In God We Trust retro style t-shirt now available!
August 6, 2008
I have just learned that Stryper / Choice Merchandise is going to re-release a version of the In God We Trust concert t-shirt. When made available it can be found by clicking the “Official Store” link in the top menu. UPDATED NOW AVAILABLE! The cover art is slightly altered and printed on the front of a 100% cotton black t-shirt. The back features “In God We Trust Tour: 1988-1989″ printed in red with the official tour dates in yellow.
Price $16.99
They are also planning on releasing a few retro T-Shirt / CD packages. Price unknown
Now available as well. Price $24.99
Honestly (Greatest Hits) Video Released On iTunes!
August 4, 2008
Stryper have released the video Honestly on iTunes. The video is a live video that was taken from the Greatest Hits, Live in Puerto Rico DVD released in 2007. It marks the first time a video from Stryper has been made available on iTunes. Cost $1.99 Runtime 4:16 (55.3MB) Download it today! 
Stryper Frontman Michael Sweet Joins Legendary Rock Band BOSTON on Tour 8/1/08
August 1, 2008
(Photo Credit: Andy Argyrakis, Charter One Pavilion in Chicago - July 23, 2008 )
(NASHVILLE, TENN.) — Stryper frontman and accomplished solo artist Michael Sweet is touring with the legendary band BOSTON this summer on a headlining tour of North America. Sweet is sharing lead vocals and playing guitar, performing the band’s classic hits like “More than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Amanda” and “Don’t Look Back.” Boston has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, including the band’s 1976 self-titled debut which has sold over 17 million copies to date, and was the highest selling debut of all time.
The tour kicked off in Thunder Bay, Ontario on June 6th, and will take the band to 54 cities throughout the USA and Canada before wrapping up in San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 31st. Joining Boston on the tour is equally legendary rock band Styx.
“The tour has been a breath of fresh air and yet so surreal,” says Michael Sweet. “I’m standing next to Tom Scholz, trading guitar solos and having the time of my life. Boston is such a big part of my musical background and this music helped shape who I am as an artist, writer, producer and musician. It truly is ‘More Than a Feeling!’”
Prior to the commencement of the 2008 Boston tour, Stryper put the finishing touches on a brand new studio record to be released in 2009 and titled “Murder By Pride.” The album will include a cover of the Boston song “Peace of Mind” that features Boston guitarist Tom Scholz on the recording. Ironically, Stryper had recorded “Peace of Mind” and planned to put it on their 2009 release long before Michael Sweet was even considered as a new member of Boston. Stryper’s “Peace of Mind” featuring Tom Scholz is now available on iTunes and other digital stores.
With Stryper, Sweet has sold more than 8 million albums worldwide. The group’s unprecedented 1986 album “To Hell with the Devil” went platinum and was named one of the “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” by CCM Magazine.
“I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a member of Boston,” adds Sweet. “I feel that it’s a new chapter in my life and I also feel that it’s part of Gods plan upon my life at this time. My wife Kyle has been so supportive and it’s quite astonishing - I couldn’t do this without her.”
Michael Sweet interview 7/30/08
July 30, 2008
By Christopher John Treacy
Boston Herald
In the wake of last year’s suicide of Brad Delp, beloved singer and co-founder of the band Boston, things looked bleak for the storied group, whose 1976 self-titled album remains rock’s best-selling debut ever with more than 17 million copies sold.
Last Aug. 19, musicians, fans and well-wishers gathered at the Bank of America Pavilion for what was understood to be Boston’s last performance, organized in Delp’s honor. Among them was Michael Sweet, longtime fan and leader of the Grammy-nominated Christian metal outfit, Stryper.
Now Boston, - including founder Tom Scholz, 61, is back on the road this summer, packing venues across the country including a hometown show at Mansfield’s Comcast Center on Sunday. Vocal duties are being split between Sweet and fellow newbie Tommy DeCarlo, a die-hard fan and Home Depot credit manager who hit the jackpot with his audition.
