Michael Sweet, frontman of iconic Christian rockers Stryper will front T&N when they tour next year. T&N is the new band from former Dokken members George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and ‘Wild’ Mick Brown, whose debut album, ‘Slave To The Empire’, was recently released.
‘Slave to the Empire’ offers seven new original songs and five re-recorded classic Dokken songs that feature vocal performances by Tim “Ripper” Owens, Doug Pinnick [Kings X], Sebastian Bach, and Robert Mason [Warrant].
Guitarist George Lynch recently spilled the stryped beans to Legendary Rock Interviews when quizzed on the Sweet rumour:
“That was the decision we all collectively came up with, we thought [Michael Sweet] was really the right choice. Lynch Mob has done quite a few dates with Stryper and we know Michael as a man and he’s just such a wonderful guy which is important at this stage in the game. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way over the years and now it’s to the point where you just wanna work with people who want to work with you and are dedicated, honest, transparent and have a good work ethic.
Michael is obviously talented, we all knew that but he is also just a good person who has all of those qualities and architecture and is a solid guy, but more importantly his voice is really suited to what we are trying to accomplish live which is to recreate the Dokken stuff faithfully.
Jeff [Pilson]’s voice is not necessarily ideal for all of that because he has a bit of a raspier, harder edge which is better suited to the original music that T&N has done; Jeff will do some of the Dokken stuff but then Michael will come in and do some of the material that he’s better at. The other advantage we have with Michael Sweet other than him being just a great human being is that he’s a really good guitar player and really suited to playing the rhythm parts we have which is something we really need collectively in this band and for this material. There’s a lot of guitars on this record and we wanna reproduce the record faithfully. Plus, he’s not a bad lookin guy either!”
T&N plan to finish their second album and tour that and their debut in the summer of 2013 with Sweet at the helm.
Jeff Pilson on T&N:
“Don’t think of this as Dokken without Don – that’s misleading. Think of it as a band with great chemistry coming up with new music that excites them, and also paying tribute to Dokken music which the members all are heavily invested in emotionally. Don is, and will always be, the singer of Dokken and an invaluable part of the Dokken chemistry.”
Picture Below: T&N
Stryper Tour Dates
January 26, 2013 – House of Blues, Anaheim, CA NEW
February 16, 2013 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Teatro Flores
February 17, 2013 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Carioca Club
March 16 – 20, 2013 – Monsters Of Rock Cruise , FT Lauderdale
Related articles:
‘Michael Sweet’ [Stryper] To Tour Israel Jan. 2013 [March 2012]
Online Guitar Lessons By ‘Stryper’s’ ‘Oz Fox’ [March 2012]
’Stryper’ – ‘Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin’ Land’ DVD Due In October [Aug. 2012]
‘Michael Sweet’ Talks About Upcoming Solo Album, Autobiography [Sept. 2012]
‘Robert Sweet’ Interviewed By His Mother ‘Janice Sweet’, Video [Oct. 2012]
‘Stryper’ ‘South American’ 2013 Tour Dates Announced [Nov. 2012]
‘Michael Sweet’ Releases Solo Track As Tribute To Those Affected By Hurricane Sandy [Nov. 2012]
Michael Sweet’ Says ‘Upcoming Collection Of Re-Recorded Classics Is ‘Heavier’ Than Originals’ [Dec. 2012]