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This Hard-Rock band was formed in Orange County, California USA, in 1983
and pioneered the Christian Rock-Metal genre; comprising singer+guitarist
Michael Sweet, lead guitarist Oz Fox and the frontman's brother, Robert
Sweet on drums the trio originally dubbed themselves Roxx Regime before
changing their name to Stryper, the Isaiah 53:5 reference under their
logo is a Bible verse that states, “...by His stripes we are healed”.
The band managed to promote a religious message without being preachy,
eventually earned their stripes on the Los Angeles Metal club circuit
and in 1984, after recruiting bass player Timothy Gaines, signed with
Enigma Records who released their debut mini-album, a 6-track disc entitled
"The Yellow And Black Attack".
In May 1985 the quartet unleashed their first full-length release, "Soldiers
Under Command", reaching the #5 on the Billboard's Top Contemporary
Christian Albums chart, the #86 on The Top 200 Sales chart and selling
over half a million units worldwide.
A year later "The Yellow And Black Attack" was repackaged and
re-released, it debuted at #131 on The Billboard 200.
In the fall of 1986 Stryper released its breakthrough LP, "To Hell
With The Devil", it peaked at #32 on The Billboard 200 and went platinum
helped on its way by the ballad "Honestly" which rose to #23
on The Billboard Hot 100.
1988 saw the near-platinum release of "In God We Trust", it
cracked the top 40 of the U.S. Top 200 Albums chart and spawned two singles:
"Always There For You" and "I Believe In You", both
entered The Billboard Hot 100 at #71 and #88, respectively.
In 1990, they abruptly changed gears and made an album with no mention
of the word God in it, as a result fans were immediately confused, "Against
The Law" didn't rise higher than #39 on The Billboard 200 and failed
to generate hit singles.
Not long after, Enigma Records went bankrupt and Stryper was left without
a record company. This was short-lived, as they were quickly picked up
by Hollywood Records who released the greatest-hits set "Can't Stop
The Rock", in July 1991.
The compilation missed the chart completely and in January of 1992, Michael
Sweet left the group to pursue a solo career. Although officially Robert
Sweet, Oz Fox and Tim Gaines continued as a three-piece for another year,
then disbanded.
On May 21st of 2000, Stryper hit the stage again for an informal jam
at the first annual Stryper expo in New Jersey; three years later Hollywood
Records released "Seven, The Best Of Stryper" that included
two new songs, the band then embarked on a 35 city tour in support of
the compilation album.
In late 2004 the Sweet brothers and Oz Fox decided to enter the studio
to record a new Stryper album, Gaines had no interest in a group setting
anymore, his replacement was bass player Tracy Ferrie.
Stryper emerged in August 2005 with, "Reborn", their first
album of new material in 15 years.
Stryper biography is an exclusive of 100xr.com
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