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Stryper
Stryper is an American Christian metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass guitar), and Robert Sweet (drums). Formed in 1983 as Roxx Regime, the band soon changed their musical message to reflect their Christian beliefs, and the band's name was also changed to Stryper. They went on to become the first overtly Christian heavy metal band to gain acceptance in the mainstream. In 1983, they signed with major label Enigma Records and released their debut album '' The Yellow and Black Attack''. In the mid-1980s, Stryper enjoyed their most successful period beginning with the release of ''To Hell with the Devil'', which achieved platinum sales status. Stryper went on to release two more gold albums before disbanding in 1993. In 2003, Stryper came out of retirement for a reunion tour and subsequently signed a multi-album contract with Big3 Records in 2005. In 2013, they signed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Sweet
Michael Harrison Sweet (born July 4, 1963) is a singer and guitarist from Whittier, California; he is the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the Christian metal band Stryper. He's also had a successful solo career, and briefly served as singer and guitarist for Boston from 2007 to 2011. Stryper In the early 1980s, Sweet and his brother started a band called Roxx Regime and played in small venues. They were a trio for a period of time with Sweet being the only guitar player in the band. This band would later become Stryper. The band challenged the stereotype of heavy metal being satanic and took Christian rock into mainstream. With the band, Sweet was not only the lead vocalist and shared lead guitar duties, but he also wrote most of the music for the band as well as co-producing and arranging the music. The band recorded five successful studio albums. The band's reputation declined in the 1990s. Solo After nine years as the lead singer/lead guitarist of Stry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
No More Hell To Pay
''No More Hell to Pay'' is the fifteenth release and tenth studio album from Christian glam metal band Stryper, produced by band frontman Michael Sweet and released on November 5, 2013 by Frontiers Records. The album garnered positive critical reception from music critics as well as commercial success. Background ''No More Hell to Pay'' follows up the band's earlier 2013 release, ''Second Coming'', on which the band performed new renditions of many of its old songs. Front-man Michael Sweet produced ''No More Hell to Pay'' and wrote eleven of the twelve tracks. In an interview with MetalExiles, Sweet stated that in writing the album, the band tried for a heavier sound reminiscent of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Van Halen. Style and lyrics The classic sound on ''No More Hell to Pay'' is similar to the band's sound from its peak in the 1980s, but features a new maturity and grittiness. At CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis described the album as equal parts aggressive and melodic with m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christian Metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by professed Christians, principally for Christians and is often produced and distributed through various Christian networks. Christian metal bands exist in most of the subgenres of heavy metal music, and the only common link among most Christian metal bands are the lyrics. The Christian themes are often melded with the subjects of the genre the band is rooted in, regularly providing a Christian take on the subject matter. It has been argued that the marginal yet transnational Christian metal subculture provides its core members with an alternative religious expression and Christian identity, and that the music serves the purpose of offering a positive message through lyrical content. This may not necessarily show a direct connection or re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Sweet (musician)
Robert Lee Sweet (born March 21, 1960) is the drummer of the Christian metal band Stryper. He and his brother Michael founded the band as Roxx or Roxx Regime. Robert became known as the "Visual Time Keeper" for his wild drumming and captivating drum kits. Unlike most drummers, Sweet faces in the direction of stage left or right while playing, not straight ahead, so that the audience can see him and not have their view of him obscured by his drumkit. He began using a sideways setup in 1978 as a way to enhance his showmanship and connect with the audience. Sweet also played a key role in the visual direction of the band itself as well as being a significant contributor to the group. Sweet's interest in drumming began in early childhood. He cites a stop at a club during a trip to Las Vegas when he was 10 years old as a defining moment. A blue sparkle Ludwig drum set caught his attention and he "fell in love". Sweet attended Pioneer High School in Whittier, California. During high s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tim Gaines
Tim Gaines (born Timothy Hagelganz; December 15, 1962) is an American bass guitarist best-known as the long-time bassist for the Christian metal band Stryper until his departure in 2017. Biography Early life Gaines was born in Portland, Oregon, into a German family, whose ancestry was that of the Volga Germans. When Gaines was four years old, he and his family moved to Arcadia, California, where he later attended Arcadia High School. When he was young, he was bullied by classmates at school because of his unique and often mispronounced last name, Hagelganz, and for being the son of Arcadia Presbyterian Church's pastor. He later adopted the stage name Gaines in the likeness of his uncles Reuben, a radio announcer, and Ronnie, a jazz nightclub performer, who also used the name professionally. Musical career With Stormer After Arcadia High School, Gaines joined the band Stormer, with whom he recorded a demo and had performed extensively in Los Angeles and on Hollywood's S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oz Fox
Richard Alfonso Martinez (born June 18, 1961), better known by the stage name Oz Fox, is the lead guitarist of the Christian glam metal band Stryper. Martinez' high school friends called him ''Oz'' in honor of Ozzy Osbourne due to his ability to emulate the vocals of Osbourne while playing Black Sabbath covers in his pre-Stryper days. He was recruited by the Sweet brothers in 1983 to form what would become Stryper. As a founding member of the band, Fox recorded and toured with Stryper until the band's first break up in 1992 but has since rejoined the band. Background Fox was born on June 18, 1961 in Whittier, California, to Richard Joseph Martinez and Jessie Maria Martinez. Having been influenced by artists from many styles of music including country, Fox's style can best be described as having been heavily influenced by the style pioneered by Eddie Van Halen; Fox would often warm up by playing Van Halen's "I'm The One" note for note before Stryper shows. He joined the LA guit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fallen (Stryper Album)
