By Jeff Dewsbury

IT WAS 1984, and I was looking through a copy of TV Weekly at my grandma’s house – when I noticed a small black and white picture of four long-haired, spandex-wearing guys who had just changed their band name from Roxx Regime to Stryper.

According to the mag, these guys threw Bibles at their mega-decibel concerts (opening for the likes of Ratt and Bon Jovi), and openly professed their faith in Jesus.

A switch flipped. Like a lot of other 13 year old boys making their first tentative steps into the universe of screaming guitars, I tore out the page and tacked it to my wall.

In my high school, it wasn’t cool to listen to Stryper. Even kids in my youth group made fun of those of us who became Soldiers Under Command. We embraced Stryper because they made us realize that you didn’t have to be solemn and quiet to show your love for God. And you could do it in spandex.

I’m 38 now. In my present state of baldness, writing about a hair band is borderline unethical. Unlike a lot of 1980s mainstays that are making a comeback, my hair won’t be making a triumphal entry.

But thanks to the lure of nostalgia, my heavy metal heroes will be. All four original members of Stryper will be in Vancouver November 21, in the middle of a 50-city 25th anniversary tour to promote their new album, Murder By Pride.

“A lot has happened in the last 25 years,” lead guitarist and founding member Oz Fox  told BCCN by phone. “The band broke for 12 years, and we never thought we’d get back to together again –  but it happened.”

The affable California native was speaking in the relaxed tone of someone who left the image game behind a long time ago.

Like a lot of bands, Stryper has a storied (and sometimes, soap-opera-like) history that includes success on MTV, platinum and gold records, controversial changes in artistic direction – and, of course, that heavy metal mainstay, creative differences.

But whether they are a part of one’s playlist or a punchline to a joke, it is undeniable that they were . . . are . . . unique.

“The only thing that’s different is that we’re older,” Fox said, when asked about the vibe of the band as each member approaches 50.

“Everything about the music – and what we do, and how we do it – is pretty much the same. We’re still throwing Bibles out [to the audience]. We’re still telling people what we believe in; we’re still telling people about our faith. That stays the same. I would say we are probably a lot more mature about that attitude than we were before.”

Even the cover of the new album – a painting of a man on his knees, crying out – points to a loss of gloss and a depth of conviction.

“Michael [Sweet], who wrote the music , was reflecting on a lot things in his own life. Whether it has to be pride or dealing with people, relationships, every situation is different,” said Fox, noting that Sweet lost his wife Kyle to ovarian cancer last March.

In 2005, the band released Reborn, their first album in 15 years. Reborn had a harder edge, with less of the 1980s sound, and met with good reviews. While Murder by Pride still maintains a progressive punch, a lot of the signature Stryper elements are back in the mix.

The bold-faced calls to worship – also vintage Stryper – are there too.

“You kind of have to connect the word of God in a way that will enhance your life. It will put you on a straight path, so you don’t make the same mistakes that people have been making for thousands of years . . . Then also, all of the promises that are in the word of God keep you encouraged,” said Fox.

When asked if there are any particular promises that stand out at this stage of life, Fox laughed like a man who has seen a lot.

“There are so many of them. Ultimately, God keeps care of his children. He promises that anyone he considers his child – a child/ father relationship – he will provide for all your needs.

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“But he also give awesome gifts when he feels it’s the right time to give. He prompts things to happen. He inspires people to come into your path, that will maybe give you gifts that you didn’t expect.

“Usually, it’s through people that you see these promises come through. And that’s evident in the Bible. Many times there were certain followers of Christ who were blessed by other people, and that’s kind of the way God’s favour works – even though sometimes supernatural things will happen, to show that God is even more real than that, to show that it’s not just people.”

In May, the band was a feature act at Rocklahoma, a wild annual outdoor musical festival playing homage to the glory days of hair bands. Fox said being light in dark places is something the band has been doing since the beginning, but added: “Sometimes you don’t know what that is at first, but you sure know when you get there.

“I want to be as much of an example to people as possible. Not that I think I’m anything special, but there are a lot of people who think I’m a really great guitar player – so I kind of have to be responsible for that . . . to play the best I can. It’s harder for me to be a good guitar player than it is for some other guys. I really have to work at it. Some guys don’t really have to.”

They are primarily playing 1,000-seat venues this time; but Fox said some of the international shows – in front of a crowd of 12,000 in Finland, as well as a wild concert at the House of Blues in Chicago – have stood out.

The days of trying to prove themselves seem to be over. Or are they?

In an online video, Ian Scott of Anthrax talks about the first – and last – time Stryper (circa 1984) opened for his band. Scott points out that the Anthrax crowd hurled Stryper Bibles back at the Christian rockers.

“All I remember about that show is that they spit on us most of the time,” Fox recalled.

“That crowd was rough. They had yellow and black scarves and feathers that they were lighting on fire in front of us. It was crazy. So we did our heaviest songs, and we got off the stage. You don’t stick Stryper in the middle of a thrash metal show.”

When asked if they’ve ever viewed that type of reaction as persecution, the guitarist was quick to defend the thrash metal fans and point out who their harshest critics really are.

“The persecution we get from the Christians is probably the real persecution. There are people who think we are going to hell for doing what we’re doing. And that’s ridiculous, you know.

“There are still a handful of legalistic Christians who think that God is in a box, and you can’t save anybody through a heavy metal band. There are websites built about us by these types of people.”

Nevertheless, the band plays on.

November 2009