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.
After Forever
Stryper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead
You just stay in your grave?
Is God just a thought within your head
Or is He a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book
When you think about death
Do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the pope
On the end of a rope, do you think he's a fool?
Well, I have seen the truth, yes, I've seen the light
And I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared
At the end of our days
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run?
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say that you may as well worship the sun?
I think it was true
It was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad
The opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near
Say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down
Now you can't retrieve
Perhaps you'll think before you say
That God is dead and gone
Open your eyes
Just realize that He's the one
The only One who can save you
Now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear?
Yes, I think it's too late
The lyrics to Stryper's song "After Forever" are a contemplation on the existence of the soul and the nature of faith. The opening lines ask the listener to reflect on their soul and whether it can be saved. The subsequent lines continue this line of questioning, asking whether God is merely a thought in one's head, or an integral part of their being. The song touches on the belief that some people are afraid to express their faith openly due to negative reactions from their peers. The song then challenges those who deny the existence of God to weigh their words more carefully because their beliefs will be tested as they near the end of life.
The song builds on its central theme with a reflection on the crucifixion of Christ, blaming those who reject God for the death of Christ. The song concludes with a strong statement that those who have denied God will have no chance to retrieve the opportunities they missed when they were offered the chance to believe in God. The lyrics present the idea that God is the only way to overcome hate and sin and that it is never too late to seek salvation. By challenging the listener's faith and questioning their beliefs, the song encourages contemplation about the nature of belief, faith, and salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever thought about your soul?
Have you ever considered the well-being of your soul?
Can it be saved?
Is it possible for your soul to be redeemed?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead
You just stay in your grave?
Or do you believe that death means nothingness and that's the end of it?
Is God just a thought within your head
Or is He a part of you?
Is your belief in God fleeting or is it inherent to your being?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book
When you were in school?
Is Jesus just a character from a textbook or a real and meaningful figure in your life?
When you think about death
Do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
How do you react when confronted with the inevitability of death?
Would you like to see the pope
On the end of a rope, do you think he's a fool?
Do you harbor disdain for religious authorities and find them foolish?
Well, I have seen the truth, yes, I've seen the light
And I've changed my ways
I have had a profound realization and have altered my perspective.
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared
At the end of our days
I'll be there for you during tough times at the end of our lives.
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
Are you fearful of social repercussions if you confess your religious beliefs?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love
Those who knock religion should recognize that love is bound up in belief in God.
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run?
Are you simply a sheep following the larger group no matter what?
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say that you may as well worship the sun?
Will you maintain your disdain for God even when staring death in the face?
I think it was true
It was people like you that crucified Christ
It was people with your attitudes that led to the killing of Jesus.
I think it is sad
The opinion you had was the only one voiced
It is unfortunate that your opinion is the only one heard.
Will you be so sure when your day is near
Say you don't believe?
When the time comes, will you confidently deny the existence of God?
You had the chance but you turned it down
Now you can't retrieve
You had the opportunity to believe but you passed, and now it's too late.
Perhaps you'll think before you say
That God is dead and gone
Hopefully, you'll think critically before proclaiming God's demise.
Open your eyes
Just realize that He's the one
Wake up and realize that God is the answer.
The only One who can save you
Now from all this sin and hate
God is the only one who can offer salvation from the darkness in the world.
Or will you still jeer at all you hear?
Yes, I think it's too late
Will you continue to mock what you don't understand? If so, it's probably too late for you.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Onward Music Limited
Written by: FRANK IOMMI, JOHN OSBOURNE, TERENCE BUTLER, W.T. WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
stephen forlenza
Nice that Stryper covered the very first Christian Metal song ever written..... The boys in Sabbath would be proud!
Todd McCann
I had no idea Black Sabbath wrote a song like this. Cool! Definitely going to hunt down the original.
Richard Harmon
@Todd McCannit's on the master of reality album by Black Sabbath
marketing major
Sounds as if this song had originally been written for Stryper in the first place. Obviously they knocked this one out of the ballpark!
Peter Werneken
Always tried to tell people that Ozzy is not evil but actually very educated and believes in Christ, like Alice Cooper. This is the media trying to control things and not listening to lyrics. My favorite Sabbath song done well by Stryper.
Sean
Now THIS is how you do religious music! I ain’t even Christian, but damn this is a banger.
Beni
Christians don't use the term "religious" or "religion." To them it's a relation, not religion
Randy R. Powers
I hope you know Jesus now.
Das Faust
Word for word this is originally a Black Sabbath song
IRON WOOKIE
@Beni wow what an "edgy" comment