Stryper
Formed in 1983 in La Mirada, California by brothers Michael and Robert Swee… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1983 in La Mirada, California by brothers Michael and Robert Sweet and guitarist Oz Fox 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.
According to the To Hell With The Devil Songfacts, Stryper took their name from a Bible verse Isaiah 53: 5, which says "….by His stripes we are healed." Stryper they explained was an acronym meaning "Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace, Encouragement and Righteousness."
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.
The band earned their stripes (pun intended) on the Los Angeles metal club circuit and in 1984, after recruiting bass player Tim Gaines, signed with Enigma Records and released their debut mini-album, The Yellow And Black Attack (Y&BA).
Their first full-length release, Soldiers Under Command, sold over half a million units worldwide in the eighties, and stayed on Billboard's Top 200 album chart for over forty weeks. In addition to the hard-rocking tunes that Stryper's core audience has come to expect, the ballad "Honestly" from their platinum selling 1986 release To Hell With The Devil hit the Top-40 charts. The video for "Honestly" rapidly became the number one most-requested video on MTV. 1988 saw the near-platinum release of In God We Trust, as well as renewed success on MTV, which was bombarded by thousands of phone requests for "Always There For You".
Coming off the acclaim of the 1989 tour supporting IGWT, the band released Against The Law which shipped gold in the fall of 1990. Despite its sales success, some fans were confused by Stryper's change in appearance and lyrics. This lead to numerous rumors and questions about the sincerity of Stryper's faith. "We were making a grab for musical freedom," says Robert Sweet, Stryper's drummer. "But we never should have let that been misinterpreted as a change in our beliefs."
In 1991, Enigma Records went bankrupt, and Stryper was left without a record company. This was short-lived, as they were quickly picked up by Hollywood Records. In the summer of 1991 they released Can't Stop The Rock, a "best of" album with two new tracks.
In January of 1992, Michael Sweet left the Stryper to pursue a solo career. Although officially Robert Sweet, Oz Fox and Tim Gaines continued as a three piece for another year, there were no further studio recordings as Stryper once Mike left.
Michael Sweet was the first to re-appear back on the scene, when he secured a record deal with the Christian label Benson Records. (Benson distributed Stryper to the Christian retail stores in the 80's.) This union produced two albums: the self titled Michael Sweet, and Real. In 1998, Mike put out a full length demo by himself titled Truth. This generated label interest, and he was soon signed to Restless Records. The remastered and updated version of Truth was released early in 2001.
Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet joined legendary Christian guitar player Rex Carrol in the band King James. Although King James released two releases to date, Tim and Bob only performed on the first album which was released in 1994 on the Christian label Star Song.
Absent from the limelight for many years was Oz Fox, who last was seen making guest appearances on several Christian releases including JC & The Boyz, Bride, and Ransom. Oz and Tim joined forces once again in 1995 to form Sin Dizzy. Together with Bobby MacNeil on guitar and John Bocanegra on drums, they released He's Not Dead in 1998. Tim left Sin Dizzy in 2000 to continue working musically with his wife, Irene Kelly.
Robert Sweet released his solo release titled Love Trash in 2000, in which he plays all the instruments on the album and features Larry Worley on vocals. (Ex-lead singer of Christian rock band Fear Not.) Robert recently formed Blissed with fellow members David Pearson, Trevor Barr, and Jeff Miller. Their album, Waking Up The Dead, was released in early 2003.
On May 21st of 2000, history was made when Stryper hit the stage again for an informal jam at the first annual Stryper expo in New Jersey. December 16th of 2000 marked the first full blown set performed by Stryper in 9 years, held in Costa Rica. The second annual Stryper expo was held in Azusa, California on May 18th and 19th of 2001. The two day expo featured multiple bands and vendors, with Stryper closing the expo with a concert. Shortly after, Stryper played to one of their largest crowds at Cornerstone at Bushnell, Illinois on July 7th, 2001.
