When all four members of Stryper convened up in the Eastern Seaboard at the first of the year to record two new songs for a new best of album, everything went right. "It was pretty much miraculous the way everything worked out," gushes vocalist Michael Sweet. "Things that shouldn't have worked out did right down to the last day of mastering. Doors have opened left and right. To me that was a sign and answer that God's hand was on the recording of these two
songs."
The two songs, "Something" and "For You," were penned by Sweet last summer and recorded as a demo to shop for another solo outing. Then an unexpected email from Hollywood Records in December changed the songs' destiny. Sweet was told that the label wanted the band's input on song selections for a new best of. He answered back with a suggestion to do "something different," since 1991's Can't Stop The Rock had already been done. "Why not put us in the studio to record two new songs and let us choose all the tracks?" The project was approved and 18 songs clock in at just under 74 minutes on a new CD conspicuously called Seven.
Sweet describes the songs as being "the perfect combination of merging our whatever it is that we had with the present. There is all sorts of signature Stryper sounds, like the muted eighth notes, big stacks of harmony vocals (done in a different way), and harmony guitars; yet the arrangements and the songs themselves, the melodies, the grooves (there's even loops going on in sections behind Robert) they're very today. I'm very pleased, because there's so many bands from the 80s that try to do new music and it's kind of a letdown. Either it sounds like where they last left off (and) very dated; or they're trying so hard to do something new and modern and it's just not working. But, by the grace of God, everything just fell together in the right places."
All artists are expected to be excited about their new albums when being interviewed, but something about Sweet's enthusiasm seems real. Maybe it's because the details of what he's saying jump out more than any inflection or tone in his voice. It just doesn't sound like hype.
"We started everything out in prayer in one of the guy's rooms at the hotel. We talked for a while and then we prayed for quite a while. It was really neat to start that way. To me that was so important. Because we started that way, and continued to pray throughout the project, I think God's hand was on it. And that's what it would take, if anything else is done in the future with Stryper. It's gonna take that, because those were our roots. That's where we began. We always began as a band that could care less about rehearsing or playing.
"I remember we'd get together to rehearse for a big show and we'd start rehearsing and go through 2 or 3 songs and we'd put our guitars down and we'd grab hands together and read the Bible with Michael Guido and pray. And we wouldn't even rehearse any more, because those were our hearts. We just wanted to be closer to God and learn more about God. And that's the band ... if we were to do anything more again in the future, that's how I want it to be. In my opinion, that's how it has to be."
While nothing could make things look closer to a Stryper reunion at this point, Sweet emphatically throws a flag down to clarify. "Stryper is absolutely not back together. I look at the recording of the two new songs as a huge step in that direction. We took that step and, through prayer and faith, we got through it. It was really smooth. I expected the possibilities of it not being so smooth, and there being problems and it just not going well or it not turning out well.
Because it went so smooth and turned out so well, I see that as a very very good thing and a very positive thing.
"Now I've got people calling, 'I hear you guys are back together. I'm glad to hear that, so let's talk about a tour...' And I say, 'Wait a second! Where did you hear that we're back together? We're not back together, we're not reunited. We just recorded two songs. We'll see where it goes from there.' And that's pretty much all I'm saying. It is very vague, but it's kinda the way I have to deal with it, the way I have to put it, because I don't want people to get the wrong idea to be let down. I just want it to be right, that's all. We're definitely going to do a few shows 5 to 7 shows in key marketplaces, maybe like a mini House of Blues thing just to take the next step and see how those shows go. I'm not willing to dive into the deep end and go, 'Yeah, we're back together, let's go do it.'
"As silly as this may sound to people reading or as much of a cliche as it may seem to be coming from a Christian artist or a person that's a musician that's a Christian, but it's so true when I say this, and that is: 'I only want to do it if it's truly what God wants us to to. I don't want to do it because of the pressure from other people that want us to do it, saying, 'You've gotta do it for this reason,' and 'You've got to do it, cuz you'll make a lot of money, and this is the right time because you'll sell a lot of tickets, blah blah blah.' Those are all the wrong reasons, in my opinion, to do it. The only reason why I would do it and the only way I would feel comfortable doing it is if I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it's truly what God wants, His hand is on it and He's gonna bless it and it's anointed. That's the only way I'll do it. Otherwise, I just feel like we're digging a hole that we're never gonna get out of."