''Fallen'' is the sixteenth release and the eleventh studio album by the Christian metal band Stryper, produced by the frontman Michael Sweet and released on October 16, 2015. Background ''Fallen'' is an album featuring the band's signature sounds and style on mostly original songs and one cover song, unlike several of their previous albums which covered their own songs (2013's ''Second Coming'') and covers of others' works (2011's ''The Covering''). However, the sound of the album is heavier, but still retains the band's melodic pattern. Five singles from the album have been released per month, "Yahweh", "Fallen", "Big Screen Lies", "Let There Be Light", and Stryper's second Black Sabbath cover, "After Forever". Critical reception Awarding the album four stars from '' HM'' magazine, Charlie Steffens wrote, "another wonderful album from some of rock and roll's best songwriters." Andy Argyrakis, giving the album four stars at '' CCM'' magazine, said, "Arguably the most game-changi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
God Damn Evil
''God Damn Evil'' is the seventeenth release and twelfth studio album by Christian metal band Stryper, produced by frontman Michael Sweet and released on April 20, 2018. Bass guitar was played by John O'Boyle as current bassist Perry Richardson could not due to scheduling conflicts. Critical reception Awarding the album four stars from ''CCM Magazine'', Matt Connor writes, "Their unapologetic approach to stay true to their now classic rock/metal roots rewards longtime fans." Andie Hardee, giving the album three and a half stars at ''Jesus Freak Hideout'', states, "As impressive as the musicianship is, the songs themselves are also enjoyable." Rating the album an 8.3 out of 10 by ''Sonic Perspectives'', Alan Cox says, "Stryper is rocking so hard and well that even some close-minded skeptics are bound to be converted." Wayne Parry, reviewing for ''The Washington Post'', responds, "At an age where many heavy metal wailers dial it back due to the strains of decades of high notes, si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
To Hell With The Devil
''To Hell with the Devil'' is the third studio album, by the Christian metal band Stryper, released in 1986. It was the first Christian metal album to achieve platinum status, selling over one million copies. It remained the best-selling Christian metal album until P.O.D.'s ''Satellite'' in 2001. The album was listed at No. 88 in the 2001 book, '' CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music''. The album was the only heavy metal album on the list. Ian Christe, author of the heavy metal history book ''Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal'' (2003), mentions ''To Hell with the Devil'' in his book as one of the landmarks of the glam metal movement.Christe, Ian (2003), Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal (First printing ed.), "10: Glambangers of Hollywood", p. 154. HarperCollins., Throughout 1987, both music videos for "Free" and "Honestly" ranked No. 1 on ''Dial MTV'', the daily MTV list of most requested vid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tracy Ferrie
Tracy Ferrie is an American musician, who is the current bass player for the classic rock band Boston and was the former bass player of Christian metal band Stryper. Biography Ferrie grew up in Northern Indiana where he was encouraged by his high school band director to pursue music, leading him to study at Berklee College of Music in the Music Production and Engineering deptartments. During his grade school days, Ferrie learned to play various instruments including tuba, guitar, upright bass, and percussion, but was requested to play electric bass by his band director. Bass quickly became Ferrie's main instrument and gained him many session gigs, live and in the studio. After two and a half years of studying at Berklee, Ferrie was attacked and mugged outside of Boston. After hospitalization and multiple surgeries, Ferrie moved back home to Indiana recover. He eventually moved to Hollywood and enrolled at Musicians Institute. While in Los Angeles he began taking jobs for recordi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Yellow And Black Attack
''The Yellow and Black Attack'' is the first release and debut studio album from the Christian metal band Stryper. It was originally released as a six-song EP, and fewer than 20,000 copies were pressed, as their label, Enigma Records, was unsure of the potential market for Christian metal. ''CCM Magazine'' was slightly critical, citing production quality and the short length of the release, but commented that "Stryper has the promise of a major success story." According to Michael Sweet's autobiography, the album was re-recorded and released as an official album, after their first manager, Daryn Hinton, loaned them $100,000 to re-produce the record. The album initially sold 150,000 units in the first three weeks.Archived aGhostarchiveand thWayback Machine After Stryper achieved major success with their second release and first full-length album, '' Soldiers Under Command'', ''The Yellow and Black Attack'' EP was reissued. Re-released on August 10, 1986 with two additional songs, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enigma Records
Enigma Records (also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation) was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. History Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, in 1981. Four years later, in 1985, Enigma severed ties with Greenworld and became its own company. Enigma was initially located in Torrance, California, then El Segundo, California and finally Culver City, California. Enigma was founded and run by brothers William and Wesley Hein. Jim Martone joined the company in 1984. Enigma focused on punk rock, alternative, and heavy metal music though it also released techno (Synthicide Records), jazz (Intima Records) and classical music (Enigma Classics) through subsidiary labels. The label's first release was Mötley Crüe's ''Too Fast for Love''. The album was initially released under the band's own Leathür Records imprint but manufactured, marketed and distributed by what would becom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
