stryper australian tour

THU 2 MAR - BRISBANE

Princess theatre, fri 3 mar - sydney, liberty hall, sun 5 mar - melbourne, 170 russell, tue 7 mar - perth, magnet house, thu 9 mar - adelaide, sat 11 mar - auckland, vip upgrades, show ticket not included.

STRYPER - AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, Stryper is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and their venerable endurance. 

In 2023, the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and do so on the back of both consistent touring and consistent album releases with their latest release “ The Final Battle ” receiving rave reviews the world over. Sirius XM radio host Eddie Trunk says, “Stryper is more active than any other band from the ‘80s”, and they are. 

The group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like “Calling on You,” “Honestly” and “Always There for You.” Stryper’s career album sales exceed 10 million worldwide, including 1986’s multi-platinum release “To Hell with the Devil.” 

The band also made history in 1987 when it notched three songs in Dial-MTV’s Top 10 with videos “Calling On You”, “Free”, and “Honestly”, being the first band ever to have two songs in the Top 10 simultaneously. 

Silverback Touring is pleased to announce that Stryper, comprising three original members including brothers Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar) and newest bandmate, seasoned bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse), return to Australia and New Zealand in 2023 for a tour covering every major Australian city and, for first time in decades, Auckland. 

The band last visited Australia in 2018 and were forced to play as a trio due to Oz Fox falling ill ahead of the tour, giving fans a unique opportunity to see the band in a different and unique format. 

Fans are in for a real treat with one of the world’s most consistent and loved hard rock/heavy metal groups. 

Tour Dates 

Thu 2 March - Brisbane, Princess Theatre

Fri 3 March - Sydney, Liberty Hall

Sunday 5 March - Melbourne, 170 Russell

Tuesday 7 March - Perth, Magnet House  

Thursday 9 March - Adelaide, Bridgeway

Saturday 11 March - Auckland, Galatos 

On sale now

REGISTER TO KEEP IN TOUCH

Email Address*

@2023. All rights reserved. Website designed by All Kinds Of Digital

TUESDAY, MAR 7 2023

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, Stryper is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and their venerable endurance.

In 2023, the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and do so on the back of both consistent touring and consistent album releases with their latest release “ The Final Battle ” receiving rave reviews the world over. Sirius XM radio host Eddie Trunk says, “Stryper is more active than any other band from the ‘80s”, and they are.

The group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like “Calling on You,”“Honestly” and “Always There for You.” Stryper’s career album sales exceed 10 million worldwide, including 1986’s multi-platinum release “To Hell with the Devil.”

The band also made history in 1987 when it notched three songs in Dial-MTV’s Top 10 with videos “Calling On You”, “Free”, and “Honestly”, being the first band ever to have two songs in the Top 10 simultaneously.

Silverback Touring is pleased to announce that Stryper, comprising three original members including brothers Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox(guitar) and newest bandmate, seasoned bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse), return to Australia and New Zealand in 2023 for a tour covering every major Australian city and,for first time in decades, Auckland.

The band last visited Australia in 2018 and were forced to play as a trio due to Oz Fox falling ill ahead of the tour, giving fans a unique opportunity to see the band in a different and uniqueformat.

Fans are in for a real treat with one of the world’s most consistent and loved hard rock/heavy metal groups.

Events coming to Magnet House

The Magnet House Photo Collection

See you at maggie's.

393 murray street, Perth

Every Wed and Fri 9pm, Sat 8pm till late late late!

It is an offence to sell or supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years on licensed or regulated premises; or for a person under the age of 18 years to purchase, or attempt to purchase, liquor on licensed or regulated premises. | Liquor license: 6070007625 License Class: Nightclub License. Licensee Club Capitol Pty Ltd. Website crafted by Identity Perth .

Stryper brings 25th Anniversary tour to Australia

Without question, Murder by Pride represents a resounding return to form for Stryper. The 12-track album is replete with smouldering dual guitars, euphoric harmonies and sing-along anthems worthy of playing full-volume with windows wide open.

Looking back over the last 25 years, Stryper is considered a groundbreaking act by all accounts. Since the band's label debut in 1984, the quartet has sold more than 8 million albums worldwide. The first Christian rock band to enjoy decided success in the mainstream market, Stryper's RIAA certified platinum 1986 magnum opus To Hell with the Devil is listed among the "100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music" as designated by CCM Magazine. The band's popular power ballad "Honestly" became a Billboard Top 40 hit, peaking at #23.