On March 25th of 2003, Hollywood Records released Seven, The Best Of Stryper that included 2 new songs (Something and For You). That fall, they embarked on a 35 city tour that both fans and critics agreed was one of the hottest tours of 2003. In March of 2004, Stryper triumphantly returned to Puerto Rico to play a sold out show that was recorded for a DVD release scheduled to come out later in the year. The prayers of Stryper fan everywhere were answered in May of 2003 with the new live CD recording titled 7 Weeks: Live In America.
Stryper went on from there to record a full studio album, "Reborn", in 2005. The album featured a much harder sound than their earlier material. "Reborn" would be offered to pre-order customers complete with an autographed STRYPER pocket bible. To promote the album to distributors, STRYPER's Michael Sweet and Oz Fox took the unorthodox but personal approach of meeting with EMI branch employees in early May in both Atlanta and Philadephia to perform acoustic renditions of 'Open Your Eyes', 'Make You Mine' and 'Passion'. MTM Music took the album for Europe, this version released in completely different cover art. The initial pressing of US copies would unexpectadly give early purchasers a collectors item, as the manufacturer pressed the CD with an incorrect running order to that detailed on the sleeve. 'Reborn' sold over 8,000 copies in its first week of US sales to debut at no. 111 on the Billboard charts.
Notably STRYPER was set to co-headline what was billed as "Hell and Heaven United" alongside arch nemesi SLAYER and DEICIDE for the 'Monterrey Metal Fest', on September 23rd at the Coca Cola Auditorium in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. However, SLAYER withdrew, quoting "personal reasons". Whilst retaining ties to STRYPER, Oz Fox joined the ranks of BLOODGOOD in December.
In early 2007 Sony BMG released a new STRYPER live album, entitled simply 'Extended Versions', featuring live performances from the 2003 reunion tour.
'Murder by Pride' was Stryper's next album. The first single for the album, 'Peace of Mind', a cover of the classic Boston song, debuted at #27 on Christianrock.net on October 24, 2008 and peaked at #1 on February 22, 2009.
Robert Sweet did not play on the album because of some complicated reasons. Musicwise, the singer Michael Sweet has commented that "After years of speaking to fans and hearing comments like 'more guitars,' 'more solos' and 'more screams,' I decided to keep those comments in mind as I wrote each song. It was important to me to try to get back to that early sound of Stryper yet at the same time, to remain relevant today. It's certainly not an easy thing to do but as I listen to 'Murder By Pride', I think that was accomplished."
Stryper's ninth studio album The Covering was released by Big 3 Records/Sony on February 15, 2011. The album is a collection of twelve cover songs from bands that inspired Stryper and helped to shape the band's sound and musical identity. Speaking with Michael Sweet in a 2011 interview, he explained: "It really wasn't a difficult process, because we knew exactly where our history lied and our roots lied, and we knew the groups that influenced us the most. And we were all in agreement. Because, for the most part, it's all the same bands that influenced the four of us."
The band signed a deal with Frontiers Records and released 'Second Coming' on March 25, 2013.
' No More Hell to Pay', was completed on May 29, 2013, and was released on November 5 through Frontiers Records. ' Live at the Whisky', a CD/DVD combination recorded at the Whisky a Go Go, was released in September 2014. Fallen, was released on October 16, 2015.
During an interview with Antihero Magazine in November 2016, Michael Sweet revealed that the next Stryper album, which was planned for a February 2017 release, would be put on hold as the band went on hiatus and while he recorded a Sweet & Lynch album. Sweet also stated that bassist Timothy Gaines was taking time away from the band to deal with personal issues. While Sweet disliked the idea of continuing without Gaines, he was open to filling the bass position with the right person if and when it came to that. Gaines then confirmed that he was no longer a member of the band. Perry Richardson was announced as the new bass player on October 30, 2017.
On February 5, 2018, Michael Sweet announced the band's next album, ' God Damn Evil', which was released April 20, 2018. On February 9, the band released "Take It to the Cross" as a single for the album. The single featured Matt Bachand of the band Shadows Fall.
On September 4th, 2020, the band's next album, ' Even the Devil Believes', was released. The band's latest album as of April 2023, ' The Final Battle', was announced on September 22, 2022, and released on October 21, 2022.
