When televangelists and fundamentalists warned that rock music was inherently evil and should be banned, a metal band out of Orange County, California, burst on the mainstream music scene: Stryper.
They looked and sounded like the other rock and metal bands coming out of the Sunset Strip, yet they were unique in one important way. They were Christians and spoke about God.
Christians and non-Christians hated Stryper, yet somehow, this band could sell records and achieve an amazing level of success. All while singing about Jesus.
Editor's Note: This article discusses metal music and imagery, which may upset some readers.
When Did Stryper Start Making Music?
Stryper was founded in 1982 in Orange County, California, by brothers Michael Sweet (vocals and guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), with Oz Fox (guitar) and Tim Gaines (bass).
They were originally a mainstream metal band named Roxx Regime, playing the popular Sunset Strip. But when the members decided to give their lives to God completely, they changed their lyrical content to express their love of Jesus and their name to reflect their spiritual change.
"Stryper" is derived from Isaiah 53:5: "By His stripes we are healed." From the outset, the band's mission was to deliver a Christian message through rock music.
In 1983, Stryper released their independently produced debut EP, The Yellow and Black Attack. This EP garnered attention within the local music scene, and their distinctive visual style, including the yellow-and-black striped costumes, began to set them apart. Their energetic performances and unapologetically Christian lyrics created a buzz, drawing Christian and secular audiences.
Stryper's big break came in 1984 when they signed with Enigma Records and released their first full-length album, Soldiers Under Command. This album showcased the band's signature blend of glam metal and hard rock combined with spiritual themes. The album's success propelled Stryper into the mainstream, and they gained a reputation for their high-energy live performances.
However, their 1986 album To Hell with the Devil catapulted Stryper to stardom. The album, featuring hits like "Honestly" and the eponymous title track, received critical acclaim and achieved platinum status, a remarkable accomplishment for a Christian rock band. A huge part of their success was constantly being on the popular Dial MTV show in the afternoon, where they made the top ten with every hit, voted completely by fans. Check out the videos "Calling On You," "Honestly," and the phenomenal guitar work on the song "Free."
To Hell with the Devil resonated with Christian audiences and crossed over to secular listeners, marking a pivotal moment for the band and the Christian music genre.
As Stryper's popularity grew, they faced both acclaim and criticism. Some within the Christian community were skeptical of their rock sound and flashy image, while secular critics were intrigued by the paradox of a Christian rock band achieving commercial success. Despite the challenges, Stryper kept releasing albums, including In God We Trust in 1988 and Against the Law in 1990, their music style evolving.
Stryper disbanded in 1992 as members pursued solo careers and other musical projects. The band's influence remained during this time, and their legacy in Christian rock endured. In 2003, the original lineup reunited and released the album Reborn.
Stryper's legacy extends beyond their initial era. They continue to release albums, including No More Hell to Pay in 2013 and God Damn Evil in 2018.
What Made Stryper a Controversial Christian Band?
Stryper was popular in the mainstream and sang about Jesus on MTV. The combination made them controversial for several reasons.
Stryper achieved unusual mainstream success for a 1980s Christian music act. Their album To Hell with the Devil went platinum, and their music videos received airplay on MTV. This crossover success sparked discussions about whether a Christian band should be striving for mainstream recognition or if it compromised their message. There was also tension between the growing Christian music scene (with its own production companies, radio stations, etc.) and the mainstream music scene.
Stryper's distinct visual identity was one of their most controversial aspects. The band members donned yellow-and-black striped costumes that resembled bee-like uniforms. While this attire was intended to symbolize healing (as referenced in Isaiah 53:5), it raised eyebrows. It prompted debates within the Christian community about whether such a flamboyant image was appropriate for a Christian band. They also had long hair and appeared very feminine, which was normal for the hair metal scene. Still, more conservative fundamentalist Christian leaders were extremely critical and condemned the band for their style.
During the 1980s, documentaries like Hell's Bells claimed rock music was inherently demonic. These documentaries were played in churches and sold to Christians to watch at home on VHS. The combination of heavy metal music style and the feminine look created issues with a certain segment of Christians.