With this kind of patience and a dependence upon divine guidance as a blueprint, we just might see the full-blown rebuilding of Stryper just yet. And that could be very exciting.
Seven track listing: Something | For You | Shining Star | Lady | All For One | In God We Trust | Always There For You | To Hell With The Devil | Calling On You | Free | Honestly | The Way | Soldiers Under Command | Makes Me Wanna Sing | Reach Out | From Wrong To Right | Loving You | Believe
For more insight into the new Stryper songs and what Michael Sweet is thinking, download the Stryper Interview mp3 file available on the main page of this website [under "Downloads"]
Also, the following press release was just released today regarding a Stryper tour:
Return to main Online Exclusives page
Other Stories:
I saw Stryper perform at a local church before they made it big and it was an incredible show. I hope when they tour in the fall they will perform at small venues. It lends to a more intimate experience with the band members. The glory of God was all over that small church!
Posted by:
mike clettenberg on June 22, 2003 01:49 PM
Stryper coming back? What's next mallets?Tight jeans?Ahhhh! I don't think so
Posted by:
da on June 23, 2003 02:01 AM
hey, you may not like their music that much, but just remember that if it weren't for a band like stryper, hm magazine, cornerstone festival, etc. probably wouldn't be around today. they made christian rock significant.
Posted by:
matt on June 23, 2003 12:12 PM
SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH.
el disco 7 de STRYPER esta salvaje me gusta mucho, deseo saber como hacemos para que esten presentandose en HONDURAS, C.A.
Bye GOD BLESS YOU.
Posted by:
HERMANN NAIRA on June 23, 2003 01:25 PM
stryper rox. i am a musian myself and stryper has been one of my inspirations. most of u reading this probably and old fogey but im 16 and i have grown 2 appreciate the awesome music that stryper has made. im really sick of hearing people dis hair metal. there r many hair band that have directly influenced young punk musicians like myself. so i just wanna say STRYPER ROX AND I CANT WAIT TO HEAR THE NEW CD
Posted by:
adam on June 23, 2003 10:41 PM
Hey... Stryper is the greatest. I'm a musician too, and I'm just 15, but Stryper is one of my major influences in my music. I'm so stoked about this new album... so keep it coming. God Bless and ROCK 4 CHRIST
Posted by:
Jessa on June 25, 2003 10:53 PM
Yeah, I'm a young STRYPER fan myself, I'm 21 and got hooked when I was about 18 or so on some old tapes I found at a used CD store. If STRYPER comes anywhere near Nashville, I will be there for their reunion tour if that gets up and running. I HOPE SO!!! I'm a student at Lee University and I hope they come close by pretty soon. HA! TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL!!!
Posted by:
Charles Starks on June 30, 2003 10:21 AM
Stryper back on the road. That is totally kewl.
Posted by:
Sami on July 4, 2003 04:14 AM
I think it's cool that Stryper were and still is popular in the christian and mainstream markets.They got to wittness about CHRIST before millions of people,especially non-christian places.They set the stage for a lot of bands to share their faith in non-christian markets,where the word should be heard.
Posted by:
Jeff Steele on July 4, 2003 06:02 PM
Hey!
Wow, do I feel old! I saw Stryper play in Orange Count, Ca., in 1985 or so. It was a great show. But then I heard that the blonde one, I forgot his name, was having his bouncers bring him girls backstage, and I don't think it was for christian reasons! Whatever, theyre music still motivates.
Posted by:
kim on July 4, 2003 09:50 PM
Stryper brought many to the Lord, and wheter they fell or wether they did not, if some of you guys wanne be "deep see divers" to dive up the past sin of these fellow soldiers that may have some hard times at a time, PLEASE KEEP THE NEGATIVE COMMINTS FOR YOUR COMFTERBLE CHURCH NEWS LETTER!!!
