30th Anniversary of To Hell With the Devil

It was the fall of 1987.  I was watching DIAL MTV.  A video was featured for the first time of a glam rock band--one of many I was to have a lifetime love for.  The name of the band was Stryper, their video for a power ballad called "Honestly."  This was one of many beautiful songs written by the young hard rock superstars at the time.  The credits at the beginning and end of the video listed To Hell With the Devil as the name of the album it was on.  

In my naivete at thirteen years old, I had no idea what this album would mean to me and many I would meet.  

This past Saturday, I went to the to the Forum in Hazard, KY, to support the tour of the 30th Anniversary of that album.  The band, and Michael Sweet, himself, had recently rocked this town, maybe even put it on the map as a destination concert venue for hard rockers from the South and Midwest.

I consider it almost funny the timing of the 30th anniversary tour for that album.  In addition to my 29 years since the night I "met" Stryper via television, the weather had finally changed to real fall temperatures, daylight savings time was going to end, and the biggest and most important Presidential election was only days away,

Opening up for Stryper was Forsaken Hero, from Marion, Virginia.  They had opened up for Stryper back in June for their Fallen tour, and were honored to do the same for this one. Though I regret not paying much attention to them then, I did this time.  My friends and I will agree they sounded better the other night.  Just a handful of songs into their set, and I could tell they were heavily influenced by Stryper's heavenly heavy music:  no hindrances in the lyrics, or their sound--I heard some grunge from time to time--and most of all, their great attempts to rock as hard and loud as Michael, Oz, Tim, and Robert, combined.  They were a six-person band with a Stryper attitude...dressed in red and black.

What I appreciate about this band was their shamelessness in covering 80s anthems "I Love Rock and Roll" and Genesis' "Land of Confusion."  I'm sure Stryper was backstage applauding them for this.  Backup vocalist Emily Price took the lead in the former.  The latter was about the "confusion" about this election, that will take place at this writing in just a matter of hours.

I can't remember the last time I heard a fully instrumental rock or pop song; that is rare these days, maybe even a lost art, worse yet, obsolete.  To prove me wrong on that extinction was Alan Robinson .  He and his band had no words; neither do I except....WOW!  This is something all music lovers, even guitarists of all skill levels, should check out.  Great for all occasions, including but not limited to birthday parties, weddings, and any venue known to man.

Then...to set the stage (literally) for what was ahead:

What followed was a great video of the band, how they got started, as Roxx Regime, and how they were the trailblazers of Christian hard rock.  Through all the ups and downs they have experienced as a band, they are still together...and still rockin' for the Rock.  And that they did...in two sets.  The first set was To Hell With the Devil, song by song from the album and in order.  

Never in my life had I been so excited about and gotten goosebumps as a result of hearing "Abyss," knowing what song would follow.  I don't need to mention it; it is eternally synonymous with the name of the band.  The same goes for all of the other hit songs on it, not the least of which is "Honestly," "Free," "The Way," and "Calling on You."

By the way, I should let you know this is all in the context of someone who didn't see them back in the day.  Hence, my above-mentioned reaction to "Abyss."

The second set was even better.  It had the same kind of start, with "Yahweh."  Like Forsaken Hero, they covered songs like KISS' "Shout it Out Loud." That was an awesome tribute:  If it hadn't been for KISS, we wouldn't have Stryper.  To that end, I say, "Stryper, continue rocking on for the Rock."