Many in the mainstream culture didn't appreciate Stryper, either. While they were clearly amazing musicians, Stryper's lyrics were explicitly Christian and often conveyed messages of faith, salvation, and transformation; some critics felt that their presentation was too overt or preachy. One of Stryper's famous practices would be throwing Bibles out to the audience during or at the end of the set. These were concerts at regular venues, not Christian events. Stryper's message starkly contrasted the rest of the metal genre, which often celebrated hedonism (and sometimes Satanism). The secular music scene met Stryper's bold proclamation of faith with curiosity, intrigue, and skepticism. Many bands in the general market would mock Stryper due to the straightforward Christian lyrics and message.
Who Are Some Similar Bands to Stryper?
Stryper may best be described as the Christian metal equivalent of the Beatles. As most rock bands trace back their influences to the Beatles, most Christian metal bands refer back to Stryper as the pioneer and the standard, even if they use different styles than the pioneering band.
Though the Contemporary Christian Music market grew in the 1970s-1980s, no Christian heavy metal bands existed before Stryper. Stryper was a pioneer in the genre. They released albums as the pop and heavy metal wave began. Stryper was more influenced by bands in the general market, like the Scorpions, Dio, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and especially Van Halen.
Stryper's foray into the mainstream with Christian messages was a continuation of artists from the 70s like Larry Norman, Johnny Cash, or B.J. Thomas. None of those artists directly influenced Stryper, but their approach and willingness to traverse the two markets provided a precedent.
The closest match to Stryper's approach would be Alice Cooper, whose music has incorporated religious themes since his return to Christianity in the 1980s. While Cooper began his career before Stryper, they both have theatrical stage presences and play a balancing act between appealing to Christian and non-Christian audiences.
There were other pioneers in the Christian metal space, such as Bloodgood and Whitecross, but Stryper was by far the most successful and well-known. Therefore, Stryper proved that Christian metal and rock could make money and sell albums. Many Christian metal artists followed in the mid to late 1980s: bands like Angelica, Sacred Warrior, and Bride. Various Christian rock bands experimented with metal imagery—like Petra and Whitecross.
Other Christian bands took Stryper's example to achieve a mainstream approach. Barren Cross and Guardian (supported by Stryper founder Oz Fox) achieved MTV success.
As genres and the music business changed in the early 1990s, several bands produced by Sam Taylor also tried to make their way into the mainstream. The new generation included bands like Kings X, Galactic Cowboys, and Atomic Opera. While their lyrics weren't as straightforward as Stryper's, they had a similar idea: to compete with mainstream talent while providing songs featuring inspirational themes.
Even contemporary bands like Disciple give Stryper credit. Disciple has a very modern metal/rock sound but writes songs with outspoken Christian lyrics and even covered a Stryper song, "More than a Man," on the 1999 compilation album Isaiah 53:5: A Tribute to Stryper.
Best Stryper Albums
To Hell with the Devil (1986, Enigma Records). A perfect combination of production quality and raw energy, this is the perfect Stryper record for beginners. The guitar solos, the songs, the vocals, and the gritty statement of the eponymous title track make the album an instant classic and still a great one to listen to. Its many hits include "Calling On You," "Honestly," "Free," and the live favorite, "More than a Man."
Soldiers Under Command (1985, Enigma Records). A close second to To Hell with the Devil, Soldiers is an amazing metal album. From power metal to heavy metal to pop metal, this song has great rockers and ballads, from the title track "Soldiers Under Command" to "Surrender" and the great ballad "First Love."
In God We Trust (1988, Enigma Records). Stryper's final album with Enigma is overproduced and sounds thin, but has golden moments like the title track "The Reign," as well as the songs "Lonely" and "Writing's on the Wall."
Fallen (2015, Frontiers Records). Stryper is back with a vengeance. With a return to form in style and yellow and black image, they've released five great albums in the past decade, and Fallen might be the strongest of them all. Check out "Yahweh," "Fallen," "The Calling," and "Big Screen Lies."
Against the Law (1990, Hollywood Records). After much success, the band and its marketing department felt their image was overdone and tired. Stryper changed their style and lost the yellow and black on this album. Not all fans enjoyed the shift, but it is a great album with amazing guitar work. The rockers shine on this one. Check out "Against the Law," "Rock the People," "Caught in the Middle," and "Rock the Hell Out of You."
If you enjoyed this article, you may enjoy the following:
My 10 Favorite Stryper Songs Of All Time
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