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You guys just played at the Rocklahoma Festival, How did that go?

 

“It went really good. It is always kind of tough you know when we do one offs. We went there, we played and it was extremely hot. The numbers were really low, I think due to the economy but it was a great opportunity for us and something we wanted to do last year. We are not a band, in my opinion, that does really well with one offs; you know, just doing one show here and there. We are more of a band that needs to get together for two or three weeks and then hit the road. It takes us a few weeks to kind of get our groove and then we tighten right up and become a better sounding band, So the one offs are a little rusty, rough around the edges and are not really the way I like to do things. At the same time, we like to take every opportunity to deliver our message and be a light in the darkness. It was an honor to be there and we had a great time.”

 

What was the crowd response like?

 

“It was not a real big crowd. It was spread out and it is such a big place. It looked to me like there might have been four or five thousand people there. I heard the night before that Ratt played and it was about the same size. The numbers were definitely low. I know they had tornadoes there last year and it was a pretty bad situation; that may have played a part and of course, the economy, I know played a part in the low numbers so it was a little bit of a bummer but we gave it our all and the people were really receptive.”

 

Your brand new CD Murder By Pride is due to be released on July 21^st. Now that it is complete how do you feel about it and are you satisfied with the outcome?

 

“I am really satisfied. I mean it is always a touchy subject for a band member to talk about their new album but I am really proud of the record and I think it is our best record to date. I think it has everything that a Stryper record should have; it is relevant, it is harder and it has all the Stryper stuff that people expect. It is a mature record for us as far as songwriting goes, lyrically and musically.  As far as the production goes, I am really pleased, very pleased, with the record and I hope that people are as pleased with it as I am.”

 

I have a prerelease of this disc and as a long time Stryper fan I need to tell you I really dig it.

 

“Well thank you man. I am glad. That seems to be the feedback I am hearing from everybody that has heard it so far. They seem to really like the record and I am hearing comments like it is our best record to date. which is really a great thing to hear because a lot went into it; a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of thought and a lot of prayer and you know, that is the payoff when people like it and get something out of it.”

 

What was the writing process like for this CD? Did you guys all right together? How long did it take?

 

“We did not write all together. I wrote everything on the record except for “Peace Of Mind,” of course. You know it is one of those things where I just kind of go down in my studio and close the door and start writing and I come out a couple of weeks later with an album. Once I get into that mode, I just keep going and going and going, cranking out the songs. This is something I love to do. Writing is a gift that God has given me and I love nothing more than just to write. I would be happy to just stay at home writing for the rest of my life.”

 

Give me some insight into the title of the CD Murder By Pride and the meaning behind it.

 

“Well when I wrote that song lyrically, I was certainly thinking of myself. You know going to church on Sunday and hearing the message and leaving feeling like a new man. Then going throughout the week, Monday through Saturday, and getting beat up by the world and by your own pride. I have a lot of pride, we all do, and we are being held back and murdered by it. It is really supposed to be a song of encouragement; believe it or not, you know moving forward and not letting pride hold you back; moving forward in Christ into a better example to the world. That is really what it is about.”

 

How do you think you have grown as a singer and songwriter over the years?

 

“Well, as a musician I do not know. Sometimes I feel as though I have regressed as a musician and not progressed. I don’t play enough and I don’t practice enough like I used to. So getting ready for a tour is a little harder each year. As far as a songwriter, I feel as though I have progressed a lot, I mean, I listen to all different types of music; I stay up with modern music and I think that sort of rubs off onto my songwriting and helps me as a writer. In the past few years I have been listening to bands like Keen and I am really influenced heavily by the British sound. I really like the bands that kind of step outside of the box and have their own unique sound.”

 

Did you ever imagine you would be releasing records 25 years later?

 

“You know I never thought about it. I mean music has been my whole life. I started playing when I was five years old and I was recording songs when I was twelve.

It is certainly awesome to look back and realize that over twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.”

   

I understand that when you guys hit the road in September you will be playing two sets a night.

 

“We are doing two sets. One set with the current bass player Tracie Ferrie and we will be playing stuff from Reborn and Murder By Pride. Then we will be doing an old classic set with the original bass player, Timothy Gaines. The show should be about an hour per set and we are very excited about it. It is a different way of doing things but you know we are all about doing things a little different anyway.”

 

So you guys have kept in contact with Tim?

 

“We still stayed in contact with Tim but not as much as we really should have. He came to my wife’s service ,when my wife passed and we reconnected. It was a few days after the service that we decided to go out together and tour again; more so for there to be healing and restoration and to kind of put the past behind us, once and for all completely.”

 

A lot of bands have a mega hit and they get tired of playing it after all these years. Has this ever been the case with songs such as “Honestly”?

 

“Yeah… I mean not so much with “Honestly” but there are songs where you just feel as though you are going through the motions. There are certain songs that you like more than others but you go out there and play them because the fans want to hear them. You just do it and you give it your all, you give it your best and it is always a joy.”

 

Stryper has toured quite a bit since the bands inception. Do you still enjoy being on the road or would you prefer to be in the studio?

 

“I enjoy being on the road for a while but it does get old you know, waking up in a different hotel room and wondering what town you are in every morning. I do enjoy performing though. The thing I enjoy the most about it is the one on one contact with the people and knowing that I am helping them. You know, there are people that are having tough times or need help in life and I am able to help them. That is why we do what we do.”

 

I also read that your son’s band is going to be opening for you on the upcoming tour. Is that going to be for the whole tour or just select dates?

 

“He is. They are called Flight Pattern, they are going to be releasing an EP relatively soon and they are going to be on the tour with us. It is a great opportunity for them and they are really excited. They are good kids they have some great songs and they are a good band. They are kind of a modern pop.”

 

What song from your catalogue is still exciting for you to sing?

 

“I always get excited about singing “Soldiers Under Command.” It is a song we have played more than any other song, it is a classic Stryper song and it is always fun to sing. I feel so comfortable singing it and it just feels so right.”