Michael Sweet on Stryper’s new album, Donald Trump, and his belief that Christianity is not popular today

By Alex McGreevy

For many fans of heavy metal music, Stryper was a guilty pleasure. I was one of them. I still am.

I’m not a fan of Christian Rock. I’m an atheist.

I am a fan of Stryper, their talent, their music, their image and their story.

I would face ‘banter’ from friends for liking Stryper. Friends who, like me, are fans of KISS, Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Motley Crue, etc.

Back in the day, I used to help out a local band as a ‘roadie’ – I basically untangled leads and carried equipment and got a free pass for the show.

Chancer Icarus not only had a great name, but they were also superb musicians. They played everything, from glam to thrash metal. And then they played Stryper’s Soldiers Under Command.

Why?

They thought it was a great metal track. It was that simple.

That was always my take on America’s foremost Christian Rock band since the 1980s. Their music was metal.

The original band of lead-singer Michael Sweet, his brother Robert, Oz Fox, and Tim Gains, has had just one permanent change with Perry Richardson, formerly of Firehouse, replacing Gaines on bass in 2017. Stryper have sold more than 10-million albums worldwide.

The hard-working band has just pumped out its fourth album – Even The Devil Believes in as many years. The sound will instantly transport the perceptive rock fan right back to the mid-80s when the LA Metal scene ruled the rock world and Stryper sat comfortably with the likes of Motley Crue or Ratt.

Recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic which has blighted 2020, Even The Devil Believes comes with an energy that belies the global gloom, and Sweet’s remarkable singing voice … well it has just got sweeter with time. Even if you don’t like the message, there’s no denying this is a rock-hard album.

For me, Michael Sweet has always been a ‘rock star’. His voice is instantly recognizable, his guitar playing – far too often overlooked – is superb, and his songwriting is top-notch. He’s bloody talented, and bloody handsome too.

So it was a fan-boy moment for me to speak to Michael, and to finally ask him why, of all places, Stryper had never performed in (any part) of Ireland.

We also discussed Michael’s decision to vote for Donald Trump in 2016 and the general state of the world today. Oh, and Christian Rock.

Michael Sweet, stripes ‘n’ all

Slabber.net: The new album, with its thought-provoking title, Even The Devil Believes, is a real throwback to 80s heavy metal.

Michael Sweet: We are like any other band in that we try to reinvent ourselves. When we got back together in 2003 for the first tour since our disbandment, we started talking about doing it officially, which we did in 2004 and released the album Reborn.

We were going through experimental phases, you know, how we should sound, considering also the music around us at the time. As time progressed, I started asking fans what they wanted to hear, and most of them would say, simply, do what you did in the past.

It was the fans who wanted us to go back to what we did before; twin harmonies, high-octane vocals, melodic arrangements, you know, all the things that Stryper was known for.

Michael Sweet

So, that got my wheels spinning and I purposely went in that direction when I was writing an album. It started with No More Hell To Pay. I went back and started listening again to the older albums, Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With The Devil, and I started to try to draw from that and incorporate that sound, the tone, and the style into 2013, and 2015, 2017, and now 2020, the last four albums, and give the fans what they want, and help the band get back to its roots, which I feel is important.  

We’re really happy with the result. We think that we’re making some of the best music and albums we’ve ever made.

Slabber.net: Is the marketability of the sound something you consider when writing a new album, or is it a case of playing to the converted?

MS: We want, of course, to embrace new audiences. We know we are not always playing to the old fans we’ve had in place for the past 36 years but the younger generation we now see at our shows.

I always ask the question at shows ‘who here have seen us before and who have not,’ and it’s about a 50/50 split. Young kids, some of them wearing their parents’ Stryper shirts, are now at our shows. We have new fans who may have discovered the band on YouTube or Spotify. We are meeting new fans at every show and it’s amazing to witness because, for us, it confirms that there are people who are gonna go out there and fight with us to spread the word and share the music. It’s cool to see that.

Slabber.net: You have never shied from mentioning influences in Stryper’s music. The song, Divider, for example, could fit on a Judas Priest album.

