“There are some songs on the record that are definitely on the heavier side of things and will have some people talking,” Stryper vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet tells Noisecreep. But he isn’t referring to the Yellow and Black Attack at the moment.
Sweet is on the phone talking about his upcoming sixth solo album: “I think some people might even hear a few things on this solo record and say, ‘Wow! Why isn’t this on a Stryper record?’ Yeah, some of it has that kind of Stryper edge. But there are a lot of other types of styles on the album.
“There are some songs that have a more straight-ahead, radio-rock feel to them — big hooks and melodic kind of stuff. Then there are a couple of ballads on the album too. There’s a piano ballad on there. Oh yeah, there’s also this song called “Coming Home” that has a Southern rock vibe to it with steel guitars in it. Then there’s a song with a Beatlesque thing going on,” Sweet reveals.
Noisecreep asks the Stryper mainman if we could expect any guest stars on the forthcoming solo record: “I’m really excited because I have Kenny Aronoff [veteran studio drummer who has worked with everyone from John Mellencamp to Elton John and currently touring in Chickenfoot] playing on the record and everything is sounding slamming!
“Tony Harnell [ex-TNT] is singing some harmony stuff on a song called Taking on the World Tonight. It’s crazy because we both can get up there and when you hear both of us on this song, you won’t believe how high the notes get [laughs]. Let’s see, I also have Doug Aldrich [Whitesnake, ex Lion] playing a guitar solo on a track. Kevin Max, who used to be in dc Talk, sings on a track. I originally had Mick Marss [Motley Crue] ready to play some stuff on the record, but with his Motley’s tour with Kiss coming up, he had to bow out. But he was a sweetheart to even consider it. Hopefully we can do something together, down the road.”
Besides his world class vocals and songwriting chops, Sweet says he’s also taking the opportunity to showcase another aspect of his musical skills on the solo album: “Outside of the Doug Aldrich solo, I’m playing all of the guitar tracks on this album. I think that my guitar playing gets forgotten a lot because I’m a singer. This record gives me a chance to remind some people about my guitar skills [laughs]. I’m really excited for everyone to hear these songs!”
Michael Sweet‘s new solo album will be out sometime later in 2012.
Michael recently announced tour dates in the Holy Land January 13 – 22, 2013. The tour package consists of a tour of Tel Aviv, Israel along with meet and greet opportunities with Sweet.
Cost for the package is 3,395 with registration costing $300. To pay by credit card, call Ari Bauer at 1-877-999-8868 ext. 415. To pay by check or money order, print and mail the registration form found here. The entire tour itinerary can also be found at the link.
Michael Sweet will perform with his faith-based “storytellers” solo acoustic show in churches around the world this year. The performances are a combination of Stryper classics, new solo material, and notable praise and worship songs. If you are interested in Michael Sweet performing at your church, please have your church leaders contact Dave Rose at Dave [at] DeepSouthEntertainment.com. View the promotional video below.
Sweet entered the studio in Februari to begin recording his new solo album. He is also writing his first “book/autobiography,” which he promises “will outline my life and give you a page-by-page layout of the early years, the ups and downs of being in a Christian rock band, behind-the-scenes stories of what really goes on ‘behind the scenes’ of a successful Christian rock band (good and bad), getting through the toughest battle of all, joining the legendary classic rock band Boston, and much much more.”
Sweet‘s last solo album, Touched, was released on December 3, 2007 exclusively through Michael‘s official web site,MichaelSweet.com. The CD, which included reworked versions of four Stryper songs, was not made available in stores.
Stryper Tour Dates
USA
5/10/12 Tailgaters Bolingbrook, IL (Chicago) NEW
5/12/12 Merriweather Post Pavilion, M3 Rock Festival [Info]
5/17/12 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
5/18/12 Houston, TX House Of Blues
5/19/12 Las Vegas, NV Chrome Showroom Santa Fe Station Casino
5/24/12 New York, NY B.B. Kings
5/25/12 Foxboro, MA Showcase Live
05/26/12 West Greenwich, RI Rock Junction
06/01/12 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theater
06/02/12 Speaking Rock Casino El Paso, TX Special Guest Stephen Pearcy/ RATT Casper, WY Oasis Venue NEW
06/03/12 Seattle, WA El Corazon
07/28/12 Royalton, MN HalfWay Jam[Info]
Europe
7/ 06/12 Risoya, Norway Seaside Festival [Info]
7/07/12 Halmstad, Sweden Gullbranna Festival [Info]
***
09/19/12 Kohima, India Indira Gandhi Stadium NEW
09/22/12 Dimapur, India Dimapur District Sports Council Stadium NEW
11/16/12 Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela NEW
11/17/12 Complejo Ferial Bicentenario Barqusimeto,Venezuela NEW
Related articles:
‘Stryper’ Frontman Performs Acoustically In Rhode Island [Video] [Oct. 2011]
‘Stryper’ Frontman Working On New Solo Album [Nov. 2011]
‘Michael Sweet’ Acoustic-Performance Footage From ‘Arizona’ [Nov. 2011]
‘Stryper’ To Play ‘Seaside Festival July 2012′ Norway [Jan. 2012]
‘M3 Rock Festival’ Line Up Announced [With Stryper & Many Others] [Feb. 2012]
‘Stryper’ To Play ‘India’ [More New Confirmed Tour Dates] [March 2012]
‘Michael Sweet’ [Stryper] To Tour Israel Jan. 2013 [March 2012]
New Video Interview With ‘Michael Sweet’ [March 2012]
Online Guitar Lessons By ‘Stryper’s’ ‘Oz Fox’ [March 2012]