Rob Cavuoto from Guitar International spoke to STRYPER mainman Michael Sweet recently about a number of topics including their new covers album, The Covering. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Guitar International: Was it difficult being a Christian band back in the '80’s in LA with all the trapping of drugs, alcohol and women?

Sweet: "Prior to Stryper we weren’t living up to those Christian values. I became a Christian when I was 12 and later in life walked away from the church. We got into the club scene and drinking, just like everyone else. Then one day Robert and I met a friend who was in the same scene and he told us that if we gave our band to God, that God would do some incredible things with it. So we made a decision to do just that and there was no looking back. We became Stryper! We then signed the deal with Enigma and made the choice to deliver the message of God."

Guitar International: What was the impetus for doing a new record? I’m asking because nowadays, a lot of people are simply not interested in new music from their favorite band and just want them to remain in the past and be a nostalgia act. Stryper has effectively ignored all of that and plowed ahead.

Sweet: "I think it’s important and vital in a bands career. If you want stay on top you need to work hard and can’t stop. You keep the talk going and keep the buzz going. If you go way for too long people will forget about you. The attention span of people nowadays is very short and you can be forgotten very quickly like the flavor of the month. It’s important to put new music out for that very reason. We’re already starting to talk about putting out a new original CD later this year."

Guitar International: You’ve seen the heydays of metal and hard rock and its downturns, how does that affect your ability to go out and make new music?

Sweet: "My mindset is always wanting to reach the old fans that have supported us from day one. We wouldn’t be here without them and in the same turn you want to reach new fans. Ten years ago you wouldn’t have done that making an ‘80’s sounding record. You would’ve turned people off. Nowadays, you’re hearing more of the quality of the old school music more than ever. Even in the new bands, you’re hearing harmony guitars, vocals and singers who can sing!"

Read the entire interview here.

Stryper recently announced a number of tour dates in support of their new album, The Covering. The band's itinerary is as follows:

March

2 - Seattle, WA - El Corazón
3 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre
5 - Santa Clara, CA - Avalon Nightclub
8 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
9 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia LA Live
11 - Las Vegas, NV - Santa Fe Station Casino
13 - Lubbock, TX - Jake's Sports Cafe
14 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
15 - San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
16 - Dallas, TX - Trees

May

- Mexico - TBA

June

10, - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival

24 - Loreley, Germany - Rock The Nation Festival
25 - Ferropolis, Germany -b Rock The Nation Festival

The Covering includes the following tracklisting:

SWEET - 'Set Me Free'

SCORPIONS - 'Blackout'

BLACK SABBATH - 'Heaven and Hell'

UFO - 'Lights Out'

KANSAS - 'Carry On Wayward Son'

DEEP PURPLE - 'Highway Star'

KISS - 'Shout It Out Loud'

OZZY OSBOURNE - 'Over The Mountain'

IRON MAIDEN - 'The Trooper'

JUDAS PRIEST - 'Breaking The Law'

VAN HALEN - 'On Fire'

LED ZEPPELIN - 'Immigrant Song'

'God' (New song)