According to the To Hell With The Devil Songfacts, Stryper took their name from a Bible verse Isaiah 53: 5, which says "….by His stripes we are healed." Stryper they explained was an acronym meaning "Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace, Encouragement and Righteousness."
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.
The band earned their stripes (pun intended) on the Los Angeles metal club circuit and in 1984, after recruiting bass player Tim Gaines, signed with Enigma Records and released their debut mini-album, The Yellow And Black Attack (Y&BA).
Their first full-length release, Soldiers Under Command, sold over half a million units worldwide in the eighties, and stayed on Billboard's Top 200 album chart for over forty weeks. In addition to the hard-rocking tunes that Stryper's core audience has come to expect, the ballad "Honestly" from their platinum selling 1986 release To Hell With The Devil hit the Top-40 charts. The video for "Honestly" rapidly became the number one most-requested video on MTV. 1988 saw the near-platinum release of In God We Trust, as well as renewed success on MTV, which was bombarded by thousands of phone requests for "Always There For You".
Coming off the acclaim of the 1989 tour supporting IGWT, the band released Against The Law which shipped gold in the fall of 1990. Despite its sales success, some fans were confused by Stryper's change in appearance and lyrics. This lead to numerous rumors and questions about the sincerity of Stryper's faith. "We were making a grab for musical freedom," says Robert Sweet, Stryper's drummer. "But we never should have let that been misinterpreted as a change in our beliefs."
In 1991, Enigma Records went bankrupt, and Stryper was left without a record company. This was short-lived, as they were quickly picked up by Hollywood Records. In the summer of 1991 they released Can't Stop The Rock, a "best of" album with two new tracks.
In January of 1992, Michael Sweet left the Stryper to pursue a solo career. Although officially Robert Sweet, Oz Fox and Tim Gaines continued as a three piece for another year, there were no further studio recordings as Stryper once Mike left.
Michael Sweet was the first to re-appear back on the scene, when he secured a record deal with the Christian label Benson Records. (Benson distributed Stryper to the Christian retail stores in the 80's.) This union produced two albums: the self titled Michael Sweet, and Real. In 1998, Mike put out a full length demo by himself titled Truth. This generated label interest, and he was soon signed to Restless Records. The remastered and updated version of Truth was released early in 2001.
Tim Gaines and Robert Sweet joined legendary Christian guitar player Rex Carrol in the band King James. Although King James released two releases to date, Tim and Bob only performed on the first album which was released in 1994 on the Christian label Star Song.
Absent from the limelight for many years was Oz Fox, who last was seen making guest appearances on several Christian releases including JC & The Boyz, Bride, and Ransom. Oz and Tim joined forces once again in 1995 to form Sin Dizzy. Together with Bobby MacNeil on guitar and John Bocanegra on drums, they released He's Not Dead in 1998. Tim left Sin Dizzy in 2000 to continue working musically with his wife, Irene Kelly.
Robert Sweet released his solo release titled Love Trash in 2000, in which he plays all the instruments on the album and features Larry Worley on vocals. (Ex-lead singer of Christian rock band Fear Not.) Robert recently formed Blissed with fellow members David Pearson, Trevor Barr, and Jeff Miller. Their album, Waking Up The Dead, was released in early 2003.
On May 21st of 2000, history was made when Stryper hit the stage again for an informal jam at the first annual Stryper expo in New Jersey. December 16th of 2000 marked the first full blown set performed by Stryper in 9 years, held in Costa Rica. The second annual Stryper expo was held in Azusa, California on May 18th and 19th of 2001. The two day expo featured multiple bands and vendors, with Stryper closing the expo with a concert. Shortly after, Stryper played to one of their largest crowds at Cornerstone at Bushnell, Illinois on July 7th, 2001.
On March 25th of 2003, Hollywood Records released Seven, The Best Of Stryper that included 2 new songs (Something and For You). That fall, they embarked on a 35 city tour that both fans and critics agreed was one of the hottest tours of 2003. In March of 2004, Stryper triumphantly returned to Puerto Rico to play a sold out show that was recorded for a DVD release scheduled to come out later in the year. The prayers of Stryper fan everywhere were answered in May of 2003 with the new live CD recording titled 7 Weeks: Live In America.
