Feature: Stryper – Throne of Thorns interview
I caught Michael Sweet in a good mood. He was ready to laugh and talk about the new Stryper album—Throne of Thorns.
This album is the 18th studio album in the band’s 42-year career. It’s the first one, however, that was recorded “backwards.” No, we’re not talking backwards masking. The truth is that the band had a scheduling conflict with the studio engineer, so instead of laying down the drum tracks as the initial foundation (the usual order of business for rock and roll studio albums), they did the process backwards. It’s usually drums first (recorded with “scratch” guitars and bass), and then bass, guitar, vocals, and solos all added later. Guitars were first this time, but they came with a surprise. Rhythm/lead guitarist Oz Fox had spikes in his blood pressure, which did not allow him to be in pitch. All of a sudden the always-shared guitar duties were the sole responsibility of vocalist/lead/rhythm guitarist Michael Sweet.
The interview was printed in the 41st Anniversary edition of this magazine. For bonus footage, you can watch the interview with Michael Sweet as it happened.
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