STRYPER Frontman Defends Band's Decision To Record Covers Album

Vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet of Christian hard rockers STRYPER — who recently announced plans to record an album's worth of covers of heavy metal classics — has issued the following update:

"It seems that our decision to do a cover record has pleased many people, but has upset a small number of people as well.

"We've never been a band to go with the flow — we've always set out to do our own thing and to do it according to how we feel led. Some agree, some disagree. It's always been this way.

"We didn't grow up in the church, we grew up on the streets of L.A., so our approach to spreading God's word doesn't always line up with how others think it should be done.

"The bottom line is this — we have not turned our backs on our faith or our beliefs, we just want to loosen up a bit and show our fans how we came to be musically.

We were heavily influenced by a number of bands back in the '70s and early '80s and these bands helped to shape our sound and style. This is the purpose of this record, to show you how we evolved over the years and more important — to have a little fun in the process.

"The band is looking forward to cutting losse a bit and performing the music we grew up with.

"I'm sorry to hear that there are a few negative Nancys who believe that we're turning our back on God and our faith. This couldn't be further from the truth. The fact is that we are stronger and even more serious about our faith then we've ever been before. God knows our hearts and our motives.

"We don't endorse any of these bands or the message they present or their lifestyles. We just want to play some amazing songs and hopefully break down some walls and open some doors along the way.

"We will continue to honor God in all that we do and say and we can only hope and pray that the few of you who have expressed your disappointment will open your minds and your hearts to what God can do with this record.

"Let's not limit God..."

Ulterium Records (through an arrangement with the Italian label Frontiers Records) released a limited 12" picture-disc edition of the latest STRYPER album, "Murder By Pride", in Europe on December 4. The LP is strictly limited to 500 copies, and comes with a full color poster inlay.

"Murder By Pride" sold 5,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in Europe on August 28, 2009 via Frontiers Records. It was made available in the U.S. on July 21, 2009 through Big 3 Records.