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Michael Sweet

Wed
14
Aug

STRYPER Front Man MICHAEL SWEET To Release Tenth Solo Album This Fall

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Friday, October 11, 2019
Categories: 
News Feed
Building upon the success of his 2016 release One Sided War, Stryper front man Michael Sweet returns with his tenth solo studio release aptly titled, “Ten.”
 
The new album is scheduled for release in North America on October 11th via Rat Pak Records and will also be available in Europe via Frontiers Music SRL. Ten features an all-star guest lineup that includes appearances by Jeff Loomis of Arch Enemy, Todd La Torre of Queensrÿche, Andy James, Tracii Guns of LA Guns, Rich Ward of Fozzy, Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake, Gus G of Firewind, Howie Simon, Ethan Brosh, Marzi Montazeri, Will Hunt of Evanescence , John O’Boyle, Mike Kerr and Ian Raposa of Firstbourne and more.
 
On the subject of guest musicians Michael comments: “There is a different player appearing on every song. It started out where I was just going to have a couple of guest appearances on it, then I decided that it would be really interesting to bring in different players for every song. I started putting names out there and reaching out to people, and they started agreeing to do it. And then I had guys reaching out to me."
 
Ten is currently available for pre-order via the Rat Pak Records www.ratpakrecords.com/michaelsweet in various bundle configurations including translucent green and black splatter vinyl, cassette and hand autographed CD packages. The album also has 2 bonus tracks that appear on all configurations. Produced by Michael Sweet, Ten was recorded and mixed by Danny Bernini at the Spirithouse Recording Studio in North Hampton and was mastered by Alex Saltz.
 
Regarding the musical direction of the album Michael states: “I’m very excited about this release, there are old-school, straight-ahead metal ideas in the vein of Judas Priest, Dio and Iron Maiden, all the stuff I love listening to!”
 
As for the "Ten" album title, Sweet recently stated, "It's called 'Ten' cause it's my tenth album, and because there is a title track on there about the Ten Commandments - a really powerful song. There's real heavy stuff... It starts kind of smacking you in the face and it ends kicking you in the gut."
 
The track listing for Ten is:
1) Better Part of Me (featuring Jeff Loomis of Arch Enemy)
2) Lay It Down (featuring Marzi Montazeri)
3) Forget, Forgive (featuring Howie Simon)
4) Now Or Never (featuring Gus G of Firewind)
5) Ten featuring (Rich Ward of Fozzy)
6) Shine (featuring Ethan Brosh)
7) Let It Be Love
8) Never Alone (featuring Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake)
9) When Love Is Hated (featuring Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake)
10) Ricochet (featuring Tracii Guns of LA Guns)
 
Bonus Tracks:
11) With You Till The End (featuring Mike Kerr and Ian Raposa from Firstbourne)
12) Son Of Man (featuring Todd La Torre of Queensryche and Andy James)
 
Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Stryper
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Mon
04
Dec

Totally Driven Radio Podcast - MICHAEL SWEET

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Categories: 
Podcasts & Radio
Totally Driven Radio, the weekly radio podcast heard live every Thursday night from 8 – 11 pm Est time on the Totally Driven Entertainment Radio Network, hosted by Bay Ragni, Nick Wilkinson and Jimmy Jannetty covers the world of sports and entertainment each week, as well as bringing you celebrity guests interviews,
 
This week we talked to lead singer of Stryper, Michael Sweet who recently released the second “Sweet & Lynch” album “Unified”, as well as a solo DVD coming out in 2 weeks called “Sole”
 
Michael discussed…….
**If going through a situation like Stryper did this past year, does it affect him in his other musical projects and home life
 