Stryper went on from there to record a full studio album, "Reborn", in 2005. The album featured a much harder sound than their earlier material. "Reborn" would be offered to pre-order customers complete with an autographed STRYPER pocket bible. To promote the album to distributors, STRYPER's Michael Sweet and Oz Fox took the unorthodox but personal approach of meeting with EMI branch employees in early May in both Atlanta and Philadephia to perform acoustic renditions of 'Open Your Eyes', 'Make You Mine' and 'Passion'. MTM Music took the album for Europe, this version released in completely different cover art. The initial pressing of US copies would unexpectadly give early purchasers a collectors item, as the manufacturer pressed the CD with an incorrect running order to that detailed on the sleeve. 'Reborn' sold over 8,000 copies in its first week of US sales to debut at no. 111 on the Billboard charts.
Notably STRYPER was set to co-headline what was billed as "Hell and Heaven United" alongside arch nemesi SLAYER and DEICIDE for the 'Monterrey Metal Fest', on September 23rd at the Coca Cola Auditorium in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. However, SLAYER withdrew, quoting "personal reasons". Whilst retaining ties to STRYPER, Oz Fox joined the ranks of BLOODGOOD in December.
In early 2007 Sony BMG released a new STRYPER live album, entitled simply 'Extended Versions', featuring live performances from the 2003 reunion tour.
'Murder by Pride' was Stryper's next album. The first single for the album, 'Peace of Mind', a cover of the classic Boston song, debuted at #27 on Christianrock.net on October 24, 2008 and peaked at #1 on February 22, 2009.
Robert Sweet did not play on the album because of some complicated reasons. Musicwise, the singer Michael Sweet has commented that "After years of speaking to fans and hearing comments like 'more guitars,' 'more solos' and 'more screams,' I decided to keep those comments in mind as I wrote each song. It was important to me to try to get back to that early sound of Stryper yet at the same time, to remain relevant today. It's certainly not an easy thing to do but as I listen to 'Murder By Pride', I think that was accomplished."
Stryper's ninth studio album The Covering was released by Big 3 Records/Sony on February 15, 2011. The album is a collection of twelve cover songs from bands that inspired Stryper and helped to shape the band's sound and musical identity. Speaking with Michael Sweet in a 2011 interview, he explained: "It really wasn't a difficult process, because we knew exactly where our history lied and our roots lied, and we knew the groups that influenced us the most. And we were all in agreement. Because, for the most part, it's all the same bands that influenced the four of us."
The band signed a deal with Frontiers Records and released 'Second Coming' on March 25, 2013.
' No More Hell to Pay', was completed on May 29, 2013, and was released on November 5 through Frontiers Records. ' Live at the Whisky', a CD/DVD combination recorded at the Whisky a Go Go, was released in September 2014. Fallen, was released on October 16, 2015.
During an interview with Antihero Magazine in November 2016, Michael Sweet revealed that the next Stryper album, which was planned for a February 2017 release, would be put on hold as the band went on hiatus and while he recorded a Sweet & Lynch album. Sweet also stated that bassist Timothy Gaines was taking time away from the band to deal with personal issues. While Sweet disliked the idea of continuing without Gaines, he was open to filling the bass position with the right person if and when it came to that. Gaines then confirmed that he was no longer a member of the band. Perry Richardson was announced as the new bass player on October 30, 2017.
On February 5, 2018, Michael Sweet announced the band's next album, ' God Damn Evil', which was released April 20, 2018. On February 9, the band released "Take It to the Cross" as a single for the album. The single featured Matt Bachand of the band Shadows Fall.
On September 4th, 2020, the band's next album, ' Even the Devil Believes', was released. The band's latest album as of April 2023, ' The Final Battle', was announced on September 22, 2022, and released on October 21, 2022.