MS: I think Stryper has definitely been showing their heavier side lately. We have always had it when you think of songs like Loud and Clear, Co’Mon Rock, The Rock That Makes Me Roll, Surrender, Soldiers Under Command, To Hell With The Devil, and that’s because we grew up on metal.

We also grew up on bands like Survivor and Queen, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles. So there has always been a lighter side and a heavier side to Stryper.

These days, tapping in a little bit more to our heavy side, then you will hear influences. What you are hearing in a song like Divider is Judas Priest and Van Halen. We are definitely digging through the ‘heavy’ box more.

Oz Fox, Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet and Perry Richardson are Stryper

Slabber.net: I’m an atheist from a country steeped in religion, and someone who has always been a fan of Stryper’s music – I’ve always wanted to ask why Stryper has never performed in Ireland or Northern Ireland?

MS: I understand that Irish people can be deeply religious, and it may sound odd that Stryper have never played there, ever. But it was on the agenda from time to time to perform in Ireland.

As a matter of fact, back in the 80s, I distinctly remember Ireland being on our tour calendar plan but for whatever reason there was always something that got in the way, whether it was finances or scheduling or whatever, it just never worked out.

It’s unfortunate that it never worked out because it’s somewhere I would love the perform.

We’ve been going a long time but just recently we played in Mexico for the first time ever. We were supposed to play there many, many times before but one factor or another always stopped us.

So, as far as Ireland is concerned, never say never. We will definitely keep working on a trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland and I hope that one of these days before we leave this earth, we will make our way over there to perform.

Slabber.net: Does Stryper consider the religious make-up of a country when putting together a tour schedule?

MS: No, it’s not a factor for us whether a country has a strong Christian population or otherwise. We will perform anywhere and for anyone.

We actually performed in Jakarta at a festival (2010) at very short notice. The band Wolfmother dropped out of the festival at the last minute and we got an invitation to fill their slot. This was literally days before the show. We jumped on a plane and performed to an audience that was primarily Muslim. It was a great experience.

We never ask how a country is made up. We want to play where people want to see us play and we go to have a great time and bring the message of Stryper to people.

Stryper performing in Jakarta in 2010

Slabber.net: Being born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, I have seen throughout my life a particularly intolerant, discriminatory form of ‘Christianity’. Do you agree that some people who profess to be Christian can be intolerant?

MS: Of course Christianity can be intolerant. There are many Christians who are quick to judge and often that judgemental attitude can blind them from love.

I believe, as Christians, we are called to love people. We are all sinners and we are all imperfect. That’s the whole point of Christianity, we need Christ to guide us and help us through life.

We are asked to follow the good book and the plan that it outlines for us but somehow people often get on a high horse and feel that it’s their right and their place to judge other people – and the crazy thing about that is it can be people who have all kinds of stuff going on in their life that’s not Christian.

Michael Sweet

That can be anything, you know, maybe too many F-bombs in a day, an addiction to porn, or drugs, or lust, or whatever. These people are very often the ones who are judging other people and that’s the main problem I would have with Christianity. I think we need to be more tolerant of one another; love the sinner, not the sin.

That’s the mentality I try to have; to be a light in the dark and not be judgmental because I know that one day, I’m gonna be judged.

I know of Christians who spend a lot of their time quoting scriptures and preaching the word of God in your face, but their lives and their actions don’t always line up with their words.

Sometimes when I see that, I think to myself, wow, you really don’t have the right to use these scriptures and preach until you get your own life cleaned up. I try to be cautious of that type of Christianity. I’m not a guy who is always quoting scriptures and shouting out ‘but the Bible says!’

I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I am, sometimes. I work hard on not being a hypocrite. I worry about my own personal issues before telling others that they have to deal with theirs.

Trump sets a new GOP standard in the abortion fight - POLITICO
Donald Trump changed his position on abortion from Pro-Choice to Pro-Life

Slabber.net: You voted for Donald Trump, who often professes to be a Christian. Why did you vote for him and do you believe he is a Christian?

