STRYPER Guitarist, MR. BIG Drummer Interviewed On 'Iron City Rocks' Podcast (Audio)

The latest installment of the "Iron City Rocks" podcast (web site) features separate interviews with STRYPER guitarist Oz Fox and MR. BIG drummer Pat Torpey. The podcast is now available for streaming using the audio player below.

STRYPER will take part in an autograph-signing session on March 19 at 1 p.m. at Rock Of Ages in Garden City, Michigan (approximately 20 minutes outside of Detroit). The band will be perform later that night at the Harpos concert theater in Detroit.

"The Covering", the new covers album from STRYPER, sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 175 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Murder By Pride", opened with 5,900 units to land at No. 73.

Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, "The Covering" is unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it's a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. "The Covering" will also include "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.

"What If…", the new album from MR. BIG, has registered the following chart positions:

Switzerland: #36
Germany: #50
Austria: #71
Italy: #71
Sweden: #75

"What If…" was released in North America on February 15. The effort was made available in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia. The DVD includes videos of "Undertow" and "All The Way Up" plus a documentary "making of" the album, including interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the four band members.

MR. BIG will play its first U.S. show in more than 14 years on April 2 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California. More U.S. tour dates will be announced later this year.

"What If…" is MR. BIG's first "all-original" album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey, back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of "Hey Man", the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current hard rock scene.

"What If…" was produced by Kevin Shirley (AEROSMITH, RUSH, IRON MAIDEN) and the release will be followed by a world tour which will kick off in South America in March and will hit Europe in early summer.