I'll never forget looking through photos as a kid of my mom and aunt going to a Stryper concert in their early twenties. The year was 1984 and the location was Anaheim, California. My mom had me at a very young age and sometime afterward, gave her heart to Jesus. My mom came from a childhood and teenage era where she was the free spirited wild child of her family. Stryper fit into her plans to love Jesus but maybe still come across rebellious and different! Christian rock and roll didn't have the support of the orthodox church back then as much as it does now. Stryper was no different. Needless to say, it stood out from the rest of the Christian music crowd... and my grandma wasn't really a fan!
The first time I heard the voice of Michael Sweet, I thought the core of the earth would eventually be shook by its power and strength. You see, I inherited my mom's tendency to rebel and want to stand out. Stryper was that opportunity to stand out. I remember getting laughed at when I told people what they were and how they sounded. That suited me just fine. Stryper comprises of Michael Sweet on vocals and rhythm guitar, his brother Robert on drums, the lead guitarist wizard Oz Fox, and the much- underappreciated, Tim Gaines on Bass. Their signature style was black and yellow spandex, the full on big hair and makeup ensemble and a sound that would change Christian rock music forever. Stryper unapologetically became very nostalgic to me over the years. Their lyrics were never compromising and their sound never lacked energy.
Scott Ian is a bassist from secular band, Anthrax, known for their anti-establishment and pro rock and roll stance. He recalls a time when Stryper opened for Anthrax when they were first starting out. Stryper would always find these miniature bibles, slap a Stryper sticker on them and chuck them into the crowd! Scott recalls amusingly that because this was mostly an Anthrax crowd, those bibles would come hurdling back onstage! Needless to say, this did not discourage or dampen the spirits of Stryper. They were going to speak the gospel regardless of how it was received. Their lyrics have always been about the goodness of God and they are going on 35+ years in the industry.
All I can say is that Stryper was very essential for me growing up and very stable for a teenager that would eventually experience tragedy and heartache at a young age. Stryper reminded me that God was always there and would see me through anything. Their sound, their look, and their music may have been unorthodox but their lives glorified God with a simple gospel message. I highly encourage you to check out their 1986 release entitled, "To Hell with the Devil." I believe it is their most popular and highest grossing album of all time. There is a song called, "More than a man" near the end of the album. Besides Christian rock titans Disciple doing an excellent cover song, the original holds up quite well as a rocking anthem with a great message for the everyday believer. I am proud that 97x is launching a brand new program every Saturday called the Saturday Hair Metal Lunch Block! Each Saturday, even if you are unfamiliar with Stryper, you can tune in from 11am-1pm and enjoy the great rocking sounds of a great Christian rock band on your lunch break!
Blessings from this life long Stryper fan, I can only hope to bring back nostalgic memories for you or help you become one too!