KEEP THE FIRE BURNING - GUITARIST OZ FOX CONTINUES TO SPREAD THE WORD OF RE-UNITED CHRISTIAN ROCKERS STRYPER
Interview: Mark Brimble
20 January 2006
Just like I was taught in Physics class all those years ago, every wave has its origin. As we all see when we hit the beach in the summer, the bigger the wave, the bigger the crowd that will surf it. In the early 1980s there were only a few bands that could legitimately stake a claim to being wave makers rather than just surfers. STRYPER are one of them.
STRYPER burst on to the scene back in 1984 in a flash of yellow and black, and their novel approach of mixing Christian lyrics with high voltage Hard Rock started a set that kept hitting the charts for almost a decade. Over the next 7 years STRYPER notched up platinum records, spread their word live to millions of fans worldwide, and spawned a huge generation of Christian Rock artists that adopted their successful formula. With the turn of the decade came a change in the climate, and in 1992 STRYPER sadly called it a day. Like so many of their contemporaries they had been flattened by a tsunami known only as ‘Grunge’.
However as the new millennium began ripples once again emanated from the STRYPER camp. Thousands of emails, a reunion show in Central America, and a hugely successful Expo convinced STRYPER that once again the time was right to continue their calling. In the autumn of 2005 STRYPER were officially reborn with a new studio album and a new line-up featuring ex-WHITECROSS guitarist Tracy Ferrie.
I caught up with STRYPER guitarist and founding member Oz Fox (a.k.a. Richard Martinez) only a few days after he had returned home from nation-wide U.S. dates. Enthused by the rave reviews for 'Reborn' and the response to their new tour, Oz was happy for me to grill him for over an hour on everything that intrigued me about STRYPER. As I probed for information on delicate matters like the humbling days after STRYPER disbanded, the departure of Tim Gaines, and the sincerity of their Christian approach, I was moved by Oz's honesty, humility and dedication. Like many others he has seen both the light and dark side of success but few have come through with such a positive outlook. STRYPER are back and this time it will take something bigger than Grunge to stop them.
How did the tour go?
"It went really well! We played a number of large clubs including the 'House Of Blues' venues. The ticket sales went very well and if it wasn't a full house, it was close to sold out."
What has been the general response to the new material?
"The response to the new material has been extremely enthusiastic and positive. Everybody is very pleased with the new sound and the new direction."
'Reborn' has had some fantastic reviews all over the globe. Has the album received the response you hoped for?
"I don't think we could have seen a better response, not only from our fans but also from people that have never heard us before."
That's great to hear because it is hard for established bands to gain new fans, especially considering the long break since your last studio album.
"Yeah, absolutely. Having been gone for the last 12 – 13 years and then reforming, it's almost like starting over again, although what's nice this time is that rather than starting off in a garage we are starting off globally. I mean, that says a lot!"
That is true! Was the experience very different from when you wrote 'Against The Law'?
"Well, to be honest with you, this was mostly put together by MICHAEL SWEET – he actually wrote, arranged and produced this album as well. Originally he was going to shop this as a solo project and then I received a call from him after we had performed with our new bass player Tracy Ferrie. In his heart he felt it was time for STRYPER to reform and things seemed extremely harmonious in a new way. So he thought 'why don't we take these songs I have and re-record the demo with the newly formed STRYPER?'. This sounded good to me because Michael has always been the chief song-writer in the group, and to be honest, with me and my personal life, I wouldn't have had time to really sit down and write a whole album. I heard Michael's demos and was very enthusiastic about the music, the arrangements, and of course the lyrics which have a lot of meaning to them and actually touch my heart in so many ways. I was gung-ho about doing it and not just because of my passion for playing music and performing, but also because of my passion for sharing my faith and what I believe in. STRYPER has been a huge platform for that and to have the opportunity to do that again was a very good thing in my mind."
It seems clear that Michael was the main driving force behind 'Reborn', but do you think STRYPER would have reformed and recorded new material even if Michael had not donated his new solo work for the album?
"I actually felt that we were not going to get back together and reform before Michael came in with his idea."
Yet the response to the new album has been so fantastic that this really could be the start of second chapter for STRYPER.