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Stryper Lyrics
10000 Years Amazing, amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wret…
4 Leaf Clover We’ve been on the outside looking in before We’ve lived on…
A Love That She says she tries so hard to show it She…
Abyss Speak of the devil He's no friend of mine To turn from…
After Forever Have you ever thought about your soul? Can it be saved? Or…
Against The Law Day after day I feel like giving up (yes I…
Alive Listen, birds don′t sing anymore Waves don't crash on the sh…
All For One Take a look around, won't ya tell me what you…
All Of Me All my life searching for the one to share The space…
All Over Again I've seen it good, I've seen the bad That's just the…
Always There For You Love can be so cold And loneliness gets old More than words…
Battle Hymn Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the coming of…
Believe Verse 1 Look what we can do When we get together And give…
Big Screen Lies You've got to love how they portray Christianity Just a frea…
Blackened I've been lost and harder to find Since i met twenty-five …
Blackout I realize I missed a day But I'm too wrecked to…
Bleeding from Inside Out You've lived a hard life, a self made prisoner You built…
Blood from Above Blood From Above A star to shine, a true life divine Born…
Breaking the Law There I was completely wasting Out of work and down All insi…
Calling On You Inside of me there is a lonely place Sometimes I just…
Can't Live Without Your Love Girl I've gotta tell you something That I don't ever say…
Can't Stop The Rock Ya can't STOP IT! I'm hearin' people talkin' Sayin' thi…
Cant Stop The Rock I'm hearin' people talkin' Sayin' things that just ain't tru…
Carry on Wayward Son Carry on my wayward son There'll be peace when you are…
Caught In The Middle You've been workin' hard Tryin' to make your life appealing…
Co I was born to rock and I'll give it all…
Come To The Everlife A new life to live, a new heart to give…
Do Unto Others Do Unto Others We all have questions Many concerns Simple …
Eclipse of the Son I′ve been running nowhere street I've got to mend my bloody…
Even the Devil Believes Even The Devil Believes Religion's at our door But yet we s…
Fallen You were filled with pride because you were so beautiful You…
First Love She waits alone, oh every night Tears are in her eyes She…
For God & Rock 'n' Roll For God & Rock n' Roll I know you've got …
For You Love can be so cold And loneliness gets old More than words…
Free Free to turn away - say goodbye Free to walk…
From Wrong To Right I've changed my ways from wrong to right The devil never…
God Oh, oh, oh, oh! Hearts are weeping, soul's are keeping on…
GóD Hearts are weeping, souls are keeping on ice Spirits dying, …
Heaven I am standing, even though I've been to hell and…
Heaven and Hell Sing me a song, you're a singer Do me a wrong,…
Highway Star Nobody gonna take my car, I'm gonna race it to…
Holding On Everyone has been hurt before - love will come and…
Honestly Honestly I believe in you Do you trust in me Patiently I…
Honestly (Re-Recorded) Honestly, I believe in you Do you trust in me Patiently, I…
How to Fly How To Fly I've always looked at you As a beautiful creatio…
I Believe Time seemed to pass me by I found myself alone,…
I.G.W.T It's been said money talks, if so what does it…
If I Die You are my air You are the ground that I stand…
Immigrant Song Ah, ah, We come from the land of the ice and…
In God We Trust It's been said money talks If so what does it…
It Let's join together and make a stand Let's make a…
It's Up 2 You Let's join together and make a stand Let's make a…
Jesus Is Just Alright [Doobie Brothers cover] [Written by Arthur Reid Reynolds] …
Keep the Fire Burnig We've been through a lot together We've seen what some…
King of Kings Cars, mansions and planes Income that never refrains The mor…
Lady I see you standin' there, oh so fine I can't believe…
Legacy [Written by Michael Sweet] We've built an empire That in…
Let There Be Light On the first day, He made Heaven, then earth and…
Lights Out Wind blows back and the batons charging It winds all the…
Live Again Take me and I lay down my life And break me,…
Lonely Once upon a lonely night Emptiness filled my heart And…
Loud [Verse 1] The hair is long and the screams are…
Loud 'N Clear [Verse 1] The hair is long and the screams are…
Loud 'N' Clear The hair is long and the screams are loud and…
Loud N Clear [Verse 1] The hair is long and the screams are…
