Stryper
 |
To Hell with the devil! |
 |
Stryper is an American Christian Metal band formed in and made popular in The Eighties in the Sunset Strip Glam Metal scene. Originally formed as "Roxx Regime" by brothers Michael Sweet on lead vocals and Robert Sweet on drums and Oz Fox on lead guitar, the band changed its name to "Stryper" when bassist Tim Gaines joined.
Stryper is best known for basically being the first pioneers in the mainstream popularization of Christian Rock. The band would experience a good run in 1983-1992, including two Gold records and one Platinum record. However, the band would break up in 1992 due to the rise of Grunge, which practically killed off every other hair metal band as well.
The band reformed in 2003 with Tracy Ferrie on bass.
The band's name is a reference to the New King James Version of Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."[1] "Isaiah 53:5" is often affixed to the band's logo.
Members:
- Michael Sweet: lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar
- Oz Fox: lead guitar
- Robert Sweet: drums
- Tim Gaines: bass
- Tracy Ferrie: bass
- The Yellow and Black Attack - 1984 (reissued 1986)
- Soldiers Under Command - 1985
- To Hell with the Devil - 1986
- In God We Trust - 1988
- Against the Law - 1990
- Can't Stop the Rock (Compilation) - 1991
- 7: The Best of Stryper - 1993
- 7 Weeks: Live in America, 2003 (Live Album) - 2004
- Reborn - 2005
- Extended Versions - 2006
- The Roxx Regime Demos - 2007, a compilation album mostly consisting of songs by the band's original name.
- Murder by Pride - 2009
- The Covering - 2011
- Amazing Freaking Grace: "10,000 Years"
- As the Good Book Says...: Just about their entire career is built on this.
- Awesome McCoolname: Oz Fox
- Christian Rock: They may very well be the Trope Codifier.
- Cover Album: The Covering
- Darker and Edgier: Reborn's U.S. album cover art.
- Fan Service / Fan Disservice: The spandex suits.
- "God Is Love" Songs
- Grief Song
- In the Style Of: Stryper has covered and revamped a few famous songs in their time, including:
- Earth, Wind, and Fire's "Shining Star".
- Boston's "Peace of Mind".
- "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
- "Winter Wonderland"
- Incredibly Long Note: One at 2:19 on I.G.W.T.
- Jesus Saves
- Jesus Was Way Cool
- Metal Scream
- New Sound Album: Reborn
- Number of the Beast: Averted with their use of "777" as a protest to the "666" imagery prevalent with metal bands. While the number 777 itself isn't actually referenced in The Bible, the number 7 is traditionally associated with divine perfection. Stryper's stage sets also include crossed out symbols of "devil" and "666" to further drive their anti-satanic point across.
- Power Ballad
- Rearrange the Song: "In God We Trust" was remade as "I.G.W.T." for Reborn
- Refuge in Audacity: They had an album (and song) called "To Hell with the Devil." To a conservative Christian public in the '80s, even a sideways reference to profanity was shocking. Well, so was pretty much everything else about the band, really.
- Stage Names: Oz Fox, whose nickname comes from his ability to emulate the vocals of Ozzy Osbourne. His birth name is Richard Alfonso Martinez.
- Thememobile: The Battle Van as shown in the album Soldiers Under Command.
- Xtreme Kool Letterz
- ↑ Hebrew "chabbûrâh" is translated as "stripes" in KJV, NKJV, and a few others. Other translations have "wounds", "scourging", or "bruises".