"Seriously, yes! To be honest, I think that all of the things that occurred to cause Michael to feel like going forward with this were meant to be. We weren't planning to reform and record but when our new bass player came in to the picture and things seemed to be very harmonious at that time, it put a new inspiration in Michael's heart to want to try this again and see if it could work. I honestly believe now that Michael's heart is set on this and where he was probably apprehensive in the past he is extremely enthusiastic now – mostly because of the new attitude in the group and the new camaraderie that we have."
Speaking of camaraderie, many fans were of course sad to see original member Tim Gaines leave the band but am I right to think that things became difficult before he departed? Is that why things are more harmonious now?
"Well, Tim wasn't happy – he had not been happy for a long time. He had recently remarried and he had been working with his wife who is also a songwriter and an artist, and his musical interests began to change. I don't know if you saw the last tour we did with him but his whole look and image had kind of gone away from what the band is known for. He wanted to be in more of a Jazz kind of genre with his playing and kind of felt like he had had enough of this type of music."
I read an online interview with him where he implied, without mentioning STRYPER or any individual names, that during most of his career he had felt creatively restricted and couldn't express his ideas freely.
"Well, to be honest with you, when Tim's ideas would come forth they were different and not particularly in the genre of STRYPER. Mike was pretty much the director as to which direction the band would go and he is very adamant about making sure that things are musically in cahoots with everything we are doing. Many times Tim's ideas were tried and worked with but they never evolved into anything, and that's what happens. It has happened with some of the ideas that I had but I didn't get discouraged. I just thought that 'maybe this isn't right for the band'. Of course I ended up doing another project on my own (SIN DIZZY) and that was my way of having an outlet to do something different aside from STRYPER and it also gave me a chance to be a frontman and experience that as well."
Although I remember you also took the frontman position in STRYPER for a few dates at the end of the 'Against The Law' tour following Michael's departure from the band, and according to eye (and ear) witnesses you were more than capable! I think a lot of people are unaware of your vocal talents.
"Yeah, that did happen but I didn't set out to be the singer. It was just part of taking care of the commitments we had at that time. We didn't want to let anyone down. When I did sing it was obviously a challenge for me but it also led me to think 'maybe I ought to try that!' and that's what led to doing SIN DIZZY when all of the circumstances were right."
I know a lot of people would like to hear SIN DIZZY. Can you still buy the CD?
"Actually I have the last 300 or so CDs in my storage unit. I have a guy who is running my website (www.sindizzy.com) and if you go there you can still order it. If you're out of the country it may take a while to get it but yes, I believe the CD is still available at the moment via that website."
I shall order my copy tomorrow then! Coming back briefly to the subject of Tim again… despite the fact he left STRYPER to pursue different musical directions, many fans are nonetheless sad to see an original member depart the band. Tim said in a May interview that he recently reacquired his original 'Stratus Graphite Series 2000' bass that he used on tour for many years with STRYPER but now that he is no longer in the band he wasn't sure whether he would use it again. More importantly he also said "who knows, maybe the lord will open the doors for me once again to play it with them?" Do you think there could come a time when Tim is once again part of STRYPER?
"Well, we're definitely happy with the ways things are right now and it is not something that we feel is in the cards at this point. I hate to use that term because it's not like we use cards to figure out our future or anything like that – it's just a term. We are very happy with having Tracy in the group, he's definitely brought a new inspiration to us. For us, we have always felt there is a certain amount of divine intervention that happens with the group and you just never know, there could come a day when for some reason Tracy may decide that he doesn't want to do it any more, and if Tim was still interested in doing something then that would be a possibility. You never know. It's impossible to see what would happen without seeing into the future, but if it was meant to be we would be open to that."
So Tim's departure wasn't acrimonious?
"No, we are still friends and we still care for him and hope the best for him. Sometimes people go through periods where they need to do something different and see if that's where they're called to be. In our case, right now, the way things are with Tracy, it couldn't be more harmonious. As long as Tracy is interested in being in the band we are interested in having him."
There is a great interview with Tracy on the official STRYPER website (http://www.stryper.com|www.stryper.com]]) where he talks about his career and the years leading up to officially joining the band. He talks about how at one of the lowest points in his life he heard STRYPER's music on the radio for the first time ('Soldiers Under Command'). Then years later a mystery person posted recordings of his work in Michael Sweet's letterbox. This led to him becoming a long-standing member of Michael’s solo band and then most recently he was asked to join STRYPER as a permanent replacement for Tim Gaines. Tracy clearly feels there was a divine path that led him to join the yellow and black army.