Love You Like I Do You've only seen just a glimpse on me (So you just…
Loving You I was so confused, not knowing what to do with…
Make You Mine I need Your love, I wanna be close to You I…
Makes Me Wanna Sing We're gonna rock and have a good time Tonight's the…
Marching Into Battle [Written by Michael Sweet] I saw the Heavens open And be…
Mercy Over Blame Love saves the soul Hate kills the heart Fear robs the goa…
More Than A Man Long ago, there was a man who came Came and died…
My Love Verse 1 You know I really love you Your love is beautiful,…
No More Hell To Pay I am taking it a day at a time And I…
Not That Kind Of Guy I see you lookin' at me baby I know what's…
On Fire Good, God y'all I'm on fire I'm on fire I'm on fire I'm on…
Open Your Eyes Signs surround us We fail to see Through the simplicity of o…
Ordinary Man You try to put a tag on me, mama You…
Over the Mountain Over the mountain, take me across the sky Something in my…
Passion I'm all alone and no one's home I cannot find my…
Peace Of Mind Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've…
Pride We all have something to do And we all have somewhere…
Rain Breathing, it once was so easy Now I'm torn between the…
Reach Out I was looking for the answer all the time Always…
Reason For The Season Verse 1 You, you say that you've got it figured out That…
Reborn If you believe in my love If you believe in my…
Renewed [Written by Michael Sweet] I've been running, I've been g…
Revelation [Written by Michael Sweet] I'm, I'm coming like a thief a…
Rock The Hell Out Of You We're the thundering sons We're the undying ones With the…
Rock The People From the time I was a boy I knew what…
Rockin Singing out what I believe Singing out for you Never…
Rockin the world Singing out what I believe Singing out for you Never…
Rockin' The World Singing out what I believe Singing out for you Never…
Saved By Love [Written by Michael Sweet] We've been adrift, upon the oc…
Sea of Thieves We're alive and we are breathing And we're surviving through…
Set Me Free Gagged, ball and chained Feel just the same Heads on the wal…
Shining Star When you wish upon a star Your dreams will take you…
Shout It Out Loud Well, the night's begun and you want some fun Do you…
Sing Along Song In a land of freedom God has sent His grace We're proud…
Soldiers Under Command We are the soldiers under God's command We hold His two-edge…
Something I'm alive, but am I living? If I'm in fear of…
Sticks & Stones [Written by Michael Sweet] I'm a victim of your pain But…
Surrender Singing out in harmony It explains so well What we're…
Sympathy [Written by Michael Sweet] Step inside my carnival, Wher…
Te Amo [Written by Michael Sweet] In a thime when love is taken…
The Calling Inside of me there is a lonely place Sometimes I just…
The Devil Doesn't Live Here I'll take the endless trials Under the eagle eyes But that w…
The One [Written by Michael Sweet] I've blown up our world And s…
The Reign Cars, mansions and planes Income that never refrains The mor…
The Rock That Makes Me Roll Verse 1 They say that rock and roll is strong But God's…
The Trooper You'll take my life but I'll take yours too You'll fire…
The Way I want to sing some other way Always the same,…
The World Of You And I You're out there all alone Searching endlessly for a home…
The Writing The truth is right before you Don't refuse it No…
This I Pray This I Pray Now I lay me down to sleep I pray…
Till I Get What I Need I came in sixty three With a song in my head I…
To Hell With The Devil We speak of the devil He's no friend of mine To turn…
Together As One Now.... is the time.... that we stand...together as one A ne…
Together Forever Clap your hands and stomp your feet All you girls…
Two Bodies [Verse 1] Too many days go by When we don't see…
Two Time Woman Livin' life on a wire Never knowin' what to do…
Wait for You You go left I head in the right direction I go up…
Water Into Wine [Written by Michael Sweet] If He were here today, what wo…
Way I want to sing some other way Always the same,…
When Did I See You Cry Someone's child but no one's friend A city street alone agai…
Winter Wonderland Sleigh bells ring Are you listening In the lane Snow is glis…
Writing on the Wall The truth is right before you Don't refuse it No…
Yahweh A crown of thorns, it was placed on His head They…
You Know What To Do Some people think they're happy, livin' for themselves. But…
You Won Won't you open up your heart and let me come…
Your Love Girl I've gotta tell you something That I don't ever say…