The Singer from Stryper Waylays Rock Gone Country Performers
“This song and video is having a little fun with all the guys that think they can just throw on a cowboy hat, some cowboy boots, move to Nashville and become country stars. It’s just not that simple and that’s just not reality. The same would apply to country stars trying to become metal heads … Country music, just like rock, is a lifestyle rich with history and authenticity and each genre should be treated with great respect. You can’t fake it. You can try, but the fans will see right through it.”
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This is the pointed and timely take on the recent onslaught of rockers who’ve sought the shelter of the country music format to help further their careers and hopefully make it once again on radio from the lead singer and guitar player for the Christian heavy metal band Stryper.
Michael Sweet says he has his own history in country, and has enough respect for it to where he sees right through the Steven Tylers and Brett Michaels who think you can turn into a country star like flipping a switch.
“I grew up with country music, played on my dads country songs (he cowrote a No. 1 country song in 1976 called ‘I Don’t Want To Have To Marry You’) and I know and respect the country music world,” Sweet tells Loudwire. “I wrote the song ‘Radio’ based on my history in country music and on what seems to be a surge of rock stars trying to become country stars … Just as metal is a life style, country is as well and you have to live it, not just wake up one morning and decide you’re gonna be a country star and have the respect of the country world.”
No punches are pulled in the song and video for “Radio,” and though it lampoons the rock gone country folks, it very much remains a glam metal song that you would expect from the lead singer of Stryper, aside from the banjo cameo, just like many of the “country” tunes that truly should be slotted in rock.
The song and video came out just ahead of Michael Sweet’s newest solo album One Sided War where “Radio” appears.
Shastacatfish
September 6, 2016 @ 6:41 pm
Stryper! Yeah!!
ShadeGrown
September 6, 2016 @ 6:43 pm
Excellent.
Alan d
September 6, 2016 @ 6:44 pm
My head is spinning. I guess at the end of the day the second you start talking about how “rock and roll” or how “country” you are the endgame is you’re neither.
JohnWayneTwitty
September 8, 2016 @ 12:48 pm
Now I bet you’re going to start shit talking Donnie and Marie…
I’m a little bit country..
I’m a little bit rock n’ roll…
Scotty J
September 6, 2016 @ 6:53 pm
‘I Don’t Want To Have To Marry You’ was a #1 (not 11) song by Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius in 1976 and was written Fred Imus and Phil Sweet (presumably Michael’s father) and was a great old fashioned song.
Mule
September 7, 2016 @ 9:44 pm
…and Fred being Don’s brother.
Rod Johnson
September 6, 2016 @ 8:15 pm
That was great.
Scott S.
September 6, 2016 @ 8:19 pm
Michael Sweet did a country version of Neal Young’s Heart Of Gold complete with steel guitar, and featuring Electra Mustain on guest vocals. It wasn’t very good.
Kinda funny you would mention both within a few days of each other.
Joel
September 9, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
And here is another one of his Country songs. lol
https://youtu.be/F6ME5HEerr8
Jim Bob
September 6, 2016 @ 8:52 pm
It always amuses me how clearly guys on the outside looking in can see country for what it is, but the douche bags in “country” remain blissfully oblivious to everything wrong with it.
It’s seriously gotten to the point I wish Kurt Cobain had lived long enough to try his hand at country cause I’d bet that’d one of the best, purest country albums of the last damn near 2 or 3 decades at this point. Kinda like that Ween album where you could tell they actually gave a flying fuck. Yeah, I bet it would’ve been like that-which would be a good thing
K. Smith
September 7, 2016 @ 8:14 am
Cobain????!!!! Purest country???!!!! Dude, what planet are you on? Have you missed the point here? What in Cobains catalog sounds country to you? His songwriting wasn’t even close to country and the voice? No way.
Now it is true that Sturgill Simpson did cover In Bloom and sounded somewhat country but that’s cause Sturgill has that deep twang in his voice.
Cobain was not even close in any way to country and that includes songs, sound, background, band, influences etc. The point of this article is that Sweet thinks it disingenuous for aging rockers to “go country” in some misplaced attempt to resurrect their careers. Many of us hardcore country fans agree.
Jim Bob
September 7, 2016 @ 10:24 am
Did you miss the point about rockers you’d never expect inexplicably going country? My only point there was if I had to pick 1 rock artist who’d go country and actually give enough of a fuck to do it the right way and embrace the spirit of country music, it was probably Cobain. Nowhere did I state that he had done so, nor that I found any indication in his music that he would. He was just the one example I thought of that might’ve actually done it well, that was the entire point. Well that and also that recent mainstream country hasn’t exactly set the bar very high-I did leave out the word “mainstream”, I’ll give you that much, but that’s what I was referring to.