MS: I have put it out there already that I voted for Donald Trump four years ago. I voted for him because I had really become fed up with politicians. I feel like most, if not all, politicians are there to tell us what we want to hear so they can get into office, and once they get there they don’t deliver.

So, when Donald Trump came around, I thought, okay, this guy is not a politician and he’s going to be different, and that’s why I voted for him.

I don’t think his delivery is often good. I wish he would stay off Twitter. The way he presents himself, the way he speaks, and some of the things he says get under my skin as much as anyone else.

But I do feel Donald Trump has done a lot of good things for America, especially for the economy. I think it’s very easy to blame someone for the economy tanking due to a pandemic that’s not their fault. This pandemic would have come along regardless of who the President is, and the economy would have tanked regardless. No President in the world could stop the Coronavirus coming but Donald Trump has been easy to blame. I don’t feel that is justifiable and I feel that it’s wrong.

Joe Biden is an example of someone using Trump and this virus to suit his agenda of getting into office.

Donald Trump says a lot of shocking things that I don’t agree with, but you don’t always have to like everything about your boss.

Michael Sweet

There’s a lot of people out there who don’t like their boss, but their boss is in the that position because they do a good job for the company they work for. That’s kind of how I view Donald Trump. I don’t love everything he says or does, but I voted for him.

But by saying all of that, and being Michael Sweet of Stryper, that opens the door for me to be attacked. I’m okay with that. I’m not gonna run from what I do or say. I’m not afraid to be challenged for my decisions.

Slabber.net: Donald Trump said Joe Biden as President of the United States would ‘hurt God’ – what do you think of him using ‘God’ in this respect?

MS: The one thing that people need to take into account is that they do not know all the facts. You can look at somebody’s history and their record and see what they stand for and what they stand against and base your decisions on that.

Let’s take Pro-Life versus Pro-Choice. It’s not anything new for people to hear from a Christian that they support Pro-Life. We want to see children that are unborn, live.

The other side of that argument, for example, if the woman is raped and she loses her right to have an abortion that’s a terrible thing as well, and I agree with that.

You would think in this case a woman should have the choice to keep that baby or not keep that baby. It’s a tough argument.

There are pros and cons to both sides of this argument. For me, as a believer, as a Christian, the Pro-life pros outweigh the cons. Therefore, I’m a guy who typically gets behind whoever is the candidate that is Pro-Life as well.

Does that mean he or she is Christian? No.

Does it mean he or she is perfect? No, absolutely not.

But, you know, I tend to lean towards the candidate who offers the most support to my views. Again, a guy like Donald Trump, people laughed at when they heard he was Pro-Life. People said that’s hypocrisy. To a degree, it is. (Donald Trump has changed his position on abortion from Pro-Choice to Pro-Life).

At some time in our lives, we have all been hypocrites. It’s like the pot calling the kettle black; we have to always be cautious and people need to be held accountable.

Michael Sweet

Donald Trump has made some mistakes; we cannot deny that. Previously I would have tended to shy away from politics but lately, I speak about it because I don’t live by the motto ‘shut up and play music.’

When I hear someone say ‘leave religion out of Government, and this and that’ I have to laugh. I ignored that sort of call 37 years ago when Stryper started playing music. It’s all about respect.

There’s nothing wrong with talking about politics. You can listen to the other side and respect one another. I think it’s a great subject and it’s great to be able to share thoughts and talk about it and be respectful.

What I don’t like is the people who don’t want to listen to you because of your political choice or religious belief. What’s happening in America today is that people who say they voted one way, or another, are being told by their friends, and indeed family members … ‘I don’t want to speak to you, I have changed my view of you’.

No matter what, when you present the facts, there are some people you just cannot reason with. We all need to educate ourselves and base our decisions on facts and not hearsay.

Slabber.net: The song Make Love Great Again from the new album, conjures up Donald Trump’s `Make America Great Again’ mantra. Though is it fair to say with lyrics such as ‘There’s a culture. That’s building Walls. Just like Vultures. Consuming all’ that this is not a pro-Trump statement?

