Stryper Turns 25

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By Andy Argyrakis, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com

It would be impressive enough to celebrate multi-platinum sales status, a plethora of hit videos on MTV and sold-out shows all across the globe, but in the case of Stryper, that also includes being the first faith-based band to successfully embark on a major crossover to mainstream. And now 25 years after the yellow-and-black-outfit-wearers first found fame, the original foursome is back and just as explosive as before, honoring the milestone with a 54-city North American tour this fall, followed by international dates throughout 2010.

New tunes, classic sounds and themes
Given the band’s hit-filled heavy metal history, it’s no surprise to see shows in all corners of the globe packing out with die-hards and newcomers alike thanks to an undeniable resurgence of ‘80s rock. Nonetheless, the crowds being drawn are nothing short of a surprising and surreal experience for frontman Michael Sweet, guitarist Oz Fox, drummer Robert Sweet and bassist Tim Gaines.

“I don’t think we had any expectations in the very beginning of this blowing up into what did,” Fox tells GospelMusicChannel.com backstage at the band’s recent House of Blues show in Chicago. “In the ‘80s, there were a lot of bands, but only a handful that were really successful and we’re thankful we got as popular as we did. And to continue to do that 25 years later, wow, what do you say to that? We’re just very thankful.”

Though the monumental anniversary is certainly a reason to head out on the road, the other catalyst is a brand-new studio CD called Murder By Pride, which hearkens back to the group’s melodic glory days, coupled with shades of the current hard rock climate. All the while, the message is just as seeker-friendly as it is grounded in the Gospel, continuing in Stryper’s tradition of witnessing to the world and encouraging the church at the same time.

“When I wrote [the title track] I was certainly thinking of myself [and the idea of] going to church on Sunday, hearing the message and leaving feeling like a new man,” Sweet explains via email. (Publicist Brian Mayes of Nashville Publicity Group is keeping the singer in strict “vocal preservation mode.”) We’ll have to let him slide just this once given the grueling tour schedule and fact that Stryper’s notes are just as sky high as members’ hair used to be. “But then you go throughout the week getting beat up by the world and by your own pride. I have a lot of pride – we all do – and we are being held back and murdered by it. [Even so, it’s all about] moving forward and not letting pride hold you back, but rather moving forward in Christ.”

Blazing a crossover trail
As Murder By Pride amasses fan and critical acclaim, it’s also sparked renewed interest in the band’s discography, which includes such blockbuster albums as mid-‘80s staples Soldiers Under Command, The Yellow and Black Attack and To Hell with the Devil. During that time period, singles like “Free” and “Honestly” became some of the most requested videos on MTV, followed by a GRAMMY nomination, plus a slew of secular radio and late night television talk show appearances. The band also ignited a media frenzy due to its color coordinated spandex outfits, striped instruments, outrageous hair styles and even bolder messages, simultaneously becoming the subject of enormous adulation and intense scrutiny.

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