Jack Williams
September 7, 2016 @ 10:59 am
Well, he did do this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXYz0gtJeM
Plus, he was a big Meat Puppets fan and they definitely dabbled in country music.
I could see have seen him doing something similar in style to Rachel Brooke.
Doug
September 7, 2016 @ 8:46 am
I agree with Jim Bob, I think Cobain would’ve made a really old school, earthy sounding country record if he’d had the opportunity.
Johnny Rebel
September 10, 2016 @ 9:54 am
He had the opportunity. Then blew his head off. I’m not seeing Cobain with the “spirit of country” anywhere near him. His “don’t give a shit” attitude was more of a drug haze than anything else. I see the point of you all saying he’d give the finger to Nashville, but there are a lot of bands in the Rock/Metal genre that do that…and that’s not what makes a country artist.
In my opinion, it’s living the life…failing and constantly getting back up, and wanting to be free. A drugged out hippie from Seattle hardly encompasses that at all.
Trainwreck92
September 17, 2016 @ 10:20 pm
Hell, Graham Parsons was a drugged out hippie from California, and he made some damn good country music.
Tunesmiff
September 7, 2016 @ 4:18 am
STILL more country than Sam Hunt…
Kross
September 7, 2016 @ 6:42 am
I get the joke, but how many hair metal guys are really trying to cross over like that? The guy from Poison and Steven Tyler are the only two I can think of. I can’t speak for today’s generation, but I know when I was kid cruising around my little Indiana farm town in my old ford pickup listening to mixed tapes, it wasn’t uncommon to have AC/DC on the same tape with Hank JR. So, is it really that much of a stretch?
Bertox
September 7, 2016 @ 7:28 am
I see where you’re coming from, but I think it’s more about how you don’t see AC/DC trying to “go country” to gain crossover appeal because it’s disingenuous; it’s just not who they are. Lifelong rockers that do attempt this come across as sellouts and desperate for one last push for fame at any cost
Joel
September 9, 2016 @ 3:33 pm
Brett Detar from the MEtalcore band ZAO has put out acouple Country albums. They aren’t bad, but most of the lyrics are a little too emo sounding for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLjg_DS-9Zc
Tom
September 19, 2016 @ 9:18 am
Skid Row’s Johnny Solinger put out a country album a few years back, and Jeff Keith of Tesla has had a country side project for years called Jeff Keith and Country Music Friends. While he’s not really a “metal hair guy” (Steven Tyler isn’t either), Robin Zander of Cheap Trick recorded a country album a few years back. A couple of other ’70s rock guys did as well, but I can’t remember who they were right now. And of course there are guys like Jon Bon Jovi who have skirted the edges of country music for years.
So while there haven’t been many former rock guys ripple the country waters in a big way, I think there have been enough to consider it a trend of sorts. And while I get annoyed by guys like Tyler who give the “I’ve always been a country guy at heart” spiel, I do get that some of these guys may have songs that they have written or heard that just don’t fit the sort of music their bands are doing and therefore may feel moved to release them on a one-off solo album at some point.
the pistolero
September 7, 2016 @ 7:20 am
That’s pretty neat. I didn’t know Michael Sweet’s dad co-wrote “I Don’t Want To Have To Marry You.” That’s always been one of my favorite songs.
And Michael’s take on the whole thing is spot-on.
albert
September 7, 2016 @ 8:31 am
I think the fact that today’s “country music ” fan would even accept a Steven Tyler or a Bret Michaels ..( how bout a Jessica Simpson or even a Jewel , for goodness sake ? ) says more about the state of the genre than anything else . If a fan can’t see through this he deserves exactly what he gets including rock/pop wannabe’s like Jason Aldean ,Urban , Kruze Kids and even Zak Brown . THESE ARE NOT COUNTRY ACTS ! If this isn’t clear to a listener , that listener knows very little or cares even less about the traditions of the genre or its history and he certainlycan’t be counted on to SAVE country music without being informed and enlightened as we try to do here at SCM .
Unknown Shredder
September 7, 2016 @ 8:43 am
LOL…..that was entertaining for sure and prob the best thing I’ve heard from Sweet actually.