"Yeah, his story really puts a special twist on his presence in the group. Now he's kind of a testimony to the band, so to speak, by having his life changed by what we feel God has done with us. It just shows us that nothing is impossible. For me, not only is Tracy a great bass player, and someone who puts on a really good show, but he’s also been quite the encourager in my life. He's never had any kind of qualms about things that happen. He's never had a complaint about anything. It's really cool to have that harmony between each other where we are able to come to each other as brothers in Christ and be able to share and bare each other's burdens. He does that very well with us and I'm really happy to have him in STRYPER.
That is great to hear. Moving on to your new U.S. single 'Make You Mine', how hard are you finding it to get airplay on U.S. radio stations?
"STRYPER has never been without the blackballing of radio. Even among the people who work with us it's sometimes difficult and like pulling teeth to get people interested in something. For us, we're kind of in a place where we are misunderstood by many, even within the Christian market. We have trouble on both sides getting anyone to want to play us or support us. But the people still come to see us play and the people still buy our records. For example, on June 18th 2005 we were the last band playing in Spain at a Rock festival where IRON MAIDEN were the headlining group, and even though we were the last band on, starting at 12:30 at night, there were 14,000 people out there singing our songs. So it doesn't feel like we aren't popular."
I think your story is the same one told by a number of other successful Hard Rock bands of the 1980s and early 1990s. MÖTLEY CRÜE, POISON, W.A.S.P. and any number of other groups from this genre have successfully reformed, released new material and toured in venues filled with thousands of fans. Yet, like so many times in the past, you are still battling with the industry itself. Do you get frustrated?
"It used to be frustrating but it really isn't anymore because after what happened in the past I expected this to happen. One way or another we will survive."
Do you find there is a brotherhood between you and your peers from the 1980s, both Christian and non-Christian?
"Yeah, it does seem like it. All of us from back in the 80s and early 90s run in to each other from time to time and there are big hugs and smiles, and questions about how everyone has been doing. That is kind of special and I really think that's cool. I think we all feel the need to see the music go back to something that has substance and meaning."
The pattern of STRYPER's career is reminiscent of many other Hard Rock groups of the 1980s. You reached lofty heights of success in the 80s, then laid low for most of the 90s during the days of Grunge, then forged a comeback in the 2000s. Do you ever wish that the shift in popular genre from Hard Rock to Grunge had not happened?
"I don't think so. I think it had to do what it did. Right now we have loads of Screamo bands and Power Punk bands but eventually that is going to burn off too. The good thing I see is that a lot of young people are really interested in the Rock bands from the 80s – they are really getting into this retro vibe. That happens with all genres of music, things always seem to come back around. You know, people still love to hear ELVIS PRESLEY, and look at BRIAN SETZER bringing back that Rock-A-Billy feel. It just seems to keep happening which is really great. But I know with us, as much as we are linked to our past, we are still tied to what is going on in modern times and we'll always try to make that connection in one way or another, in our own way. Not only will STRYPER be for our old fans but we'll gain new fans as well."
The internet has had a massive impact on bringing back 1980s Hard Rock. I think the specialist chat forums and tribute websites have acted not only as a gauge of interest in the genre, but also as a catalyst for getting bands to come back and give it another go.
"Absolutely. It's great that you can interact now with fans directly and they can interact with you. We have our own STRYPER forum where you can post up your own comments. Michael goes in a lot and reacts to what people say. Tracy also goes in and does the same thing. I haven't done it in a while but only because I've been so busy. But I do go in from time to time and say 'hello'. I enjoy interacting with people. As a matter of fact when I get myself settled here I am planning on setting up a webcam with a refreshing window so people can see me live while I'm chatting. It'll be a fun new thing and if people ask to see things, like my guitars, I'll be able to go with my camera and show people. Ha! Ha!"
Did you hang on to all your guitars and memorabilia? Or, like Tim, did you sell some of it because you didn't think you'd need it again?
"Actually, I did sell off a few things, and that was even before the eBay thing! But I did manage to keep a few of the originals which are now sought after by collectors. I still have quite a bit of stuff with me including the costumes."
