Stryper performed a headline show at House Of Blues show in Anaheim, CA on January 26th. During their set the band was joined by vocalists Todd La Torre [Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory], Jeff Scott Soto [Trans Siberian Orchestra, Talisman, Journey, Yngwie Malmsteen] and Tony Harnell [ex-TNT]. More footage from the show has surfaced on YouTube featuring Soto performing the Stryper song ‘All For One’ and the Queen classic ‘Tie Your Mother Down’ with the band. Check it out below:
Stryper will enter the studio on April 2 to begin recording their next all-new original album for a late 2013 release. The band’s frontman, Michael Sweet, states: “[I] started arranging songs for the next Stryper record today. I’ve got a phone filled with 50-plus riffs and I’m diving in! Stryper starts recording on April 2 and wrap the record on June 1. It will be released later in the year, 2013! We’re busier now than in 1986.”
Stryper will release a collection of re-recorded versions of the band’s classic songs on March 22 via Frontiers Records. Entitled Second Coming, the CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from The Yellow And Black Attack, six from “Soldiers Under Command”, six from To Hell With The Devil, as well as two new tracks, Bleeding From Inside Out and Blackened. The album is available for pre-order now [scroll down].
Commented Stryper frontman Michael Sweet: “[The re-recorded songs are] sounding awesome! Better than the originals in many ways!! One word to describe the record? Heavier.”
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Michael Sweet stated about the band’s plans for the next studio album, “We’re going into this new record with the mentality and thinking of making it like a ‘To Hell With The Devil 2′. That’s not to say it will actually sound like that album, but we really want it to be as great as ‘To Hell With The Devil’, which was our biggest album. We want people to put on this record and go; ‘Whoa! Wow! This is as good as or better than ‘To Hell With The Devil’!’ We want the new album to be a powerhouse and we’re going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
Stryper‘s covers album, The Covering, sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 175 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band’s previous CD, 2009′s Murder By Pride, opened with 5,900 units to land at No. 73. Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, The Covering is unlike any previous Stryper recording in that it’s a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppel, Kansas and many others. The Covering will also include God, a new original recording from Stryper. [Listen below].
Stryper‘s Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin’ Land DVD was released in October 2012 via MVD Visual. The set was recorded in front of an enthusiastic crowd in 2010.
[Click image above to pre-order]
Track list :
* Soldiers Under Command
* Makes Me Wanna Sing
* Reach Out
* Loving You
* Loud ‘N’ Clear
* The Rock That Makes Me Roll
* Calling On You
* First Love
* Surrender
* To Hell With The Devil
* Free
* Sing Along Song
* More Than A Man
* The Way
* Bleeding From Inside Out [new]
* Blackened [new]
Stryper Tour Dates:
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
Aug. 10, 2013 – West Allis, WI Wisconsin State Fair w/ Vince Neil 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: Stryper with Tony Harnell
Video below: Stryper with Jeff Scott Soto
‘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’ Joins Ex ‘Dokken’ Members On Tour In 2013‘ [Dec. 2012]
‘Stryper’ ‘Upcoming Anaheim Show To Feature Special Guests ‘Todd La Torre’ & ‘Jeff Scott Soto’ [Dec. 2012]
‘Stryper’ To Release ‘Second Coming’ On March 22 [Jan. 2013]
‘Michael Sweet’ Says People Who Liked ‘The Covering’ Will Love ‘Second Coming’ [Jan. 2013]
’Stryper’ Announce New Multi-Album Deal With ‘Frontiers Records’ [Jan. 2013]