**if his phone started ringing off the hook when the word was out they needed a bass player
 
**they didn’t want to get into auditioning hundreds of people
 
**thoughts on the music website “Blabbermouth”
 
**the new band “Super Stroke” which is George, Mick & Jeff from Dokken with Robert Mason singing.
 
**If they approached the new Sweet & Lynch album differently from the first one
 
**He doesn’t know if there will be anymore Sweet & Lynch albums
 
**He also really doesn’t want to do another one, unless they can tour behind it
 
**He really thinks people want to hear the Sweet & Lynch band and hear the songs live
 
**He just doesn’t understand why they can’t even do a couple “one off” shows
 
**Michael as a producer and his love of it
 
**That he has been offered to produce other artists, and would love to but financially he would not be able to do it
 
**Stryper documentary they are working on, that is going to take a couple years
 
**The impact that bother Stryper & his music have had on people
**That he has met Satanist, who are Stryper fans
 
**His thoughts on the band Ghost
 
**his upcoming Michael Sweet Christmas show
 
**any plans for more solo acoustic shows
 
**the recent FB Live Stryper did, if he was afraid of possible comments from people
  
Michael hangs for 40 mins, and talks all this and more
 
You can listen to the full interview here
 
You can order the new Limited-Edition Michael Sweet DVD “Sole” off his website.
 
Also LIKE Michael & Stryper on Facebook
 
Remember to listen to Totally Driven Radio every Thursday, and Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

 

Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Sweet & Lynch
Stryper
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Mon
05
Sep

Totally Driven Radio Podcast - MICHAEL SWEET

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Categories: 
Podcasts & Radio

Totally Driven Radio, the weekly radio podcast heard live every Thursday night from 8 - 11 pm Est time on the Totaally Driven Entertainment Radio Network, hosted by Bay Ragni and Nick Wilkinson covers the world of sports and entertainment each week, as well as bringing you celebrity guests interviews,

This week we talked to the Michael Sweet who returns for his third appearance on Totally Driven Radio.

We talked to Michael about..

**Confirms that a 2nd Lynch Sweet album will happen in 2017
**And it will be in a heavier style of music
**His latest single off his solo album   “Radio”
**Working with Nashville music writers
**His opinion on Tommy Thayer’s comment . New music is a waste of time
**He plans to release 12 - 20 albums in the next few years
**If he asked his brother Robert & Oz Fox to be in the video for “Radio”, to show their support for him
**Have any of the Stryper guys asked, why didn’t you save that song for us
**How some rockers have been trying to turn to country music as money grab
**That he would never try to be a country artist
**It’s a hard pill for him to swallow Steven Tyler or Bret Michaels as a country artist
**30th Anniversary tour of “To Hell with the Devil” with the old costumes
**How much their lives changed with the release of To Hell with the Devil
**His thoughts on the VMA’s
**Does the future of the music business scare him as an artist?
**How he is thankful, he has not had to get a job yet, he can still live on his music
**IN 2017 will be Solo Dates, as well as s Sweet / Lynch dates

Michael hangs out for 30 mins, and talks all these topics and more!!

You can listen to the full interview here: https://youtu.be/ZFVN5W2YFeY

Remember to listen to Totally Driven Radio every Thursday, and Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
https://www.facebook.com/TotallyDrivenTV
https://twitter.com/ttllydrvnradio
https://twitter.com/TotallyDrivenTV
 
Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Stryper
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Mon
25
Jul

One On One With Mitch Lafon - MICHAEL SWEET

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Release Year: 
2015
Categories: 
Podcasts & Radio

STRYPER's MICHAEL SWEET guests on Ep. 242 of One On One With Mitch Lafon.

LINK TO THE INTERVIEW: http://www.spreaker.com/user/talkingmetal/1on1-mitch-lafon-242-michael-sweet-stryp

In the show's only interview, STRYPER's MICHAEL SWEET goes track-by-track with his fantastic new solo album One Sided War, talks about Stryper's 30th Anniversary To Hell With The Devil Tour, Boston, Joel Hoekstra, working on new Stryper music as well as the second Sweet/Lynch album. Plus, we amusingly discuss what it would be like if he fronted Van Halen and much more.

ONE SIDED WAR (Track Listing):

Bizarre (video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I31Sw_654rg)
One Sided War
Can't Take This Life
Radio
Golden Age
Only You
I Am
Who Am I
You Make Me Wanna
Comfort Zone
One Way Up
Can't Take This Life (featuring Moriah Formica)
Not To Be (Japanese Bonus Track)

Quotes from the interview:

The sound of One Sided War (time 2.12): "I grew up with bands from Iron Maiden and Judas Priest to Journey... On this album I really wanted to focus on the heavier side. Songs like I Am, Bizarre and Golden Age that are just straight-ahead metal."

time (3.17): "I've heard the comment thousands of times (with a sneer) from people saying, 'it's not as heavy as Stryper,' or 'it doesn't have the balls that Stryper has,' so I just wanted to put an end to those comments with this album."

Boston (48.43): "At that time, I was kind of burnt on the Stryper thing. It was refreshing to go out and do something different and I needed it. Standing on stage singing Boston songs every night was so surreal. Pinch me moments every night."

Van Halen (51.00): "If I got a call from Van Halen to go sing for Van Halen and the right circumstances... I would absolutely do it."

Online: http://www.michaelsweet.com
Twitter: @michaelhsweet
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheMichaelSweet
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/artist/1vg0a7NOKvHrO1xY6pk2wM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stryperofficial

 

Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Stryper
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Tue
12
Jul

Rat Pak Records Set To Release MICHAEL SWEET ‘One Sided War’

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Friday, August 26, 2016
Categories: 
News Feed
 
In what promises to be Stryper front-man Michael Sweet’s most intense solo release to date, “One Sided War” showcases a full plate of hard rock & classic metal riffs from start to finish. One Sided War marks Michael’s 7th studio solo album and it clearly proves that he is still at the very top of his game! “I’ll tell you about it”, says Michael, “Musically it’s my heaviest solo album. It’s not thrash metal but there are definitely some songs on there that will pop out at you. There are some songs that have a bit of the Iron Maiden / Dio feel to them, as well as some songs that have a little bit of a Van Halen influence to them. It’s a very guitar-oriented, hard rock/metal album with lots of melodies and hooks!”
 
Surrounding himself in the studio with Whitesnake guitarist Joel Hoekstra, Evanescence drummer Will Hunt, bassist John O’Boyle and East Coast shred-master Ethan Brosh, Michael began creating what would soon be known as “One Sided War”. Michael states “Originally I planned on showcasing my own guitar playing; I was going to do it all myself, but once I brought Joel & Ethan into the picture, things began to take a new direction and I am very happy with what we have accomplished”. Says Ethan Brosh about working with Michael, "He's one of those guys who have always been at the top of their game and has just never lost it and for me to be a part of this is very special". Joel Hoekstra comments "Michael and I actually go back to my time in Night Ranger when we opened for him when he was playing with Boston. Ever since then we've just been kind of collaborating and this is sort of a natural evolution getting to play on a few songs on his solo album".
 
The fast and furious opener “Bizarre” ignites the album’s pace with it's lightning fast riffage, soaring vocals and blazing guitar solos. Tracks like “Can’t Take This Life”, “One Sided War”, "Golden Age", “I Am” and “Comfort Zone” keep the metal fires ablaze, while tracks like “Radio”, “One Way” and “You Make Me Wanna” bring the hard rock vibe to the forefront . “One Sided War” features only one ballad, “Who Am I?”, a heartfelt, passionate song that reminds us of the softer side of Michael’s talents. Closing out the disc is a bonus track; it’s a different version of the song “Can’t Take This Life”, a duet with Michael and 16 year old up-and-coming female vocalist Moriah Formica. If you are a fan of Michael Sweet / Stryper or a fan of classic Hard Rock & Metal in general “One Sided War” is an absolute must have, you won’t be disappointed! Official release date is August 26, 2016
 
The CD was tracked at Spirithouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.
 
TRACK LISTING:
Bizarre
One Sided War
Can't Take This Life
Radio
Golden Age
Only You
I Am
Who Am I
You Make Me Wanna
Comfort Zone
One Way Up
Can't Take This Life (*bonus track* featuring  Moriah Formica)
 
 
Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Stryper
Joel Hoekstra
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Tue
15
Mar

One On One With Mitch Lafon - MICHAEL SWEET

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Monday, February 23, 2015
Categories: 
Podcasts & Radio

STRYPER's MICHAEL SWEET joins Mitch on episode 203 of One On One With Mitch Lafon.