Whilst on the topic of the costumes, I heard that Robert was the only member of the band that can still fit in to the original costumes! Is that true?
"Not true! Not true! Ha! Ha! I can get in to my stuff now. I’ve lost about 35 pounds over the last year."
Wow, well done! Atkins diet?
"No! I stopped eating hamburgers and French fries! I just generally eat better these days than I used to and I exercise a little more."
And is Michael still wearing the original outfits?
"You know, he's not really in to wearing the original outfits but he sure could still fit into them if he wanted to. The guy's doing really well keeping himself trim and in shape. Back in the day of the 80s Glam thing we did what we felt we were called to do at that time. But now, being in our mid-40s, I'm not so sure I'm real gung-ho about getting back in to the old costumes! But you never know! Ha! Ha!"
Ha! Ha! I hear what you are saying although I have to admit to being a big fan of nostalgia. When KISS and TWISTED SISTER put the make up back on it all just adds to the experience. I love the connotations of seeing a Rock star really look like a Rock star.
"Well, I'll say never say never! Ha! Ha! There may come a day but only if we could do it right. The thing is it does cost a lot of money to do that. For costumes nowadays, especially if you get them from our old costume designer Ray Brown, it could mean spending $5000 or $6000 on one suit!"
Crikey! I had no idea they were that expensive!
"Well, yeah, it's because you are talking about custom designs. So right now, those costs just aren't really feasible for us. But you know, the band is still together, we're still strong, and we still somewhat have the yellow and black striped theme happening. I know that is something we'll never stop doing because that's what we're known for. Maybe if some time down the road things are looking up, who knows… never say never!"
The artwork for 'Reborn' has stirred up another debate amongst the Christian right, something which you are quite used to by now. Yet this was despite you providing a reasonable argument for its inclusion. Can you tell me the story?
"We asked some of the more conservative Christian organisations that had seen the artwork for an opinion. They thought we could provide an explanation of the artwork. They also wanted us to avoid shocking anyone who may come in to a store where our CD was on display. They wanted to see a package that didn't reveal too much. I mean, we do have our shirts off and to some people that in itself is a little offensive. I know that things are different around the world, but for us, we do have people whom we have to be sensitive too. So we came up with a design where the packaging has a yellow cellophane covering which doesn't allow you to see everything in detail yet is enough to get you interested when you first see it. Of course when you buy it and take the cellophane off you can see the actual picture, and for the most part the majority of the people who have seen it are surprised and happy with it. They also understand the meaning behind the way we look and the re-birthing of each band member."
It seems to me that STRYPER artwork and criticism have always gone hand in hand.
"Yeah! Ha! Ha! We've always gotten some kind of criticism. With 'Soldiers Under Command' we were told we were promoting violence with of all the guns on the cover of the album when we were really just trying to make a statement. Then there was 'To Hell With The Devil' – we got a lot of flack for the cover art on that. There were the angels and the devil, with the pentagram being ripped from the devil's neck. Yet despite the fact the pentagram was being torn away from the devil by the angels, and because the pentagram was still intact and floating in the air, people were saying 'Oh my gosh, there's a pentagram on the album cover!' It turned in to a lot of controversy. Even some of the people who worked for us were having a 'tizzy' about it. But we've always been on the edge. We just bring it to the brim and people are going 'whoooah, wait a minute!' Ha! Ha!"
Ha! Ha! One of my favourite controversies was when a Christian group quoted an extract of Revelations which prophesied the coming of STRYPER and I quote: "their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women".
"Oh yeah, there were so many of those comments where people would quote scriptures. There's one where it talks about it being a shame for men to have long hair and there is another one which talks about effeminacy being a form of sin. There are even websites that will talk about these things and use our pictures as an example – saying that we are trying to look like women. It's just silly and ridiculous. We know that people are being touched and moved by this group and that is all that matters."
Yes, and I think it is obvious to all your fans that your message is a positive and Christian one. Also, I've always understood through your interviews that non-Christians are also welcomed and encouraged to come to your concerts and listen to your music. Yet in comparison I think some of the more extreme Christian groups, many of whom have criticised you, deter and/or intimidate inquisitive non-Christians with their almost militant and exclusive approach. Is the 'open-armed' approach still as important to the band as it has always been?
