2 March 2023 – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane – words and pictures by Tam Schilling
It’s been five years since the American Christian Metal Band Stryper last graced our shores. Tonight, we have Stryper in Brisbane celebrating their 40th Anniversary.
Last time Stryper toured Australia was in 2018 as a three-piece due to Oz Fox being diagnosed with brain tumours at the time. This tour, Oz Fox is back touring with the band.
Warming up the crowd tonight we have a local band from Sydney, Panik. I personally have not heard this band before tonight. It is quite clear from the beginning Panik are a thrash metal band. These guys have super high energy on stage, it was making me tired watching them run all over the stage! Thrashing out songs such as ‘Burn’, ‘My Imperfection’ and ‘Show no Mercy’ these boys have clearly won the crowd over tonight in Brisbane. They finished up the set with ‘Heart Racer’.
Now the crowd is warmed up it’s time to get hyped for the main act of the night, Stryper! Stryper still consists of three original band members including Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), brother Robert Sweet (Drums) and Oz Fox (guitar), along with the newest band member Perry Richardson who joined the band in 2017.
Hitting the stage tonight the band are straight into it with hits such as ‘In God We Trust’, ‘Calling on You’ and Michael Sweet’s grandson’s favourite song ‘Sorry’. After being a band for 40 years, these musicians are crazy talented to still sound as amazing as they did back in the 80’s not to mention to still have the “hair band” look and rockin it!
Stryper are a very unique band who are amazed that even though they sing about Jesus and take a stand for Christ, that people continually come out to support them. Michael Sweet had the audience in the palm of his hands, with most of the audience singing along to each chorus in every song including ‘Always There for You’, ‘Soldiers Under Command’ and ‘To Hell with the Devil’ as their last song. We all know any band’s last song isn’t actually their last, with Stryper hitting the stage one last time for tonight smashing out ‘Sing- along Song’ to get the whole crowd involved in tonight’s performance. These fans sure do love the involvement!
If you go to a Stryper gig, you might be lucky enough to catch one of their famous Stryper Bibles which they have been throwing out into the crowds since they started. No, you don’t need to be a Christian to attend this gig either! If you are into 80’s Hair Metal then this is a gig not to be missed!
If tonight was anything to go by, you don’t want to miss the rest of the tour! Stryper are hitting up Sydney Friday night then onto Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. If you love 80’s hair metal, this is a tour you definitely don’t want to miss!
