Members steve_man Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I wouldn't say I'm a huge Stryper fan, but they certainly were ahead of their time, specifically for the genre they were playing to. I'm surprised at how good they still sound, nearly 30 years later. Michael Sweet still has some serious pipes! [video=youtube;QkwXM7GsDZw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkwXM7GsDZw&list=FL8T9GzhPSZ_N9KK2uG6xarA&index=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thunderchild Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 Yep, I'm a fan. They got a lot of crap because of their image but they really didn't look any more stupid than their contemporaries. And the music was a hell of a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members headfilter Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I absolutely love them. Soldiers Under Command and The Yellow and Black Attack were great. I went to see a local cover band one night, and in the middle of their shitty predictable setlist, they played "Together Forever". I was stunned. Then they went back to playing Skynard tunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Texas Noise Factory Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 Lol. I saw them on the to hell with the devil tour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I wouldn't say I was ever a fan, but I had a friend whose mom was big into the PMRC and she took us to see them on the To Hell With The Devil and she bought me that album for Christmas. I haven't listened to any of that since maybe 1987 or so but I remember really liking the song 'The Way'. I think I remember reading that Michael Sweet was singing with Boston... maybe just a few gigs, maybe for a year or so, but I think they were working together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NinjaModder Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 Never heard of them until the lead singer toured with Boston. So... That is my only experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drawdeep Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I have seen them live 6 times, starting with the Soldiers Under Command tour. I also have met the guys multiple times, including going to the movies with them back in the 80's Was in a band that did several of their more rocking songs back in the early 90's. Did the Meet and Greet last tour in Asheville, was a lot of fun. I took my then 11 year-old son and he had a blast. I have an autographed guitar and 6 autographed albums hanging on my wall. I also have about a dozen other autographed items (CDs, bibles, etc.) and my son has an autographed guitar as well. So yeah, I am a fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seven58 Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I dig them. A good friend of mine is friends with Michael Sweet. The funny thing is that he has always liked their music and is Jewish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BryanMichael Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 Can't say I was a fan, but they were somewhat of a guilty pleasure (as all "hair metal" music was and still is to me ) I always thought they had a good sense of melody and that Oz Fox was a really, really good guitar player. Michael Sweet's voice bordered on terribly annoying for me sometimes, it was so "Dennis DeYoung" trying to be HARD...that combined with the obvious lyrical content (although sometimes clever) and their image added up to a big slice o' cheese most of the time...but as everyone has said, no more or less than some of their contemporaries. And Oz Fox does rock - his soloing is often a bit more innovative than some others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dmc69 Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I stumbled upon Stryper in a Christian bookstore once. I took a listen and liked their sound, quite surprised that there was an 80's Christian glam rock band to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members harold heckuba Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 Oz Fox= Awesome. The Yellow and Black attack was way ahead of its time. Wonder if Sweet is still with Boston? I saw him on That Metal Show and he didnt mention Boston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drawdeep Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 Oz Fox= Awesome. The Yellow and Black attack was way ahead of its time. Wonder if Sweet is still with Boston? I saw him on That Metal Show and he didnt mention Boston. He is not- quit them about a month back to focus on Stryper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blackmonday Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 My bass loves Stryper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members triton76 Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I saw Stryper back in about '84 when I was 15 and I remember loving the show and their first ep and album. Didn't keep listening but their positive message came at a great time in my life considering my doom and gloom attitude at the time. So major respect and love to Stryper for their unique achievement in rock. and check out Michael Sweet's new axe from Carvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members harold heckuba Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 He is not- quit them about a month back to focus on Stryper. Is Boston still using that Tommy DeCarlo guy? (The guy from Home Depot) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricJohn Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I never listened to Stryper when I was in high school but I am very thankful for the genre they created. I think because of Stryper there are bands like Skillet, Pillar, POD and even a band not as "heavy" like The Newsboys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jpnyc Posted September 9, 2011 Members Share Posted September 9, 2011 I listened to them until I was old enough to realize that their awful attempts at evangelism were no less of a gimmick than guys tapping out scale runs. Stryper is a case study of why good songwriters