Sleaze Roxx recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalistMichael Sweet of legendaary hard rockers Stryper. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Sleaze Roxx: A few weeks back, the news leaked on the Internet prematurely that you’d be touring with Jeff Pilson and George Lynch‘s new project T&N this year. Can you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with that?
Michael Sweet: Yeah, it’s George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown — it’s the original Dokken guys minus Don Dokken. They asked me to do it. They were going to go out last year that didn’t work out so they are planning to go out this year. Right now the plan is to begin rehearsals in September and go out in October. Things can change but that’s what we’re looking at right now. I did have a conversation with George, and then another with Jeff, about it and it’s a “go.” I think this is a good fit, they are a melodic hard rock band and those are my roots too, it’s what I cut my teeth on. They are great guys and I hope they feel the same. We have a good relationship and we like each other. It’s an exciting time to represent these songs, not only the Dokken songs but the T&N songs. The way I understand it, Jeff will sing all the T&N songs and I will be singing most to all of the Dokken songs.
Sleaze Roxx: One of the projects that you’ve undertaken is a book. I don’t know if that is in the can or in the working stages, can you tell us more about that?
Michael Sweet: My book is in editing right now as we speak. It’s an autobiography and it’s close to 40,000 words and 40 chapters. There’s also a foreword and a conclusion. It’s pretty crazy. I’m really excited about it. There’s a lot of stuff that people wouldn’t expect me to talk about, or expect me to talk about but might be shocked to hear about some of the stuff we went through and did. There’s nothing horrific, like, no, I didn’t die three times on heroin, no, I didn’t sleep with 100,000 women! I always get a kick out of some of these autobiographies; don’t believe every word you read! [laughs] There are so many autobiographies that are over embellished and stretched out beyond belief or imagination. I didn’t do that in this book. Like it, hate it, call it boring — it’s my life.
Sleaze Roxx: Did Dave Mustaine of Megadeth write the foreword for the book or was it just a blurb on the book?
Michael Sweet: I think what you read was a lengthy quote from Dave. I also have quotes from Jeordie White [Twiggy Ramirez] of from Marilyn Manson. I talk about a lot of stuff in the book, like being arrested multiple times as a kid to being in Boston to losing my wife to remarrying — there’s a lot of stuff in there, man. I also have a new record to come out with it as well. Like I mentioned, Stryper is working on a new album of all original material. We’ll be doing a live album where we’ll be recording our rehearsals in front of a live audience — that will be in November. Then I’ll be starting a new project next year. I can’t say with who, but I’m going to record and produce a new record with three all-star musicians. There’s just a ton of stuff going on right now
Read the entire interview from Sleaze Roxx
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Stryper will release a collection of re-recorded versions of the band’s classic songs on March 22 via Frontiers Records. Entitled Second Coming. On April 2 the band will enter the studio to begin recording their next all-new original album for a late 2013 release.
Stryper Tour Dates:
March 16 – 20, 2013 – Monsters Of Rock Cruise , FT Lauderdale
July 13 2013 New York, NY B.B. Kings w/ Mike Tramp of White Lion NEW
July 14 2013 Poughkeepsie, NY Chance Theater NEW
Aug. 10, 2013 – West Allis, WI Wisconsin State Fair w/ Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe NEW
more dates tba.
Band members:
Michael Sweet- Lead Vocals / Guitar
Robert Sweet- Drums
Oz Fox- Guitar / Vocals
Timothy Gaines- Bass/Vocals
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Video below: Second Coming EPK
Video below: Bleeding From Inside Out [New Song]
Related articles:
‘Michael Sweet’ Talks About Upcoming Solo Album, Autobiography [Sept. 2012]
‘Robert Sweet’ Interviewed By His Mother ‘Janice Sweet’, Video [Oct. 2012]
‘Michael Sweet’ Releases Solo Track As Tribute To Those Affected By Hurricane Sandy [Nov. 2012]
‘Michael Sweet’ Joins Ex ‘Dokken’ Members On Tour In 2013‘ [Dec. 2012]
Video Interview With ‘Stryper’s’ ‘Michael Sweet’ & ‘Tim Gaines’ At ‘NAMM’ 2013 [Jan. 2013]
‘Stryper’ To Begin Recording All-New Album Of Original Material In April [Jan. 2013]
‘Stryper’ More Fan-Filmed Video From Anaheim Show, Pre-Order ‘Second Coming’ Now, New Tour Dates [Feb. 2013]
‘Michael Sweet’ Says “I’m Almost 50 Yet I Feel Like I’ve Lived The Life Of A Man Who Is Almost 90″ [Feb. 2013]
‘Dave Mustaine’ Says ‘Michael Sweet’ And I ‘Believe In The Same Jesus’ [Feb. 2013]
‘Stryper’ ‘Second Coming’ EPK + New Song ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ Available For Streaming [Feb. 2013]
‘Stryper’s’ ‘Michael Sweet’ Says Next Studio Album Will Be ‘Really, Really Great’ [March 2013]