Feature: Stryper Brings an Incredible Night of Rock to Liberty, South Carolina

By Jimmy Sorrells

There is something special about seeing a band you love with good friends and getting to share that experience with your son for the first time. That was my night with Stryper at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center in Liberty, South Carolina, on Friday, October 23, 2026. I went with my friends Eric, Wayne, Glenn, Steve, and his wife, Sally, and brought my son Max along for his first Stryper show. He loved the band, and we all got a great night of rock and roll.

Local rock and roll band Chuck W. Chapman opened the evening before Stryper took the stage.

Ahead of the headlining set, two representatives from the South Carolina Entertainment & Music Hall of Fame introduced the band and recognized bassist Perry Richardson, a native of Conway, South Carolina. Perry was inducted in 1995 and joined Stryper in 2017. The representatives were clearly excited to have a Hall of Fame member on their stage, and it added a personal connection to the evening.

The stage remained dark as a recording of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” played. Toward the end of the recording, the members walked out one by one and took their places. It built anticipation for what turned out to be an incredible show.

The set offered a great mix of old and new music. Longtime fan favorites included “Calling on You,” “Free,” “Loud ’n’ Clear,” “In God We Trust,” “Always There for You,” and “Soldiers Under Command.” Alongside those classics were more recent songs fans have come to love, including “No More Hell to Pay,” “When We Were Kings,” “The Valley,” and “Yahweh.” “The Valley” was a personal highlight and one I was especially glad to hear.

There was plenty to enjoy whether you had followed Stryper from the early days or connected with their later albums. Michael Sweet also told the crowd that the band is working on new songs, giving us something else to look forward to.

One of the most entertaining moments of the night happened because of a shirt in the crowd. Michael spotted someone near the front wearing a Thin Lizzy shirt and mentioned that Stryper used to play one of their songs. Then he tried to remember it.

The looks from the other band members were priceless.

After a few seconds, Michael started playing a tune and turned toward Robert Sweet behind the drums. Robert nodded along, apparently trying to figure out which song his brother was playing, before joining in. Meanwhile, Perry and Oz Fox stood there watching. From where I was standing, their expressions looked like they were wondering what was going on and when this unplanned jam had become part of the set.

I could not tell you which Thin Lizzy song it was, but for about 20 seconds, we got an unexpected little performance. Then Michael stopped and admitted that was all he could remember. It was funny, spontaneous, and one of those moments that makes a concert memorable beyond the songs everyone came to hear.

Throughout the night, Michael delivered the vocals people hoped to hear. Those high notes still drew a reaction, and the conversations I overheard afterward kept coming back to that. People were amazed by what he could still do with his voice after more than four decades with Stryper. Hearing him that night, it was easy to understand their excitement.

Robert Sweet had his drums positioned in his familiar sideways setup, surrounded by an impressive array of cymbals. That arrangement gives the audience a great view of him at work, and watching him play remains a big part of the fun of a Stryper show. He was just as good as ever behind the kit.

It was also incredible to watch Oz Fox playing guitar and singing after everything he has been through with brain surgery. He did not move around as much as I remember from earlier shows, but his performance impressed me. I was grateful to see him up there doing what he does.

And I have always loved Perry Richardson. He comes across as such a nice, humble guy, and he fits this band so well. Watching him onstage, you can tell how much he enjoys playing this music with these guys. His enthusiasm is easy to see, and I am so glad he is part of Stryper.

They closed with “To Hell with the Devil,” giving the crowd a favorite to send us out on. It was a fitting finish to a night that celebrated the band’s history while showing how much their newer music belongs in the set.

As people stood around afterward and headed toward the exits, I heard one conversation after another about how good Stryper sounded. I felt the same way. Great songs, incredible musicianship, some unexpected laughs, and a room full of people enjoying it together. It was simply a good, fun rock and roll show.