We caught up with Sweet recently, and got the lowdown on the tour.
Herald: How did this tour come about?
Sweet: The rehearsals and ensuing show last August came off so well, afterwards Tom asked me if I would consider singing with the band were they ever to tour again. But I was floored at how quickly it came together. Boston’s known for long breaks between projects, so when I got the call six months later I couldn’t believe it.
Why the sudden change of heart?
All I can say is that a lot of healing took place at that tribute concert last year. Tom was deeply saddened by losing Brad, but you could tell he also experienced a great deal of joy getting together with other people and celebrating the music left behind.
Does being part of Boston compromise your faith at all? Are you channeling your inner bad boy?
I haven’t felt that yet, no. Believe it or not, Boston isn’t your typical rock scene with groupies, girls and drugs backstage. We’ve got a vegetarian chef, and lifestyle-wise it’s as normal and boring as it gets.
Is it daunting, walking into a situation like this with an established audience that’s bound to be opinionated about a new member?
It does feel odd, but not in a negative way. I’ve been a fan from the beginning, but my roots are so different - Stryper comes from the flashy ’80s borderline metal scene, big hair and all that. I perform differently than Boston does. I run around onstage and put a lot of energy into the showmanship, sometimes I worry that it’s too much. But I’m truly blessed with this opportunity, and the fan reactions to my stage presence has been overwhelmingly positive, so I must be doing something right.
Stryper - Peace Of Mind - single now available on iTunes!
June 23, 2008
The new Stryper single “Peace Of Mind” featuring Tom Scholz of Boston off the yet to be released album “Murder By Pride” has been released on iTunes! Go get it today!
Former STRYPER Bassist Tim Gaines Joins TOURNIQUET For FLEVO FESTIVAL!
June 16, 2008
Christian neo-classical progressive thrash metal band TOURNIQUET has enlisted former STRYPER bassist Tim Gaines for its upcoming appearance at the Flevo Festival, an open-air Christian music festival set to take place August 14-17 at a recreation area near Voorst, The Netherlands. The festival was first organized as Kamperland Festival in 1978 by the Dutch arm of Youth for Christ and became a private foundation in 2002.
Here is a direct link to the acknowledgment on Tourniquet’s website…
www.tourniquet.net/home/#newsitem87
More than a feeling: Tour bittersweet for new Boston singer Michael Sweet
June 14, 2008
For Stryper frontman Michael Sweet, touring this summer with Boston as one of its singers is bittersweet.
“As excited as I am, I’m also incredibly concerned and a bit bummed because I’m leaving my wife, who is very ill,” Sweet said.
Add to that the 2007 suicide of Boston’s lead singer, Brad Delp, and it doesn’t make for a pleasant situation. However, Sweet and the rest of Boston are determined to accentuate the positive.
“This is a tour that’s certainly honoring him,” Sweet said. “Nobody’s trying to be Brad, or replacing Brad or anything. We’re going out there and carrying on the incredible music and trying to have as good a time as we can doing so. Having fun and encouraging one another. So far it’s been a great journey.”
Sweet will appear with Boston, which is co-headlining Doug Fest 2008 with Stevie Nicks, at 7 p.m. Sunday at DTE Energy Music Theatre. Sweet — who is joined in the band by guitarist Tom Scholz, drummer Jeff Neal, fellow singer Tommy DeCarlo, bassist Kimberley Dahme and keyboardist Gary Pihl — said to consider Boston’s summer tour as a celebration of Delp’s life.
“We’re really wanting to focus on the positive,” Sweet said. “We don’t want it to be a down time. We want people to be encouraged. We’re honoring the man with the music. A lot of fans on the (bulletin) boards have been so discouraged by what has happened. They’ve been kind of down. It’s sad what happened, rightfully so. But we’re just wanting to encourage everyone to pick everyone up, and hopefully everyone will leave the show with that feeling.”
