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Post by Hey Man on Mar 27, 2024 10:55:49 GMT -5
Stryper frontman, Michael Sweet, took to social media to offer an update on the band's forthcoming new album.
Says Sweet: "I’ve completed the lead vocals and now I’ll spend the next few days writing and arranging my guitar solos. Then we’ll begin final mixing and mastering will be completed by 4/20.
"I must admit that I was a little nervous about my voice but in all sincerity, it seems fine to me. I didn’t have any trouble tracking vocals and if anything, it seemed a little easier this time around.
"I have to say that this album has a very special signature. It has a heaviness yet at the same time, a very melodic approach and a bit more of a “sing-along” style when it comes to the choruses. I’m really pleased with the results and I truly believe it will be at the top of everyone’s “best of” list.
"There are some stand out tracks to my ears already but I won’t go into details quite yet. Bottom line, a KILLER new Stryper album is coming!
"Stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted."👊
Stryper recently announced that, for the first time ever, they will be performing the hits and fan favourites, acoustically. "To Hell With The Amps: The Unplugged Tour" is coming to a city near you.
They have added new dates to the tour (**). The complete schedule is available below.
May
30 - MadLife Stage & Studios - Woodstock, GA
31 - Amos' Southend - Charlotte, NC
June
1 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC **
3 - Phantom Power - Millersville, PA **
4 - City Winery Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
6 - Narrows Center For The Arts - Fall River, MA
7 - Tupelo Music Hall - Derry, NH
8 - Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY **
9 - Danenberger Family Vineyards - New Berlin, IL **
11 - Cohoes Music Hall - Cohoes, NY **
14 - Diesel Concert Lounge - Chesterfield, MI **
15 - J.D. Legends - Franklin, OH **
16 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN **
18 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY **
20 - Warner Vineyards - Paw Paw, MI
21 - The Hobart Art Theater - Hobart, IN
22 - Danenberger Family Vineyards - New Berlin, IL
23 - Liberty Hall at The Factory - Franklin, TN **
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Post by Mr. Blackwell on Mar 29, 2024 0:41:59 GMT -5
Per your email, like with Dickinson, I don't have a problem with anything he said. There's nothing wrong with promoting one's work and feeling pride in what they've recorded.
Steve Brown went way beyond any of that, hence why so many, now including Peppy Castro, have called him out.
As for Stryper, I like some songs, but have never been fully on board.
I'm a man of strong faith, and I love guitar-driven rock. But the two often go together like peanut butter and gasoline. I'm not calling them out personally; just saying their faith has more often than not felt like a gimmick to me. I'm sure Sweet is a believer; he just seems to exploit it.
And don't get me started on Oz Fox's wife, and all her fundraisers while have $300 worth of cosmetics on her face.
Not to say it can't be done. Thursday is my most grueling workout - leg day. I'm So Sick by Flyleaf was on my playlist, a favorite song.
I didn't think anything of it, forgetting they, too, are a Christian band. After my lifting, coincidentally their singer, Lacey Sturm, was being interviewed on a Christian station I leave on in my kitchen.
Through her music, interviews, and writings, she has demonstrated a spirituality and vulnerability I've never quite gotten from Stryper.
And either way, this rocks!
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Post by Hey Man on Mar 29, 2024 1:25:03 GMT -5
Per your email, like with Dickinson, I don't have a problem with anything he said. There's nothing wrong with promoting one's work and feeling pride in what they've recorded. Steve Brown went way beyond any of that, hence why so many, now including Peppy Castro, have called him out. As for Stryper, I like some songs, but have never been fully on board. I'm a man of strong faith, and I love guitar-driven rock. But the two often go together like peanut butter and gasoline. I'm not calling them out personally; just saying their faith has more often than not felt like a gimmick to me. I'm sure Sweet is a believer; he just seems to exploit it. And don't get me started on Oz Fox's wife, and all her fundraisers while have $300 worth of cosmetics on her face. Not to say it can't be done. Thursday is my most grueling workout - leg day. I'm So Sick by Flyleaf was on my playlist, a favorite song. I didn't think anything of it, forgetting they, too, are a Christian band. After my lifting, coincidentally their singer, Lacey Sturm, was being interviewed on a Christian station I leave on in my kitchen. Through her music, interviews, and writings, she has demonstrated a spirituality and vulnerability I've never quite gotten from Stryper. And either way, this rocks! You take no issue with him truly believing that it will be on the top of everyone's best of lists? Not just making a top 20 album list for the year, but the BEST album of that year across the board? Sounds like similar Ace Frehley talk about it being his best album since 78. If you followed Sweet at all even on Sludge with comments he has made, you would know this isn't a humble guy and does everything you seem to hate. He is arrogant. Sweet once said that only he could produce a great Van Halen album. Michael Sweet spoke to the "Cobras & Fire" podcast about his recent claim that he could help VAN HALEN make another classic album in the vein of the band's earliest efforts. "I was just speaking out of respect — nothing but respect for VAN HALEN coming from me," the STRYPER frontman said (hear audio below). "You're never gonna hear any disrespect. And I felt like, as a producer, writer, singer, guitar player, I would be a perfect candidate to help make that happen. And for people to laugh at that, that's fine — you can laugh all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that it's true." When the interviewer told Sweet that he loved his confidence, Michael said: "It's beyond confidence. I mean, I have a lot of confidence, but if I don't have the track record to back it up, I've got nothing, and I think I have the track record." During the same chat, Sweet was asked which era of VAN HALEN was his favorite. He responded: "I love early VAN HALEN — everything with [singer David] Lee Roth… My opinion is that the early VAN HALEN with Roth was the better VAN HALEN. And the reason why I say that is because of the energy. There was some kind of a fire lit under all of them, especially on those first three albums and tours, that was undeniable. Yeah, Sammy's [Hagar] awesome, he's a legend, he's amazing, they sounded great, they had hits with Sammy and sold a ton of albums — not to take any of that away, but, man, I miss the old VAN HALEN. And I personally believe, while they're still alive — I don't care how old they are — if they can still play and sing, their best album still lies within them." Asked if he liked VAN HALEN's comeback album, 2012's "A Different Kind Of Truth", which was largely based on the band's 1970s demos, Sweet said: "Not really. I liked portions of it, and I respected the fact, okay, we're getting something rather than nothing. But I just felt like it was somewhat thrown together. It was old songs redone. Yeah, people hadn't heard a lot of the material, and I get that — and that's all great. We've done that with certain songs. But it still didn't have that fire to it that I'm referring to. "Eddie's [Van Halen] the greatest rock [guitar] player of all time," he continued. "Alex [Van Halen] still has it. Michael [Anthony] still has it — if Michael's gonna be involved on this hypothetical Michael Sweet-producing-VAN HALEN album. And then you've gotta give Roth credit too. People say Roth can't sing anymore. I don't agree with that. I totally, one million percent disagree with that. When I hear Roth sing or talk through the songs, he still has his range. And he not only still has his range, but he still has his power. He doesn't sing the melodies, but it's still there. And I think it's just a matter of — I don't wanna say 'retraining,' but re-steering David in that direction to sing again like he used to. And I think he can. He still has his voice. I love David. David's got more attitude and charisma than anyone ever to pick up a mic." |
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Post by Mr. Blackwell on Mar 29, 2024 22:12:06 GMT -5
This may be a technicality, but Sweet is talking about a hypothetical Van Halen album; not touting one that actually exists. And he acknowledges many are going to laugh at his claims.
He's definitely got an ego, but I still don't find him as excessive as Brown.
If memory serves, he was also lobbying to get Stryper on the Stadium Tour.
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