These guys are near to me today, not in music, but becuase the are fellow saints of mine. Just like I will never ever forget Vencheanch for what they did, I will never forget Stryper.
MAY YHWH GET ALL THE GLORY.
Baruch
SOuth Africa
Posted by:
Baruch on July 9, 2003 09:00 AM
it's good to see Stryper together again for the
first time in 20 years. i have Michael Sweet's
Solo Albums up to Truth. I wish Michael Sweet
luck in his solo career and on the tour with Stryper. I would like to see Stryper record a full
Album in the near future. I grew up Listening to
Stryper as a teen around the age of 13. Stryper
has led me to my faith in Jesus.
Posted by:
Steve Young on July 16, 2003 05:53 PM
DUDE! i cant wait for their new cd! i borrowed my mom's tape & i was taken! dude that totally rox & as a couple o people said, they have been an HUGE influene on young musicians, i know, im a 15 year old guitar player! so yea! rock on for Jesus, Stryper!
Posted by:
heather b.stone on July 18, 2003 05:14 PM
I saw Stryper october 6th in NYC and they were great. They sounded awesome, Michael's voice was in top shape. He hit every high note in Soldiers, Devil, The Way. Amazing. And they were bold. They prayed at the end of their show while people shouted comments and made fun of them. They made a bold stand for Christ which really encouraged me. I was also able to talk with them after the show and ministry is definitely their main concern. I beleive God is definitely using these guys. Go see them if you get the chance.
Posted by:
John on October 18, 2003 02:25 PM
Thank God for HM and Praise God for the ministry of Stryper! They have been and always will be my favorite band!!! It was their Yellow & Black and Soldier's albums (yes, I said albums...CD's weren't around yet!) that lead me back to the Lord in 1986! Now speaking from a drummer's viewpoint (been playing since I was 14), I was so inspired by Stryper's music, I went and got me some yellow & black "safety awareness tape" and "Stryperized" my blue metalflake acoustic drums, bought a TAMA double kick pedal and memorized all the songs. After I rededicated my life to Christ in Aug 86, I got involved in church Praise & Worship a few months later (Jan 87) ! Almost 18 years (and 4 bands) later I'm still the drummer on on Living Word's Praise Band (w/Roland TD6 electronic kit) ...and now the drummer for Heaven's Rain. I had the chance to see Stryper in 1988 but my 3 piece metal band "Vessel" (NOT the one with the CD) was the house band at a club our church had, and we HAD to "open" of all times THAT night...we did over 30 songs in our 3-45 minute sets including 6 Stryper songs...Makes Me Wanna Sing, Together Forever, Sing Along Song, the Way, Honestly (I sang lead) and Winter Wonderland! I said all that to say this...GOD answered my prayers and on October 3, 2003 I finally got to see them LIVE with my wife Ursula! I was in in total awe (on my 44th Birthday weekend) watching my favorite drumming inspiration Robert Sweet swing those "20 lb. hammers" (as he's put it) with such precision. Due to the force he was using and the vibrations created on the drum riser, he had a few problems when a cymbal mic kept slipping off the clip (that kept the drum tech busy), but other that that little distraction he was Rock SOLID. Their show was awesome and as the other guy said Michael NAILED his "signature" vocal screams, and the crowd went wild when they finished up their encore with Winter Wonderland! I pray for God to continue to use Stryper and for the Holy Spirit to place His anointing on the entire Reunion Tour (as He did 100303) and especially tomorrow night when they record their LIVE DVD! I also met Robert and Oz before the show (and got a picture with each of them) when they came out and greeted everyone in line and signed autographs too!
Warp 7.77 Engage ---:::><> grafixrj
Posted by:
grafixrj on October 23, 2003 02:44 PM
Dude, what's the deal with the "crotch" comment on the end of the Stryper mp3 on this site? Haven't heard about this, or the photo that was mentioned... Michael seems to embarrased in the interview to comment...
Posted by:
What? on November 13, 2003 02:07 PM
Styper. The days of mullets, perms, spandex/lycra pants....are BACK!!!!!!! rock onwards for the yellow and black!
Posted by:
Alexis on January 23, 2004 11:26 PM