Sweet is sharing vocal duties with Tommy DeCarlo. An amateur singer and Home Depot employee, DeCarlo recorded covers of the band’s songs and uploaded them to a MySpace page. A Boston associate heard the music and forwarded it to band members.
“Tommy’s an awesome singer,” Sweet said. “He sounds so much like Brad, so we split everything up. He’s handling songs like ‘Smokin’,’ ‘Party,’ Don’t Look Back,’ those songs with the higher signature Brad range. I’m doing ‘Amanda,’ ‘More Than a Feeling,’ ‘Peace of Mind,’ songs that suit me more.”
Like DeCarlo, Sweet is a longtime Boston fan, a journey that began when he was 13 years old. He explained that the first Boston record inspired him to strive for better guitar tones.
“That’s when I went from just being a kid with a Sears electric guitar and a (clean) amp, to cranking it up to get distortion,” Sweet said. “That’s when I started seeking the ultimate guitar tone. I heard that tone and thought, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I started buying foot pedals and all these gadgets. It changed me a lot as a player, and as a writer — the arrangements, the vocal harmonies, the guitar harmonies. If you listen to Stryper, even though we’re much heavier sounding and classified as a hard rock or metal band, you can definitely hear the similarities, the influence in many ways.”
Although he’s only been in Boston for a couple of months, Sweet is excited about the prospect of writing and recording new music with the band.
“Tom has mentioned on occasion the possibility of me contributing to music. I would be completely honored,” Sweet said. “I know they’re going to be working on a new album when we get back from tour. I think they might use some old songs that Brad sang on and remaster, remix some other songs and record some new songs. I’ve been asked to be a part of that process. In any way, whatever I’m doing, if I can be a part of it, beautiful.”
Boston’s Scholz is reciprocating the favor. Next year, Stryper fans will see a new album with the first single of “Peace of Mind,” a cover of the Boston song.
“Tom Scholz is playing on it. It’s absolutely fantastic,” Sweet said. “That’s going to be released by Big Three Records in early ‘09. At some point, we’ll go out and tour on that. It’s the best record we’ve done. Sonically, musically, it’s got a lot of energy, and I’m really excited about that coming out.”
But for now he’s focusing on Boston and, according to its official Web site, shows are selling out.
“I think that’s surprising,” Sweet said. “It came as quite a surprise to everyone, especially Tom. You never know what’s going to happen in a situation like this.”
by Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | Contributing writer June 13, 2008
Studio Pictures! Stryper - Murder By Pride
June 12, 2008
| I was searching long and hard but I found some!Here are a few pictures from the studio of Stryper in the process of recording “Murder By Pride”…
These pictures were taken at SpiritHouse Studio (www.spirithouserecords.com) in Massachusetts. SpiritHouse Studio is owned by Danny Bernini, Record Producer / Engineer. |
     
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Christian Music Hall of Fame Inducts - Stryper
June 10, 2008
Christian Music Hall of Fame 2008 Inductees include;
David Meece,
Dottie Rambo,
Ed Enoch,
John Schlitt,
Lou Wills Hildreth,
Michael W. Smith,
Stryper,
The Staple Singers,
Where:
Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church
1015 State Hwy 121
Allen, Texas 75013
For more information visit www.hallmuseum.com
Stormer Reunion - Tim Gaines (former bassist)
June 3, 2008
This was taken from Tim Gaines (former bassist) myspace page latest blog.
www.myspace.com/timgainesmusic
Before there was Stryper, I was in a huge LA band called Stormer. We were known as LA’s finest…. shared the bill with Van Halen, Motley Crue, Ratt, Tommy Tutone, Night Ranger… Anyhow, for different reasons we ended up going our separate ways, but always remained close friends.
Stormer is planning a reunion this year and you can catch the songs and the details as they unfold at www.myspace.com/stormerrocks