Link to episode: http://www.spreaker.com/user/talkingmetal/1on1-mitch-lafon-203-micheal-sweet-stryp

In the episode's only interview, Stryper's Michael Sweet discusses the band's plans for a To Hell With The Devil 30th anniversary album tour this fall, his upcoming solo album One Sided War, the upcoming acoustic Stryper album, the second Sweet & Lynch album, his desire to make an album with Whitesnake's Joel Hoekstra, physical ailments that affect his band mates and him, the guilt he feels towards the other members of Stryper, Tom Werman & the Against The Law album, and a lot more.

Quotes from the MICHAEL SWEET interview:

"I'm never going to say, 'I quit'. I can't quit music. I might quit Stryper someday. That day may come sooner than we all think, but I'm never going to quit music."

"Thirty years To Hell With The Devil came out. That was the groundbreaking album for Stryper. That was the one that all others are compared too."

To Hell With The Devil: "That album was the classic Stryper sound. The classic Stryper look and everything that we were, should be, are and want to be was in that album. It was real. It came from the heart. There was nothing forced."

To Hell With The Devil: "That album is a real timeless album. If you put it on this this day, it still sounds good."

"When I put on Yellow And Black Attack it doesn't sound good to me. It just annoys me to listen to it."

Solo album One Sided War: "This is a heavy album and it's going to surprise everybody. This is as heavy as Stryper."

"I got (Whitesnake's) Joel Hoekstra on a few songs. I started doing all the solos and after a few days it all started sounding like Stryper, so I reached out to Joel."

Sweet & Lynch: "George and I have discussed another album. I would personally like to be in and recording it by the end of this year."

For more about STRYPER visit:
Online: http://www.stryper.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Stryper
TWITTER: @Stryper @michaelhsweet
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lE1ly8K8H7u8k2ej2plvv

Follow Mitch Lafon on Twitter: @mitchlafon
One on One With Mitch Lafon's Official Twitter is: @1On1WithMitch
And Official Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/OneOnOneMitchLafon
Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Stryper
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Mon
17
Nov

MICHAEL SWEET To Perform Rare Holiday Show in Plymouth

Artist: 
Michael Sweet
Friday, December 19, 2014
Categories: 
Tour News
 
Stryper front man to perform rare, holiday solo show in Plymouth
 
Michael Sweet, front man of the multi-platinum, Christian rock band Stryper, is performing a rare, holiday solo concert at the Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth, Mass., on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at 8 p.m. The concert will feature Stryper classics, songs from his solo career, and popular Christmas carols to get you ready for the holiday season.
 
With a career and repertoire spanning over three decades, Sweet has fronted one of the most trailblazing groups of the MTV generation, written a stable of Billboard charting singles, filled arenas all the world over, said goodbye at the peak of it all, took stock in a thriving solo career, got Stryper back together for yet another record breaking run and even took a stint co-leading one of the most legendary classic rock acts ever, Boston, from 2007 to 2011.
 
Musically speaking, Sweet is coming off yet another creative high in the Stryper camp thanks to its 2013’s return to form record No More Hell To Pay. Besides making an instantaneous Top 40 debut on the Billboard 200, it landed at #2 on the Top Christian Albums charts, #3 on Top Hard Rock Albums and #6 on Top Rock Albums. It’s certainly a testament to the band’s perseverance, whetting the public’s appetite all the more for Sweet’s I’m Not Your Suicide, which may technically be the follow-up to 2007’s individual offering Touched, but is actually the singer/songwriter’s first full-length original album since 2000’s Truth.
 
For this special intimate show at The Spire, Sweet will take you on a journey throughout his musical career, performing songs and sharing stories in an unforgettable evening of stellar musicianship.
 
The Spire is located at 25 ½ Court Street in Plymouth. The venue features superior acoustics, custom state of the art lighting and sound systems, and original period architectural details, offering patrons an exceptional performing arts experience.
 
Advance tickets are available through brownpapertickets.com or through the venue’s website, spirecenter.org.
Tags: 
Michael Sweet
Stryper
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