In conjunction with the latest release, Stryper will be heading to Australia as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations. The tour will feature their greatest hits and some newer material performed by all the original band members including: Michael Sweet (lead vocals, rhythm guitar); Robert Sweet (drums); Oz Fox (lead guitar); and Tim Gaines (bass).

Still one of the most mesmerizing stage acts today, Stryper received tremendous exposure on television's MTV and VH1, paving the way for more faith-fuelled bands to be considered for airplay. So come and celebrate 25 years of Stryper as they head our way in August 2010!

Melbourne: Wednesday 25th August 2010, Billboard The Venue

Sydney: Thursday 26th August 2010, Metro Theatre Brisbane: Saturday 28th August 2010, Hi Fi Brisbane

On the web: justsayrock.com.au

• Subscribe and Follow Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest Subscribe to our newsletter Submit

• Statistics Stats
• You are here:
• March 5, 2023 Setlist

Stryper Setlist at 170 Russell, Melbourne, Australia

• Edit setlist songs
• Edit venue & date
• Edit set times
• Add to festival
• Report setlist

Tour: The Final Battle Tour 2023 Tour statistics Add setlist

• In God We Trust Play Video
• Revelation Play Video
• More Than a Man Play Video
• Surrender Play Video
• Calling on You Play Video
• Free Play Video
• Sorry Play Video
• All for One Play Video
• Always There for You Play Video
• Divider Play Video
• The Valley Play Video
• Yahweh Play Video
• Soldiers Under Command Play Video
• To Hell With the Devil Play Video
• Sing-Along Song Play Video

Edits and Comments

3 activities (last edit by saby , 19 Mar 2023, 13:00 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Calling on You
• More Than a Man
• Sing-Along Song
• To Hell With the Devil
• Always There for You
• In God We Trust
• Soldiers Under Command
• All for One

Complete Album stats

More from this Artist

• More Setlists
• Artist Statistics
• Add setlist

170 Russell

• Stryper This Setlist Add time Add time
• Crosson Add time Add time

Stryper Gig Timeline

• Mar 02 2023 The Princess Theatre Brisbane, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 03 2023 Liberty Hall Sydney, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 05 2023 170 Russell This Setlist Melbourne, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 07 2023 Magnet House Perth, Australia Add time Add time
• Mar 09 2023 Bridgeway Hotel Adelaide, Australia Add time Add time

5 people were there

Share or embed this setlist.

Use this setlist for your event review and get all updates automatically!

<div style="text-align: center;" class="setlistImage"><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/stryper/2023/170-russell-melbourne-australia-63ba226f.html" title="Stryper Setlist 170 Russell, Melbourne, Australia, The Final Battle Tour 2023" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=63ba226f" alt="Stryper Setlist 170 Russell, Melbourne, Australia, The Final Battle Tour 2023" style="border: 0;" /></a> <div><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/edit?setlist=63ba226f&amp;step=song">Edit this setlist</a> | <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/stryper-13d6a921.html">More Stryper setlists</a></div></div>

Last.fm Event Review

[url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/stryper/2023/170-russell-melbourne-australia-63ba226f.html][img]https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=63ba226f[/img][/url] [url=https://www.setlist.fm/edit?setlist=63ba226f&amp;step=song]Edit this setlist[/url] | [url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/stryper-13d6a921.html]More Stryper setlists[/url]

Tour Update

Marquee memories: quarters of change.

• Quarters of Change
• Jun 7, 2024
• Jun 6, 2024
• Jun 5, 2024
• Jun 4, 2024
• Jun 3, 2024
• Jun 2, 2024
• FAQ | Help | About
• Terms of Service
• Ad Choices | Privacy Policy
• Feature requests
• Songtexte.com

Get the latest from Beat

Stryper announce 2023 australian tour.

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, Stryper are renowned for their distinctive brand of heavenly metal, extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and their venerable endurance.

In 2023, the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and do so on the back of both consistent touring and consistent album releases with their latest release The Final Battle.

The group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like Calling on You, Honestly and Always There for You. Stryper’s career album sales exceed 10 million worldwide, including 1986’s multi-platinum release To Hell With The Devil .