Nice he borrowed Hoekstra from Whitesnake to play guitar,,,,and well.
Actually thought he was gonna do a mock country tune …that would have been funny.
WestTexasRain
September 7, 2016 @ 11:46 am
I disagree with how he said country people can’t be a rocker and I think skynrd,whiskey myers,black stone cherry,molly hatchet,kid rock,Framing the red,georgia satellites,etc,etc fans would disagree too. But he’s right that the fans know a poser when they see one.
Never heard of stryper before but then again I’m a atheist but a atheist that likes Skillet,flyleaf,pod and the letter black who are Christian rock bands,i know weird right? Lol
Greg Green
September 8, 2016 @ 9:10 am
He didn’t say rockers can’t be country, he mocked the folks who think it’s easy: all the guys that think they can just throw on a cowboy hat, some cowboy boots, move to Nashville and become country stars.
John_G
September 7, 2016 @ 1:46 pm
Ha! People from other genre’s clearly see it. That’s kinda pitiful. I’ve never even heard of this.guy but he nails it. To borrow part of another comment…as a teenager in North Georgia I spent a lot of time in a tractor baling hay with the radio on. It could have been Alan Jackson or Hank (any of the 3) one song and then ACDC the next…but where I differ is I can’t stand the idea of aging rockers making country. It would be different if it was someone with country leanings already…but I don’t want to hear Bret Michaels attempting country just like I don’t want to see Hank JR wearing a schoolboy uniform and trying to be hardcore rock like Angus or wearing eye makeup and trying to be hair metal. And I suppose it’s one thing if they respect the roots and make a serious effort at it, but that’s not what they do.
the pistolero
September 7, 2016 @ 4:21 pm
Also, I don’t think Sweet was poking fun at people who like different kinds of music so much as poking fun at people who are doing things half-assed and think they can get away with it because they sat on a tractor once. Hell, if you flip the genres he might as well be poking fun at Jason Aldean and FGL.
Mark
September 7, 2016 @ 5:02 pm
The list of people slamming rock musicians who try to do something a little bit country is growing quite a bit faster than the actual number of rock musicians trying to be country.
Mark
September 7, 2016 @ 5:10 pm
what is the “lifestyle” of metal?
Michael P
September 8, 2016 @ 3:33 pm
Pretty sure it involves snorting blow out of a cheap hookers butt-crack.
Carrie
September 11, 2016 @ 4:58 am
I am sure you’re being sarcastic. But just in case that’s what anyone thinks–the lifestyle of a metalhead, or metal fan isn’t much different from that of someone who is a superfan of country. We talk about music with anyone who will listen, follow tours, buy merch, etc…and above all– we go to shows. Wearing black I guess goes with the territory as well. Metal is a genre played by, and enjoyed by, people who usually, for some reason, were considered “outsiders” at one point. From what I’ve seen as a converted metalhead who still enjoys some decent country music once in awhile, metal, for the fans it is all about the MUSIC–talking about it, debating about it, seeing it live. I have never felt as accepted or comfortable as I have at the many metal shows I’ve been to. It’s honestly a very friendly and welcoming community.
And from what I saw working at a mid sized concert venue for awhile, that “sex drugs and rock and roll” thing of the 80’s and before is not happening…mostly because new metal or rock bands can’t afford it. But there are a ton of bands who are trying to be healthy on the road and take their jobs seriously. And smoke weed, but that’s not exactly Motley Crue caliber stuff.
Greg Green
September 8, 2016 @ 9:15 am
I love the metal banjo and it’s player. Hilarious.
Lone Wolf
September 9, 2016 @ 1:03 am
Havent heard this yet but I’m a Stryper fan and I like the slant he took with this song. Hard rock and Metal were always music for loners and outsiders. The rock lifestyle Michael Sweet was referring to? I’m sure Stryper’s lifestyle was WAY different than Van Halen and Motley Crue. He probably should have substituted “genre” for “lifestyle”.
captain canada
September 9, 2016 @ 6:54 pm
You rap a verse and you got a number one hit right here.
Michael Reddy
September 10, 2016 @ 5:51 pm
Don Henley and Cyndi Lauper have both put out good country influenced albums. I love the direction that Cyndi Lauper has decided to go in the last decade. She’s done a acoustic album of her stuff, a dance\electronica album, a blues album and a country album. She is a lot like Willie Nelson in that she is willing to go out on a limb and do something completely different with each album. She’s also done a few live performances with Boy George that I thought was kick ass as well.