Page 11 - ION Indie Magazine_JanFeb 2019

Marty Haviik: Thank you all for this time and in providing myself and other fans a different insight in the way
Stryper works and breathes. I have been a fan of Stryper starting way back in December of ‘85. Throughout
the years, the band has made me feel like I was part of the group. You truly keep your fans informed and
involved and for me…feeling inspired in the way I lived my life. I grabbed opportune moments to hang out
with Michael at NAMM and even partook in an Eegees (an Arizona icy drink with shredded fruit) with Robert
when he was in town. In saying all of that, my first question is…has there ever been a consideration in calling
the band anything else other than “Stryper” when in its infant stages?

Michael Sweet: We were called Rock Regime before Stryper. Once we signed a deal with Enigma, everyone
agreed that we needed a new name. We spent a week or so going over names and eventually came up with
Stryper. It helped that all the gear, the walls, our clothes, and everything else in our rehearsal room was already
yellow and black too!

MH: It’s been 36 amazing years for Stryper. Looking way back from the very beginning, starting with the very
first band practice, could anyone in Stryper have ever imagined how far this band would come…the success,
the notoriety, the amass in album sales, and the popularity in and outside of Christian music?

MS: We never even thought about success. We were so caught up in the excitement of performing and traveling
at such a young age that we were like deer in the headlights. It was an amazing time and looking back on it
makes me realize how blessed and fortunate we were/are. We never take that for granted.

MH: I’m sure there were disagreements, arguments, and possibly, fights within the Stryper camp. What is the
secret for Stryper having longevity in their band’s life and the ability to resolve issues?

MS: Communication. Although we don’t always communicate enough, we always try to talk everything through
and work out our differences. In the end, it’s all about respect. Rob, Oz, Perry, and I respect one another. We
do have our differences, but in the end, it’s all about respect. We’re a team and a brotherhood.

MH: At any time in the band’s 36 years have any members had thoughts of retiring or moving on?

MS: Well, we’ve seen our share of that over the years. I left in 1992 to get my life and family in order. We
recently brought in Perry Richardson who has been an absolute Godsend. He’s actually brought a breath of fresh
air to the camp and that has energized us all. We may retire someday, but I don’t see that happening anytime
soon.

MH: Do any band members have a nickname or a cute name their wives may have for them?

MS: Not that I’m aware of. My childhood nickname has always been Gipper. My grandfather named me that
after an old Ronald Reagan movie he loved. It stuck.

MH: Stryper has outlived and outplayed many of their 80s and 90s counterpart bands. What new goals or
plans does Stryper have for the next 5 years?

MS: We plan to record a new album by the beginning of 2020 as well as finish a new documentary we’ve started
work on. We’ll be touring throughout 2019 as well as throughout 2020. There are no plans to slow down anytime
soon. We’ll keep rockin’ till we can’t do it any longer. We’re always trying to keep things fresh and to stay active.
As long as we’re alive we need to seize the moment.