STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet is featured in a new interview with JesusFreakHideout.com. An excerpt is available below:

JFH: Given that Los Angeles was pretty much ground zero for the hair metal movement of the '80s, was your decision to go that route dictated by geography, your bandmates' musical tastes, or other factors?

Michael: "Being located near the Sunset Strip certainly had an influence on us, just as any kid is influenced by their surroundings, but I think we found our own particular style nicely. I actually enjoy a variety of musical styles. I'm not the kind of guy that thinks, 'If it's not metal, it's not good.'"

JFH: Many of your fans might be surprised to know that, in the early days of Stryper, the group was managed by your mom, Janice. This seems almost like the setting for a sitcom rather than something out of, say, the movie Almost Famous. What was it like having your mother at the helm of the Stryper ship?

Michael: "We were managed by my mother, Janice, along with Daryn Hinton. Having my mother manage the group was a little like having my brother in the band - it was great, but it definitely had its challenges. Since then, managers have come and gone in and out of my life, some of whom I haven't spoken to since we parted ways. But, your mom is always your mom, though, so it's not like with other managers where you can part ways and possibly never see them again. Having our mom looking out for us in the beginning was awesome. I knew she always had our best interest at heart. But as the band got bigger, it became a bit more challenging."

JFH: So, the word on the street is that, when Stryper went on hiatus in the early '90s, you took a gig as a park ranger. Is there any truth to that rumor?

Michael: "Yes, for a while I just wanted to get out of music, so I worked in my wife's family business, a cranberry farm and campground. It was fun. I was known as Ranger Mike. I enjoyed that time in my life, spending time with family, really just being a 'regular guy.'"

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Sweet recently posted the following message to the fans:

"I'd like to ask all of you to continue to pray for the band and the process of recording what we hope and pray will be our best and most powerful record to date. God is in control and He could take a band like us, a record like this, and do things that have never been done before. I've seen God work first hand and many things have happened over the years with Stryper that are nothing short of miraculous! I pray that this record will have the power, message and energy that all the others have had combined, so much so that it's undeniable to anyone that hears it.

People ask all the time if our faith is still intact, if we still believe, if we're still a Christian band and the answer is a loud n' clear - YES! More so than ever before.

We're a little tired, beat up and exhausted from the past 30 years but our heart's desire is to continue spreading God's love through the gifts, talents and abilities that He has blessed us with. God is leading the way, not any one of us.

God bless you for your undying support, belief and encouragement for all that we have done and all that we do.

This record can be our best record yet and we appreciate your prayers. We love you guys and could not have made it this far without you. Love and respect to all of you, always!!!

Stryper's new re-recorded collection, Second Coming, hit the streets on March 22nd in Europe and on March 26th in North America. The complete album can now be previewed via iTunes here.

The album features sixteen tracks, including new recordings of fourteen songs from the band’s early years as well as two brand new songs recorded especially for Second Coming, and is produced by Stryper frontman Michael Sweet.

Second Coming tracklisting:

'Loud N’ Clear'

'Loving You'

'Soldiers Under Command'

'Makes Me Wanna Sing'

'First Love'

'The Rock That Makes Me Roll'

'Reach Out'

'Surrender'

'To Hell With The Devil'

'Calling On You'

'Free'

'The Way'

'Sing Along Song'

'More Than A Man'

Bleeding From Inside Out' (new song)

'Blackened' (new song)

The first single - a new studio cut 'Bleeding From Inside Out' - was released on February 25th.

Sweet recently commented, “We're really excited about this record. The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome… better than the originals in many ways! One word to describe the record? Heavier. We've hooked up with some great people - we've got new management, a great album, a great label. We just feel like everything is coming together, and hopefully some big things are to follow."

Stryper is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time. Comprised of the original line-up of Michael Sweet (vocals/guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), and Robert Sweet (drums), Stryper has been rocking since 1984, and is responsible for such '80s metal classic albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell With The Devil, In God We Trust and such MTV hit singles/videos as 'Calling On You', 'Free', and 'Honestly'.

After a sabbatical for much of the 1990's, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the band has sold upwards of 8 million records worldwide and is a Dove Award-winner and Grammy nominee. Stryper is the first band to have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously.