Stryper

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STRYPER: To Begin Mixing New Album On Monday

Posted by aliblackdiamond on May 18, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Michael Sweet of Christian hard rockers of STRYPER has finished laying down the lead vocals on the band’s new studio album, “No More Hell To Pay”. The mixing sessions for the CD are set to begin this coming Monday, May 20 for a fall release via Frontiers Records.

Regarding the musical direction of STRYPER‘s new material, Michael Sweet told Screamer Magazine: “The song ‘God’, which is on ‘The Covering’; if you took that song along with ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ and ‘Blackened’ [from 'Second Coming'], and you put it on the same album, that’s a pretty good indication of where we are going and where we are at right now. But at the same time this album is all its own.”

He added: “Every song has a hooky guitar riff. Everything is in minor keys, so it’s a little darker sounding and a little tougher. It’s definitely our heaviest record and I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

“The people who do like the poppier side of STRYPER, like ‘Calling On You’ and ‘Holding On’, this record isn’t going to really give them that. There are a lot of vocal hooks and melodies going on, but it’s a little darker, and a little edgier. To reference, there is less songs like ‘Calling On You’ and more songs like ‘To Hell With The Devil’. It’s more in that vein than the poppier vein.”

Frontiers Records in January announced the signing of STRYPER to a multi-album deal. The first CD to be made available the agreement was a collection of re-recorded versions of the band’s classic songs, released in North America on March 26. Entitled “Second Coming” and produced by Michael Sweet, the album contains a total of 16 cuts — two from “The Yellow And Black Attack”, six from “Soldiers Under Command”, six from “To Hell With The Devil”, as well as two new tracks, “Bleeding From Inside Out” and “Blackened”.

Photo credit: Tina Enos

STRYPER Frontman’s Autobiography ‘Almost Finished Being Edited’

Posted by aliblackdiamond on May 11, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet‘s autobiography, “Honestly”, is “almost finished being edited” and he is due to fly to Florida in June to schedule a release date. There is also a 12-song solo record to go hand in hand with the release of the book.

According to Sweet, his “friend and brother,” MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was “kind enough” to write the following blurb/quote for the book:

“Sometimes you see someone or something and you think you got it all figured out, just to find you were pretty far off base. That’s a sucky feeling. I learned a long time ago not to judge a book by its cover, and as much as I used to think that I am nothing like Michael Sweet, I have come to realize that we both have had a lot of hardships in common; the same trials and tribulations, the same band problems, and some of the same relationship issues. Fortunately for us, we both believe in the same Jesus, and serve the same amazing, loving creator, so it’s no wonder that we would both be standing on the same victorious side of life, once all the smoke clears at the end of the fight. I hope you will enjoy his memoirs and come to a new understanding and a new appreciation of Michael Sweet.”

Sweet previously stated about his upcoming book: “Writing and finishing my autobiography has gone WAY beyond my expectations, good and bad. It’s been much more difficult than I could ever imagine yet it’s been somewhat therapeutic being able to talk about my life and the past 30+ years of all things STRYPER. I get into everything and share things that may surprise you. I talk about the disfunction in this band, the pain and heartache of being so close to each other that we sometimes hurt each other the most, the ups and downs from our highest point (1987-1988) to our lowest point (1991-1992) and why we were driven to bankruptcy and how we climbed our way back from complete loss and despair. I share my personal pain from considering to give up music altogether to the day I broke the news to the guys that I would be leaving the band and why. From that day forward, I had everything a man could ask for and then, in what seemed like an instant, it was all taken away.

“I’m almost 50 yet I feel like I’ve lived the life of a man who is almost 90. I look back on everything and all I can say is thank you God for allowing me to serve you and for giving me my gift, my life!

“‘Honestly’ will be available soon and I can say from the bottom of my heart, it is brutally honest and my hopes and prayers are that it touches you in some way.”

Michael‘s new solo album will be issued via Big3 Records. Guest musicians set to appear on the CD include CHICKENFOOT drummer Kenny Aronoff, FOZZY singer Chris Jericho, WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich; Tony Harnell of TNT, and Michael‘s brother Robert Sweet and STRYPER‘s Timothy Gaines.

Regarding Harnell‘s appearance on the CD, Sweet previously stated, “I think Tony is truly one of the most underrated singers of all time. He’s always been one of my favorites and is an incredibly nice, humble guy to boot. I’ve always wanted to work with Tony and I knew this would be the perfect song and opportunity to do so. ‘Taking On The World Tonight’ is very heavy with a combination of old-school riffs and solos yet it’s got a very modern, relevant sound as well. It’s the best of both worlds!”

STRYPER: New Album Title Revealed

Posted by aliblackdiamond on May 8, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Christian hard rockers STRYPER have set “No More Hell To Pay” as the title of their new studio album, due this fall via Frontiers Records.

Regarding the musical direction of STRYPER‘s new material, the band’s guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet told Screamer Magazine: “The song ‘God’, which is on ‘The Covering’; if you took that song along with ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ and ‘Blackened’ [from 'Second Coming'], and you put it on the same album, that’s a pretty good indication of where we are going and where we are at right now. But at the same time this album is all its own.”

He added: “Every song has a hooky guitar riff. Everything is in minor keys, so it’s a little darker sounding and a little tougher. It’s definitely our heaviest record and I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

“The people who do like the poppier side of STRYPER, like ‘Calling On You’ and ‘Holding On’, this record isn’t going to really give them that. There are a lot of vocal hooks and melodies going on, but it’s a little darker, and a little edgier. To reference, there is less songs like ‘Calling On You’ and more songs like ‘To Hell With The Devil’. It’s more in that vein than the poppier vein.”

As previously reported, STRYPER is recording a cover version of “Jesus Is Just Alright”, a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds, for its next studio CD. Sweet said, “It rivals our cover of EARTH, WIND & FIRE‘s ‘Shining Star’ — riffs!”

“Jesus Is Just Alright” was first recorded by Reynolds‘ own group, THE ART REYNOLDS SINGERS, on their 1966 album, “Tellin’ It Like It Is”. It was later covered by THE BYRDS and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS.

Michael Sweet previously stated that the new STRYPER CD would contain “the best [songs] of our career [with] no pop or fluff musically or lyrically.” He added: “I’m counting the days for its arrival and when it does arrive, it will be like a train speeding down the tracks — fast, heavy, unstoppable and loud! I get excited for every record, but I’ve never quite been this excited before. This record will be one for the books, and in my humble opinion, our best yet bar none. No pride here, just confidence that it’s going to be great — really, really great.”

In a 2012 interview with Guitar World, Michael Sweet stated about STRYPER‘s plans for the next album: “We’re going into this new record with the mentality and thinking of making it like a ‘To Hell With The Devil 2′. That’s not to say it will actually sound like that album, but we really want it to be as great as ‘To Hell With The Devil’, which was our biggest album. We want people to put on this record and go; ‘Whoa! Wow! This is as good as or better than ‘To Hell With The Devil’!’ We want the new album to be a powerhouse and we’re going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Frontiers Records in January announced the signing of STRYPER to a multi-album deal. The first CD to be made available the agreement was a collection of re-recorded versions of the band’s classic songs, released in North America on March 26. Entitled “Second Coming” and produced by Michael Sweet, the album contains a total of 16 cuts — two from “The Yellow And Black Attack”, six from “Soldiers Under Command”, six from “To Hell With The Devil”, as well as two new tracks, “Bleeding From Inside Out” and “Blackened”.

Photo credit: Tina Enos

STRYPER Members Mourn Passing Of SINDIZZY Bandmate Bobby MacNeil

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 2, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

STRYPER members Tim Gaines and Oz Fox are sad to announce the loss of their former SINDIZZY bandmate and brother Bobby MacNeil.

Fox: “An amazing artist and influential guitarist. I will miss him dearly.”

R.I.P. Bobby MacNeil! \m/

R.I.P. Bobby MacNeil! \m/

SinDizzy released one album, He’s Not Dead, in 1998. The album was re-released in 2008 via Girder Records with all new artwork and liner notes and more, although the release was never authorized by Tim Gaines, who holds the rights to the Sin Dizzy name.

For more information on the band go to this location.

STRYPER To Begin Recording All-New Album Of Original Material In March

Posted by aliblackdiamond on January 15, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net 

Christian rockers STRYPER will enter the studio in March to begin work on their next all-new original album for a late 2013 release.

In a 2012 interview with Guitar World, STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet stated about the band’s plans for the next studio CD: “We’re going into this new record with the mentality and thinking of making it like a ‘To Hell With The Devil 2′. That’s not to say it will actually sound like that album, but we really want it to be as great as ‘To Hell With The Devil’, which was our biggest album. We want people to put on this record and go; ‘Whoa! Wow! This is as good as or better than ‘To Hell With The Devil’!’ We want the new album to be a powerhouse and we’re going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Frontiers Records yesterday announced the signing of STRYPER to a multi-album deal. The first CD to be made available the agreement will be a collection of re-recorded versions of the band’s classic songs, due in North America on March 26. Entitled “Second Coming” and produced by Michael Sweet, the CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from “The Yellow And Black Attack”, six from “Soldiers Under Command”, six from “To Hell With The Devil”, as well as two new tracks, “Bleeding From Inside Out” and “Blackened”.

STRYPER‘s “Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin’ Land” DVD was released in October 2012 via MVD Visual. The set was recorded in front of an enthusiastic crowd in 2010.

The band’s covers album, “The Covering”, was unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it was a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. “The Covering” also included “God”, a new original recording from STRYPER.

Photo credit: Tina Enos

STRYPER: Title Of New Album Revealed, Release Date Confirmed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 11, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

According to an update from STRYPER, the band’s new album featuring re-recorded songs from their catalogue will be released on March 22nd via Frontiers Records. It will be entitled Second Coming.

Stryper2012

Frontman Michael Sweet has checked in with the following update:

“These mixes are sounding dope! No, doesn’t sound right. They’re sounding high! Nope, not right either. They’re sounding smokin’!”

Second Coming will feature two new songs ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ and ‘Blackened’ and tracks from the The Yellow And Black Attack, Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With The Devil.

Frontman Michael Sweet: “The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome! Better than the originals in many ways!! One word to describe the record? Heavier.”

The tracklist is as follows:

‘Soldiers Under Command’
‘Makes Me Wanna Sing’
‘Reach Out’
‘Loving You’
‘Loud ‘N’ Clear’
‘The Rock That Makes Me Roll’
‘Calling On You’
‘First Love’
‘Surrender’
‘To Hell With The Devil’
‘Free’
‘Sing Along Song’
‘More Than A Man’
‘The Way’
‘Bleeding From Inside Out’
‘Blackened’

Stryper recently announced they will be headlining a winter NAMM House Of Blues show Anaheim, CA on January 26th, and that vocalists Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE, CRIMSON GLORY) and Jeff Scott Soto (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, ex-TALISMAN) will be joining the band on stage during the show. Vocalist Tony Harnell (ex-TNT) has been added to the roster and is due to perform Stryper’s ‘The Rock That makes me Roll’ and the UFO classic ‘Lights Out’.

As previously reported, La Torre will be performing the IRON MAIDEN classic ‘The Trooper’ and Stryper’s ‘Surrender’ with the band. Soto will be performing QUEEN’s ‘Tie Your Mother Down’ and Stryper’s ‘All For One’.

Tickets are now available here.