Stryper March 2023 Tour Dates

• Thursday 2nd March – Brisbane, Princess Theatre
• Friday 3rd March – Sydney, Liberty Hall
• Saturday 4th March – Perth, Magnet House
• Sunday 5th March – Melbourne, 170 Russell
• Wednesday 8th March – Adelaide, Bridgeway
• Friday 10th March – Auckland, Galatos

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews  here .

The band also made history in 1987 when it notched three songs in Dial-MTV’s Top 10 with videos Calling on You, Honestly and Free, being the first band ever to have two songs in the Top 10 simultaneously.

Silverback Touring is pleased to announce that STRYPER, comprising three original members including brothers Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar) and newest bandmate, seasoned bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse), return to Australia andNew Zealand in 2023 for a tour covering every major Australian city and, for first time in decades, Auckland.

The band last visited Australia in 2018 and were forced to play as a trio due to Oz Fox falling ill ahead of the tour, giving fans a unique opportunity to see the band in a different and unique format.

General on sale commences: 9am on Monday 5 December 2022. Tickets available via: https://www.silverbacktouring.com.au/stryper-2023/

Courtney Barnett, Dry Cleaning, NO ZU, Vika and Linda to play Live at RRR this month

Stryper announce March 2023 Australian and New Zealand Tour

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre,  STRYPER  is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and their venerable endurance.

In 2023, the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and do so on the back of both consistent touring and consistent album releases with their latest release The Final Battle receiving rave reviews the world over. Sirius XM radio host Eddie Trunk says, “Stryper is more active than any other band from the ‘80s”, and they are.

The group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like ‘Calling on You,’ ‘Honestly’ and ‘Always There for You.’ STRYPER’s career album sales exceed 10 million worldwide, including 1986’s multi-platinum release To Hell With The Devil. The band also made history in 1987 when it notched three songs in Dial-MTV’s Top 10 with videos ‘Calling on You,’ ‘Honestly’ and ‘Free’, being the first band ever to have two songs in the Top 10 simultaneously.

Silverback Touring is pleased to announce that STRYPER, comprising three original members including brothers Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar) and newest bandmate, seasoned bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse), return to Australia and New Zealand in 2023 for a tour covering every major Australian city and, for first time in decades, Auckland.

The band last visited Australia in 2018 and were forced to play as a trio due to Oz Fox falling ill ahead of the tour, giving fans a unique opportunity to see the band in a different and unique format. Fans are in for a real treat with one of the world’s most consistent and loved hard rock/heavy metal groups.

STRYPER March 2023 Tour Dates

Thursday 2nd March – BRISBANE, Princess Theatre Friday 3rd March – SYDNEY, Liberty Hall Saturday 4th March – PERTH, Magnet House Sunday 5th March – MELBOURNE, 170 Russell Wednesday 8th March – ADELAIDE, Bridgeway Friday 10th March – AUCKLAND, Galatos

Pre-sale commences: 9am on Monday 28 November 2022 General on sale commences: 9am on Monday 5 December 2022

Tickets available via:  https://www.silverbacktouring.com.au/stryper-2023/

Related Articles

LIVE PHOTOS: Stryper w/ Panik – Brisbane, March 2nd 2023

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, Stryper is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and […]

Iconic group featuring members of Whitesnake, Stryper reveal new single “Nowhere To Run”

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the signing of an absolutely monstrous new hard rock group, Iconic. Featuring Michael Sweet (guitars), Joel Hoekstra (guitars), Marco Mendoza (bass), Tommy Aldridge (drums), and Nathan James (vocals), […]

Stryper- The Final Battle (Album Review)

Stryper is a heavy metal band from the USA formed in 1983, releasing fourteen albums across a four-decade career, which includes a ten-year hiatus between 1993 and 2003. The band are regarded as pioneers of […]

Copyright © 2024 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes

100% HEAVY / 100% Free / 0% Spam

STRYPER To Tour Australia In 2023

• Written by HEAVY

Share This:

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, STRYPER is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and their venerable endurance.

In 2023, the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and do so on the back of both consistent touring and consistent album releases with their latest release The Final Battle receiving rave reviews the world over. Sirius XM radio host Eddie Trunk says, “ Stryper is more active than any other band from the ‘80s”, and they are.