write rock songs about Christianity and bad songwriters write Christian rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted September 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 10, 2011 I never listened to Stryper when I was in high school but I am very thankful for the genre they created. I think because of Stryper there are bands like Skillet, Pillar, POD and even a band not as "heavy" like The Newsboys. Yup...LOVE those bands...not huge into Pillar, but POD and Skillet are amazing, as are the the Newsboys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twisty571 Posted September 10, 2011 Members Share Posted September 10, 2011 I wouldn't say I was ever a fan, but I had a friend whose mom was big into the PMRC and she took us to see them on the To Hell With The Devil and she bought me that album for Christmas. I haven't listened to any of that since maybe 1987 or so but I remember really liking the song 'The Way'. I think I remember reading that Michael Sweet was singing with Boston... maybe just a few gigs, maybe for a year or so, but I think they were working together. was never a big fan of Stryper,I actually like these guys alot better....speaking of the PMRC [video=youtube;I2JduO42dyU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2JduO42dyU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drawdeep Posted September 10, 2011 Members Share Posted September 10, 2011 I listened to them until I was old enough to realize that their awful attempts at evangelism were no less of a gimmick than guys tapping out scale runs. Stryper is a case study of why good songwriters write rock songs about Christianity and bad songwriters write Christian rock. Even as arguably their biggest fan here, I can see your side of this. I have, at times, questioned their sincerity and dedication to the message (especially during the Against The Law era and with their recent cover album) and I will be the first to admit that some of their lyrics are cringeworthy. I have to say, though, that taking the stand that they did at the time they did it undoubtedly HURT them in terms of popularity. In terms of raw talent, they were one of the best of the Hair Metal era, yet they got nowhere near the airplay of less talented bands starting out because of their lyrics. They were in a no-man's land... Secular radio would not play them, Christian record stores would not carry them. It took the crossover hit (and one of my LEAST favorite of their songs) "Honestly" to put them on the map. I was in the same state of despair as others have mentioned. I was dabbling in drugs and Satanism and headed on a path to destruction. Say what you will, but there is no doubt that I was being influenced by culture including the lyrics of the music I was listening to, and Stryper and other "White Metal" bands that followed allowed me to enjoy the style of music I loved without being innundated with lyrics glorifying Satan and the carnal pleasures of this world. They changed my life forever and helped shape my eternity, so I can look past some of their more insipid lyrics and the cheese factor of their stage presence to be a fan of their music and the guys in general, who have always been some of the nicest and most humble rock stars you could meet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aenemated Posted September 10, 2011 Members Share Posted September 10, 2011 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thunderchild Posted September 10, 2011 Members Share Posted September 10, 2011 and check out Michael Sweet's new axe from Carvin That's awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted September 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 10, 2011 Even as arguably their biggest fan here, I can see your side of this. I have, at times, questioned their sincerity and dedication to the message (especially during the Against The Law era and with their recent cover album) and I will be the first to admit that some of their lyrics are cringeworthy. I have to say, though, that taking the stand that they did at the time they did it undoubtedly HURT them in terms of popularity. In terms of raw talent, they were one of the best of the Hair Metal era, yet they got nowhere near the airplay of less talented bands starting out because of their lyrics. They were in a no-man's land... Secular radio would not play them, Christian record stores would not carry them. It took the crossover hit (and one of my LEAST favorite of their songs) "Honestly" to put them on the map. I was in the same state of despair as others have mentioned. I was dabbling in drugs and Satanism and headed on a path to destruction. Say what you will, but there is no doubt that I was being influenced by culture including the lyrics of the music I was listening to, and Stryper and other "White Metal" bands that followed allowed me to enjoy the style of music I loved without being innundated with lyrics glorifying Satan and the carnal pleasures of this world. They changed my life forever and helped shape my eternity, so I can look past some of their more insipid lyrics and the cheese factor of their stage presence to be a fan of their music and the guys in general, who have always been some of the nicest and most humble rock stars you could meet. Agreed...they were far ahead of their time, and even though they are kinda cheesy with their lyrics sometimes, you cannot deny their playing is/was on par with most other stuff out there. Oz Fox is a stellar guitar player, and Michael Sweet isn't bad, either. Crazy that they are still making music after all these years. New album should be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scotty66 Posted September 11, 2011 Members Share Posted September 11, 2011 They were my first concert I went to ... 85' or 86' I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EdgarSatriani Posted September 11, 2011 Members Share Posted September 11, 2011 Me, a fan? I'm going to the House of Blues this Friday to see them live!! Hell yeah I'm a fan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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