STRYPER Post Video Message To South American Fans

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 1, 2013
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

STRYPER are due to perform in Argentina and Brazil in February, and they have issued the following video message to their South American fans:

The band’s schedule is currently as follows:

February
16 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Teatro Flores
17 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Carioca Club

Stryper recently announced they will be headlining a winter NAMM House Of Blues show Anaheim, CA on January 26th, and that vocalists Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE, CRIMSON GLORY) and Jeff Scott Soto (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, ex-TALISMAN) will be joining the band on stage during the show. According to an update from the band, La Torre will be performing the IRON MAIDEN classic ‘The Trooper’ and Stryper’s ‘Surrender’ with the band. Soto will be performing the QUEEN classic ‘Tie Your Mother Down’ and Stryper’s ‘All For One’.

Stay tuned for more news regarding more guests to take the stage with Stryper.

Stryper2012

STRYPER Confirm Headline Show In Anaheim For NAMM 2013

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 14, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

God rockers STRYPER have checked in with the following update:

“It’s official – Stryper will be headlining another winter NAMM House Of Blues show Anaheim, CA on January 26th. Be sure to come out and see Tim and Mike at the Overture Guitars booth, and check out our Overture signature guitars and basses.”

More details and ticket information will be available soon.

Stryper2012

Stryper are gearing up for the release of an album’s worth of re-recorded versions of songs from their catalogue. The album – slated to be issued via Frontiers Records in March/April 2013 – will feature two new songs ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ and ‘Blackened’ and tracks from the The Yellow And Black Attack, Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With The Devil.

Frontman Michael Sweet: “The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome! Better than the originals in many ways!! One word to describe the record? Heavier.”

The tracklist is as follows:

‘Soldiers Under Command’
‘Makes Me Wanna Sing’
‘Reach Out’
‘Loving You’
‘Loud ‘N’ Clear’
‘The Rock That Makes Me Roll’
‘Calling On You’
‘First Love’
‘Surrender’
‘To Hell With The Devil’
‘Free’
‘Sing Along Song’
‘More Than A Man’
‘The Way’
‘Bleeding From Inside Out’
‘Blackened’

Stryper will tour South America in 2013. Thus far, two shows have been confirmed:

February
16 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Teatro Flores
17 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Carioca Club

WENDY DIO Says STRYPER’s ‘Heaven And Hell’ Cover Was ‘Great’ (Video)

Posted by aliblackdiamond on December 6, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

Source: Blabbermouth.net 

Wendy Dio, the widow and longtime manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, HEAVEN & HELL), spoke to Eric Blair of “The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show” at this past Saturday’s (December 1) Icons & Idols-Rock ‘N’ Roll Auction at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California.

Asked for her opinion of STRYPER‘s cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic “Heaven And Hell”, Wendy said (see video), “I think they’re a great band, and I think it’s great that they would do something like that. I really do; I think it’s great. A lot of people do covers, and if they do them well, I think it’s great. It’s a very nice acknowledgement as well.”

STRYPER‘s version of “Heaven And Hell” was included on the band’s covers album, “The Covering”, which sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 175 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, “The Covering” was unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it was a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others.

STRYPER: Tracklist Of Forthcoming Re-Recordings Album Revealed

Posted by tarjavirmakari on December 2, 2012
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: . Leave a Comment

Source: Bravewords.com

God rockers STRYPER are gearing up for the release of an album’s worth of re-recorded versions of songs from their catalogue. The album – slated to be issued via Frontiers Records in March/April 2013 – will feature two new songs ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ and ‘Blackened’ and tracks from the The Yellow And Black Attack, Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With The Devil.

Frontman Michael Sweet: “The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome! Better than the originals in many ways!! One word to describe the record? Heavier.”

Stryper2012

The tracklist is as follows:

‘Soldiers Under Command’
‘Makes Me Wanna Sing’
‘Reach Out’
‘Loving You’
‘Loud ‘N’ Clear’
‘The Rock That Makes Me Roll’
‘Calling On You’
‘First Love’
‘Surrender’
‘To Hell With The Devil’
‘Free’
‘Sing Along Song’
‘More Than A Man’
‘The Way’
‘Bleeding From Inside Out’
‘Blackened’

As previously reported, Stryper will tour South America in 2013. Thus far, two shows have been confirmed:

February
16 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Teatro Flores
17 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Carioca Club