"Absolutely, all are welcome to not only hear the music but to see our show and see how powerful the group is. We have a message of hope to share with everyone and a lot of people who have listened to that message and taken it to heart have committed their lives to Christianity and their lives have become better for that. Some of these people didn't necessarily have terrible lives before but they have really enlightened themselves by having a relationship with God and what that means. Of course there were others who had lives that were going in a bad direction but after committing their lives to Christ they have been able to change and come out of that. It's a miracle to see that happening with people. There are many that have even become pastors in the years after catching a bible at one of our concerts back in the 80s. Some of those are specifically youth pastors helping young people stay on a straight path, and not get in to drugs or fall in to situations where there are teen pregnancies or situations where they may contemplate suicide. There really is a hope in what we share. There are so many good things about it. It's not like we're out there telling people to go kill themselves, or to go out and party and mess themselves up. It's all about trying to better peoples' lives, and of course there is the music which we feel is great music that we love to hear and play."
If a boy or a girl came up to you at a concert and said 'hi, I’m actually a Buddhist but I still love your music', would that still be gratifying?
"Absolutely, and we've had that happen. We've had Muslims and Buddhists and Mormons and Atheists do exactly that. It's encouraging because it gives hope for the possibility of that person turning to Christianity which is what we feel we're called to do, and if for some reason that person suddenly feels that that is what they need to turn to, then we feel that we have accomplished something."
And if they didn't turn to Christianity would you still feel that it was a positive step that they even came to your concert in the first place? Is it a win-win situation whatever the outcome?
"Definitely, even if they come to ridicule us! We've had people come to our concerts just to blast us, and many of those were Christians that are against us. They stand outside telling people not to go into our concerts. Yet now, many of those same people see things differently. They realised there is something good and they have had a change of heart."
Do you think your challenges have changed since your peak in the mid-80s?
"Well, as far as the business end of it goes there are always challenges. There is always marketing, promotions, trying to win people over and all of that kind of thing. As far as the personal end of it goes, if I'm honest with you, back in the 80s there was a certain amount of half-heartedness within me. I wanted to be a Rock star as well as to be a messenger from God, so to speak. I can't speak for the rest of the guys but for myself there definitely was some half-heartedness."
That is very honest of you to say that.
"Well, that half-heartedness led to a lot of my failures later on in the 90s as the band changed. I think we lost focus and did things that we probably shouldn't have done – we misrepresented our faith in many ways. As time went on I began to understand how wrong that was and how my heart needs to not be half-hearted. Now I'm completely sold out to whatever God wants in my life, whether STRYPER is a big success, or a mediocre band, or even a club band that doesn't sell more than just a few albums. If that is what I'm called to do then that's where I need to be. STRYPER is now called do so many different things. There was a time when Tracy had some friends at a home for the disabled and we were meeting with a group of people, some of whom had cerebral palsy – their minds were complete but they had no control over their bodies. We took half a day to go over there and we played and we sang and we talked. It was great."
Did you play acoustically?
"No, we took in little line-6 amps that were distorted! Robert didn't come because he had yet to get in to town but the 3 of us did a little performance for them in this room and these people seemed really happy to see us. It was amazing. There were people who had been in car accidents and they no longer had any control whatsoever over their bodies, yet their minds are still awake and vibrant. So for us to go in there and give them something that they may have not experienced before was very cool. We really do feel we are called to help the needy in some way and encourage them. We have strong beliefs about being in those types of situation. For instance, if I was in a serious accident where I lost all control of everything I would have to remember what I believe in – that my life is a small amount of time compared to eternity. I believe that within me are a soul and a spirit that will continue to live on after my body dies. So I believe those people are not going to be in those bodies for very long, eventually they are going to pass away but their spirits' will live on. I hope that letting them experience what we're all about and what we believe in will encourage them and give them hope. It's what I feel we're called to do as Christians."
It seems very clear now that you are Christians first and musicians second.
"Absolutely, and that's the way it should always be."
I think there a lot of bands where it's the other way around though.
"I agree with you, and I think in the 80s we may have been that way too, but we don't want to be that way anymore. We are Christians first and the band comes second."
How do your die-hard fans react to the knowledge you weren't 100% committed in the past?