MS: Well, yes. Like I have said, there are things Donald Trump has said and done that I do not agree with. I think we have become very much ‘one side or the other’ and we need to get back to loving one another. I believe what the world needs right now is love, not division.

Slabber.net: Getting back to the music, how do you think Christian Rock has developed since the 1986 hit album To Hell With The Devil?

MS: Oh, a lot of Christian rock bands came on the scene after that album. Stryper was around from way back in 1984 and there were not many Christian rock bands around then. So we kinda found ourselves leading the way and since that period there has been a lot of bands. I think To Hell With The Devil paved the way and open doors for Christian Rock and metal.

Divider, from the new album Even The Devil Believes

Slabber.net: Is Christian Rock more acceptable today than it was in the 1980s?

MS: In some way, it’s more acceptable today and in some way, it’s not – maybe it’s even less acceptable today. What I mean by that is maybe it’s more accepted by the Church today but not so much by mainstream media.

It’s very difficult for a band like Stryper to get any airplay these days; it was almost easier back in 1986 to get that airplay.

Michael Sweet

We live in a world today in which Christianity is much less popular than it was in, say, 1986, in my opinion. It’s just not popular. It’s an unfortunate thing but I have seen it first-hand.

The Church is more accepting though. It’s more accepting of guys with long hair, of people with tattoos. The Church has kinda let its guard down in that regard and realised that, you know, it’s okay to have a tattoo or to have long hair and be a Christian.

Slabber.net: What is the main aim of Christian Rock today – is it spreading the word of Jesus as instructed in the Bible or is it to further educate Christians more about their faith?

MS: You have got to teach people and you also want to inspire people. So it’s both – it’s about spreading the word of Jesus and inviting people to learn more about their faith.

Slabber.net: You have a solo career and you play also with Sweet & Lynch. So that’s a lot of song-writing. How do you decide what’s a Stryper song and what’s not?

MS: Honestly, I just sit down and write. It’s never with the intention that a song is for Michael Sweet or if it’s for Stryper. I do get asked how I separate Michael Sweet from Stryper and Michael Sweet from Sweet & Lynch, but I don’t give it a lot of thought. I just work out at the end if it’s a good song or not. If it’s good, I run with it. If it then feels like a Stryper song, so be it. If it feels like a solo song, so be it.

If anyone listens to my solo stuff and Stryper, they will find a song or two that could fit either Stryper or my solo work.

Slabber.net: You are often overlooked as a talented guitar player.

MS: What people don’t know or appreciate is that I play just as many solos as Oz plays. People might scratch their heads and say ‘what?’

It’s true.

If you and I went through every song on every Stryper album, you would be surprised at how many solos I play. Even to this day, I am astonished when people say to me ‘Oh, I never knew you played guitar too’.

Look back at our first video for You Know What To Do and you will see that I play the first solo in that. Same again for Soldiers Under Command, I play a solo as does Oz. Sometimes I ask fans, ‘how could you not know that I play solos. It’s hard for me to comprehend that I am overlooked with respect to being a guitar player.

I think it comes down to people associating me with the voice of Stryper, the frontman of the band, the guy who does the press work. I understand it to a small degree but when we are on stage, the guitar is on me from start to finish, so it can be a little odd to me when people ask if I play guitar.

I was a guitar player before I was a singer and we were a trio before Oz actually joined the band. Not to take anything away from him, but it can be a little frustrating when you work so hard on something to be simply overlooked.

Stryper’s ‘other’ guitar player Oz Fox, who was recently hospitalized after suffering a seizure

People tend to use the message to set themselves up for a turn-off of the band. In other words, they will read a lyric and say, ‘well I don’t want to hear that band because they stand for Christ’.

Michael Sweet

That’s the mentality with some people out there and it means that sadly we are overlooked at times.

I think I am maybe overlooked a little bit more as a guitar player simply because I am the singer for the band. That’s how I am viewed, much the same way as Oz (Fox) is viewed as the guitar player in Stryper.

