twisted Sister and Poison.

The Marvel comic series Runaways refers to Stryper as being a Christian glam band in Vol. 4 True Believers.

In the film Whip It, Ellen Page's character "Bliss" distinctively wears a Stryper t-shirt throughout the film.

Current members

Session members

Stryper Tours

Discography

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hale, Mark (1993). "2869". Headbangers (First edition, second printing ed.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink.. pp. 336. ISBN 1-56075-029-4. 
  2. ↑ "The Stryper Story". Stryper. http://www.stryper.com/Band/thestryperstory.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  3. ↑ Isaiah 53:5
  4. ↑ http://www.stryper.info/index.php?ref=history
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 891–895. ISBN 1-56563-679-1. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 George-Warren, Holly, ed; Jon Pareles, Patricia Romanowski Bashe (1995). "Stryper". The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Second ed.). New York City: Fireside. pp. 962–963. ISBN 0-684-81044-1. 
  7. ↑ "CT Classic: A Christian 'Heavy-Metal' Band Makes Its Mark on the Secular Music Industry". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/julyweb-only/7-9-42.0.html. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Larkin, Colin, ed. (1998) [1992, 1995]. "Stryper". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Third ed.). New York City: Muze. pp. 5203. ISBN 0-333-74134-X. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Erickson, Sturdevant (2006). Stryper: Loud n' Clear (unabridged audio ed.). Maryland: Classic CD Books. ISBN 0976480549. 
  10. ↑ "Dove Award Recipients for 1989". Gospel Music Association. http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=1989. Retrieved 2007-03-12. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Watkins, Terry (1995). "Stryper". Christian Rock: Blessing or Blasphemy?. Dial-the-Truth Ministries. http://www.av1611.org/crock.html. 
  12. ↑ Stryper, Cooper among overlooked albums - ALBUM REVIEWS - MSNBC.com
  13. ↑ HM - Internet Exclusives
  14. ↑ Michael Sweet Confirms Release Date Estimate. Komodorock.com
  15. ↑ Band's Official Website
  16. ↑ Jakcson, Zik (2001). "A Voice In The Wilderness: An Interview with Robert Sweet". The Phantom Tollbooth. Open Publishing. http://www.tollbooth.org/2001/features/rsweet.html. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
  17. ↑ Christe 2003, "10: Glambangers of Hollywood", p. 169
  18. ↑ Kyle, Richard (2006). "If You Can't Beat 'em Join 'em". Evangelicalism : an Americanized Christianity. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. pp. 285. ISBN 0-7658-0324-0. 
  19. ↑ Christe 2003, "10: Glambangers of Hollywood", p. 154

Further reading

External links

Stryper
Michael Sweet · Robert Sweet · Oz Fox · Tim Gaines
Tracy Ferrie
Studio albums
The Yellow and Black Attack · Soldiers Under Command · To Hell with the Devil · In God We Trust · Against the Law · Reborn · Murder by Pride · The Covering
Live albums
7 Weeks: Live in America, 2003 · Extended Versions
Compilations
Can't Stop the Rock · 7: The Best of Stryper · The Roxx Regime Demos
Related articles
Discography