"I think that people who are on the ball and really know about those situations are able to look at us and say 'Yeah, sometimes that's what it takes – sometimes it takes going through some hard times to see you weren't committed 100%'. Believe me, we went through hard times after the band broke up in 1992."
I read you did some construction work amongst other things.
"I was doing construction for a little while. I worked as a kind of journeyman with different companies doing not only construction but also contract electrical work – rewiring homes and putting fire alarms in schools and all that kind of fun stuff. I spent a lot of time digging holes (Ha! Ha!) and crawling under crawl-spaces dragging sub-lines in to apartment buildings so they could have new electrical servers."
That period in your life must have given you a massive amount of time to reflect on the good old days when STRYPER had massive success and exposure. Does this second chapter in the STRYPER story feel like a second chance?
"Oh definitely, it really feels like a second chance. It is a second chance where I can do it with more sincerity. I think that's where I feel the most honoured to be able to do this."
I think even the most cynical of critics should make some allowance for a young person being dazzled and distracted to some degree by the bright lights and loud buzz of fame. After all, in the late 80s Rock music was THE most successful genre and so many bands were getting tens of thousands of dollars thrown at them for doing this or that and it really seemed like one long party. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think you should be too hard on yourself!
"Yeah, but you know for us it wasn't necessarily Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll. It was material things like bigger houses, faster cars, and eventually you can get consumed by that. Then the next thing you know is your heart is in the wrong place because you're thinking about the wrong things. This is great to have a second chance to do things in a more sincere way and I'm very happy about it."
Apart from generating a massive interest in the Christian Rock genre, STRYPER also helped other bands which were starting out. In particular I would like to draw attention to your individual contribution to GUARDIAN – one of Christian Rock's other major success stories. You produced their 1988 debut album, 'First Watch', which in my opinion is one of the best examples of the genre.
"Well, thank you!"
How did it feel when GUARDIAN recorded an entire tribute album to STRYPER with 'The Yellow And Black Attack Is Back'?
"Ha! Ha! You know, we're all pretty good friends, and Tony (Palacios, guitar) and I are like brothers. We became very close during that 'First Watch' recording and still to this day we’re in close contact. I just saw him when we were in Nashville on the tour this year. As for the tribute album – well, it kind of puts a smile on your face and warms your heart to see your friends do that kind of thing."
Other than just tributes, you also seem to get a lot of other artists covering STRYPER material too.
"Yeah, we're always hearing of somebody doing some kind of cover. It's very flattering."
Have you ever turned around and denied someone the privilege of covering your material?
"No, we've never denied anybody."
How about if MARILYN MANSON was to ask your permission to cover a STRYPER song?
"Um…! I guess that would be fine, for me anyway, but obviously they can't desecrate the words – they would not have permission to do that. But if they did the song just the way it was, well, what could I say other than the word is all about Christianity, and if you're covering a STRYPER song you are sharing God's word in one way or another."
Have there been times when you have wished your peers would appraise your work as an individual musician rather than just see you as a member of a Christian band that shares God's word?
"Um, I guess I've had enough! Ha! Ha!"
Well, I'm glad to hear that. It is certainly deserved. But it does seem there are so many guitarists out there that don't feel they have gotten the recognition they deserve for their fretwork.
"I just have fun doing this. I'm not out for recognition. I just enjoy playing my guitar and performing and sharing my faith from the platform of STRYPER. I want to be a better guitar player. I've always admired players like STEVE VAI and ERIC JOHNSON and all of those guys. So there's always that challenge of being a better player and taking it a notch up."
So there isn't an alter-ego craving a solo album?
"No, although many people have asked me about the possibility of doing one. I discussed it with Michael because I didn't want to step on anyone's toes and he just flat out said 'you should do it if the opportunity is there for you to do it'. If I did go ahead with it I would probably do more of a cross between instrumental and vocal just because I have had a previous chance to do lead singing and enjoyed it. But it remains to be seen because after being in the work force for 13 years and not playing my guitar for most of that time I need to get my chops going again! Ha! Ha!"
What was the catalyst for STRYPER's reunion?