Slabber.net: Have you ever thought of just being the guitar player in a band and not the singer/frontman?

MS: Well, you know, I have considered that. I have thought about a band in which I am just the guitar player and although I would still be leading the band somewhat, I would be a little bit more in the background.

I would love to do that. I think I enjoy playing more than I enjoy singing. When you sing every song and play guitar at the same time, you tend to be stuck at the microphone. Sometimes out of the corner of my eye I see Perry (Richardson) and Oz (Fox) running around and having a blast and yes, sometimes I would love to break free.

When I was in Boston for a time, I was the guitar player and I had the time of my life.

Slabber.net: Let’s say that was to happen tomorrow … who would be your lead singer?

MS: Oh, wow. Well, I am always on record as having the greatest admiration for Steve Perry (Journey), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), and Todd La Torre (Queensryche), who guested on my last solo album (Ten, 2019).

There are so many great performers who I would love to work with and the fact that I can as a solo artist, I will continue to do that until I can do it no longer.

Slabber.net: Image is important to Stryper and it complements the songs and the message. What do you think then of a band like Ghost, who could be considered the opposite of Stryper?

MS: I know little bits and pieces of Ghost and have heard some of their songs, but it would not be fair for me to make a judgment until I really sit down and listen and learn about them.

Slabber.net: Ready for a few quick-fire questions?

MS: Cool, fire away.

Slabber.net: What albums do you listen to from start to finish?

MS: Easy. Van Halen I. Judas Priest’s Unleashed in the East. The Best of Bread. The Bee Gees (self-titled). The Beatles’ White Album. Journey’s Escape. There are many great albums we can listen to from start to finish.

Slabber.net: What style of music can you just not listen to?

MS: I’m not a fan of Nu Country music. I love all classic country music, the sort of music I grew up on.

I just don’t dig the commercial stuff and the sound. They are all trying to sound the same. It’s like pop/rock and not country at all. Artists will throw in a twang and all of sudden it’s ‘country’. I just don’t buy it, it does nothing for me.

Michael Sweet

In the old days I listened to real country music, the likes of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, amazing stuff.

You tell me that classic country is very popular in Ireland. That’s great – I can tell you why it’s popular – because it’s real. It’s real, it’s heartfelt and it’s sung with conviction and instantly moves you and touches your soul. You hear Patsy Cline singing Crazy and you just stop whatever you are doing because you are just moved by that song no matter how many times you may have heard it before.

I think Gareth Brooks is one of the last great classic country artists. When you get into the 2000s, Nu Country is just not the same. You have talented singers and performers but sometimes you just can’t tell them apart.

Slabber.net: You have one album to take to a desert island, what’s it gonna be?

MS:  I would take Journey’s Escape album. It’s not too heavy and not too light, so you have the perfect balance for an album to suit whatever mood you might be in while on a desert island!

Slabber.net: What’s the worst gift you have been given by a fan?

MS:  Geez, good question. I don’t know. That is a tough question. I would have to give that a lot of thought (laughs). I really do appreciate the things fans give me, so to be honest, I would struggle to find the ‘worst’ gift.

Slabber.net: Who is the world’s top rock star today?

MS: Geez, what is it with the tough questions? I really can’t think of one. That would take a lot of thought. When I think of ‘rock star’ I think of Elvis Presley or Little Richard. I don’t know man; I would struggle to pick one.

Can you think of anyone who has that sort of charisma these days? Eddie Van Halen was an ultimate rock star too – and I don’t think we will ever see his like again.

Do Unto Others from the new Stryper album, Even The Devil Believes

Track Listing for Even the Devil Believes:
1.  Blood From Above
2.  Make Love Great Again
3.  Let Him In
4.  Do Unto Others
5.  Even The Devil Believes
6.  How To Fly
7.  Divider
8.  This I Pray
9.  Invitation Only
10. For God & Rock ‘N’ Roll
11. Middle Finger Messiah

NB: With thanks to Northern Ireland Political Commentator Dr. John Coulter, and Mark Houston (Church of England Priest), who chipped in with questions!

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