STRYPER
Stryper was originally known as Roxx Regime and comprised brothers Michael on lead vocals and guitar and Robert Sweet on drums as well as Oz Fox on lead guitar. The name "Stryper" was adopted when bassist Tim Gaines joined the band, and shortly afterward, they released the EP The Yellow and Black Attack on July 10, 1984. During this period, Stryper opened for bands like Ratt and Bon Jovi, leading some music 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. Stryper's third album, To Hell with the Devil, was released on October 24, 1986 and went platinum, selling more than one 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. Part of the reason for the album's crossover success was the inclusion of piano-driven rock ballads, which became one of the band's trademarks. Both "Free" and "Honestly" were hugely popular MTV hits in 1987--so much so, that "Honestly" became Stryper's most well-known song. 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. 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. Their next album, In God We Trust, released on June 28, 1988, also went gold, and the song "Always There for You" reached the upper levels of the pop charts. However, the sound of the album was more pop-oriented than previous releases 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 closer to the glam rock look of the era, giving fans something else to criticize. As with the previous album, Tim Gaines did not participate in the recording of In God We Trust, but later rejoined the group for another world tour. On August 21, 1990, Stryper released the controversial album Against the Law, which drastically changed the band's image and lyrical message. 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. The band's musical sound was also heavier, closer to classic metal. 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 hair metal image. But the band's original fan base claimed that they were not being true to their roots, and the album sold poorly. However, many critics considered the album to be Stryper's best musical production to date. On June 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. The band continued to tour until February 1992, when frontman Michael Sweet departed the band in order to pursue a solo career. Stryper continued as a trio for several European dates, with Oz Fox doing lead vocals. However, 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 performed well in the Christian music market. Drummer Robert Sweet played in several bands, among them Blissed, who released an album in 2002. 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. When Hollywood Records asked the former members of Stryper to record tracks for a new greatest hits compilation in 2003, the four members decided to go on a North American reunion tour in support of the compilation, titled Seven: the Best of Stryper. 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 with the intent of releasing it on DVD. However, that show in Puerto Rico proved to be the last for the original line-up of Stryper, and the DVD has yet to be released. In the fall of 2004, the Sweet brothers and Oz Fox decided to enter the studio to record a new Stryper album. Bassist Tim Gaines had no interest in continuing with Stryper, so he was replaced by Tracy Ferrie, the long-time bass player for Michael Sweet's solo band. Despite their reunion, controversy continued to follow the band. In November 2004, Stryper was scheduled to play in Mexico City at the Palacio de los Deportes. The band canceled the show, which led to a major disagreement between the band and the promoter. Stryper and their management claimed the promoter was too inexperienced to stage an event of this magnitude, but a group of well-known Christian rock bands, including Saviour Machine, Narnia and Mortification, sided with the promoter. The promoter demanded that Stryper return all the money they had received related to their appearance, but the band refused. Later, Stryper began selling items on their website in part to refund this promoter. Stryper's latest album, Reborn, was released in August of 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 (2). With a more modern sound incorporating aspects of alternative and grunge, along with fewer guitar solos, the new record updates their style while keeping the Stryper identity. The lyrics also have returned to the band's familiar themes of God and salvation. Stryper is recognized as the first openly Christian heavy metal band to gain recognition in the mainstream music world. Their hit ballad "Honestly" is often ranked among the greatest ballads of the 1980s. Their message of salvation and religion has also made them popular with some elements of the media. However, Stryper has not been free of controversy. Many conservative religious groups criticized the group for being members of the heavy metal industry, which some of them saw as being close to satanic music. Many of their peers in the metal music world recognized them as a great musical group, but some argued that their message was incompatible with heavy metal. In fact, this argument is generally used in pop culture when referring to the music of Stryper. In late 2006, the band's official and authorized biography was revised and re-released. Along with that, a demos disc is forthcoming from the band while they continue to perform gigs here and there.
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