"Well, to be honest, what happened was I ended up with my own website (www.ozfox.com) and I posted my email address on it – this is back in 1998/99. I was flooded with emails from fans for years. Then there was one show that SIN DIZZY did in Puerto Rico where MICHAEL SWEET joined us on stage. We did not only a SIN DIZZY set but also some of Mike’s solo project, with us as his back-up band. Then, right at the end, we jammed on some STRYPER tunes. There were probably over 10,000 people at the show that year. That raised an eyebrow with all of us. It really spoke to our hearts about how much STRYPER affected people. That was actually the beginning and it was there that we were approached by a guy named Rich Serpa to do the STRYPER Expo's. So I would have to say that it all started with the internet and doing the Puerto Rico show."
What made Rich come up with that idea?
"The STRYPER Expo was just a project that he wanted to see if he could do. He knew there were KISS Expo's but being a STRYPER fan he felt there was the need to have a STRYPER Expo. If you check out his website at www.planetrapture.com I believe you can still see pictures taken from the STRYPER Expo's. Ultimately it was Rich who pushed us all to do the Expo and we wouldn't have gone ahead with it had he not done that."
The STRYPER Expo's have been a huge success and a good indicator of how passionate and loyal the STRYPER fanbase is. I think it is now worthy of being included in the same category as the KISS Army!
"Absolutely! There may not be as many but they are full of guaranteed passion and dedication. I totally agree with you on that."
Having just come off your U.S. tour the fans will already be hankering for your next set of dates. I read on the STRYPER forum that your future plans could include a U.S. church tour and possibly a European tour. Are those rumours founded?
"Yeah, that is what we're working on. I believe our agency is trying to get some dates in Europe for the spring and I heard that they are 90% there."
Will that take in a number of countries? The U.K.? Germany?
"I would imagine so but I'm not sure yet as I haven't seen any of the dates and I don't know what cities they are talking about. As far the Church Tour, that is something we are working on as well and trying to develop. I know I'm doing that with my home church too. We would like to put something together where we'll tour a number of large churches – just so we can reach out to the people who may not come to a House Of Blues nightclub because they feel a little bit intimidated by that. We want to reach out to everybody as much as possible, and that'll include bringing the scale down to an acoustic set for the churches. We're also hoping to do some questions and answers, and I think that would be a neat way to round up some support."
I see that the album has just been released in Japan as well. Are you hoping to also tour continents other than Europe and North America?
"Well, yeah, if the popularity there is strong then of course we would love to go back to Japan, and even Australia, where we're also going to be released soon."
Is there every intention to record another studio album to follow 'Reborn'?
"Absolutely! But we have no idea what it's going to be like yet! Ha! Ha! There are a few little ideas popping around but nothing in concrete yet. I think we're going to find a way to get together and hide away for a couple of weeks and we'll just hash it out!"
To finish up is there a message that you would like to give the people who read this interview on behalf of STRYPER?
"Yes, of course. We're not here to be Rock stars, we're not here to be rich and famous. We have a passion. Our passion is not only to play the best Rock'n'Roll we can possibly play but also we really feel that we have a calling to spread our message and let people know what we believe in. We really feel it is needed during these times to hear about having a relationship with God and what it means? Is there a God? If you see the movie 'The Passion Of The Christ' you end up asking yourself 'why did Jesus Christ die?' There is a reason for all of this and I believe that people need to try to reach in to the information that's out there and find out why that happened. If there is a truth to who Christ was and what he did, then we really need to listen to that and make an opinion. If people out there really believe that Christ was God here on earth then we need to listen to him and we need to really take to heart everything that he says. If he is who he says he was then this world is going to pass, and if you have an eternal soul that is either going to be in a paradise with him or eternal damnation because you chose to not serve and be in a relationship with God, you can't be messing around with those kind of decisions – you've got to choose. We've chosen to serve Christ and to give our lives to him, and we're hoping that people really take a hard look at that, and make a decision based on what the facts are out there. That is what we are here to do. We're here to share that with people. Hopefully some people will see that and hear it, and make a change. The most important relationship we could ever have is our relationship with God and that's what we're here to tell people about. I hope our fans can understand that. If you're not going to believe in that, at least know that we are sincere in what we believe in, and we are sincere about our music being the best music we could possibly produce for everyone out there."
Credit/s: Mark Brimble
Copyright: © 2001-2005 Musicdetector Websites
Source: www.rockdetector.com
RockDetector.com Interviews Oz