The band last visited Australia in 2018 and were forced to play as a trio due to  Oz Fox  falling ill ahead of the tour, giving fans a unique opportunity to see the band in a different and unique format.

Fans are in for a real treat with one of the world’s most consistent and loved hard rock/heavy metal groups.

Pre-sale commences: 9am on Monday November 28 2022

General on sale commences: 9am on Monday December 5 2022

Tickets available via :  https://www.silverbacktouring.com.au/stryper-2023/

Discover more like this on HEAVY:

• # Australia , Hard Rock , HEAVY , Rock , Silverback Touring , Stryper , Tour

SLEEPMAKESWAVES Release First Docuseries Episode

Destruction unleash ‘no kings – no masters’, crimson veil drop album lead single ‘illuminate’, wolfheart dig deep on new track ‘grave’, crossfaith share ‘warriors’ ft. mah from sim, get the heavy digi-mags.

Rock. Punk. Metal. And beyond.

Get the weekly heavy digi-mags.

© KSP Productions 2021 | All content is rights reserved unless otherwise given permission.

Get the HEAVY Digi-Mag in-boxed weekly. 100% HEAVY / 0%SPAM.

The Live Wire Music Media

Stryper: live at the Princess Theatre

2 March 2023 – The Princess Theatre, Brisbane – words and pictures by Tam Schilling

It’s been five years since the American Christian Metal Band Stryper last graced our shores. Tonight, we have Stryper in Brisbane celebrating their 40th Anniversary.

Last time Stryper toured Australia was in 2018 as a three-piece due to Oz Fox being diagnosed with brain tumours at the time. This tour, Oz Fox is back touring with the band.

Warming up the crowd tonight we have a local band from Sydney, Panik. I personally have not heard this band before tonight. It is quite clear from the beginning Panik are a thrash metal band. These guys have super high energy on stage, it was making me tired watching them run all over the stage! Thrashing out songs such as ‘Burn’, ‘My Imperfection’ and ‘Show no Mercy’ these boys have clearly won the crowd over tonight in Brisbane. They finished up the set with ‘Heart Racer’.

Now the crowd is warmed up it’s time to get hyped for the main act of the night, Stryper! Stryper still consists of three original band members including Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), brother Robert Sweet (Drums) and Oz Fox (guitar), along with the newest band member Perry Richardson who joined the band in 2017.

Hitting the stage tonight the band are straight into it with hits such as ‘In God We Trust’, ‘Calling on You’ and Michael Sweet’s grandson’s favourite song ‘Sorry’. After being a band for 40 years, these musicians are crazy talented to still sound as amazing as they did back in the 80’s not to mention to still have the “hair band” look and rockin it!

Stryper are a very unique band who are amazed that even though they sing about Jesus and take a stand for Christ, that people continually come out to support them. Michael Sweet had the audience in the palm of his hands, with most of the audience singing along to each chorus in every song including ‘Always There for You’, ‘Soldiers Under Command’ and ‘To Hell with the Devil’ as their last song. We all know any band’s last song isn’t actually their last, with Stryper hitting the stage one last time for tonight smashing out ‘Sing- along Song’ to get the whole crowd involved in tonight’s performance. These fans sure do love the involvement!

If you go to a Stryper gig, you might be lucky enough to catch one of their famous Stryper Bibles which they have been throwing out into the crowds since they started. No, you don’t need to be a Christian to attend this gig either! If you are into 80’s Hair Metal then this is a gig not to be missed!

If tonight was anything to go by, you don’t want to miss the rest of the tour! Stryper are hitting up Sydney Friday night then onto Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. If you love 80’s hair metal, this is a tour you definitely don’t want to miss!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Stories

LIVE: Sky Ferreira at the Princess Theatre

LIVE: Eskimo Joe at Logan Entertainment Centre

LIVE: Angie McMahon at the Forum

You may have missed.

NEWS: The Tea Party announce Australian tour

NEWS: The Maine announce Australian tour supports

INTERVIEW: Stryper – Michael Sweet

Australian tour interview 2023.

28 February 2023 Mark Diggins

STRYPER is coming back to Australia in March for a series of dates that also take in New Zealand. If you’ve loved them since the 80’s or discovered them in recent years through their wonderful last few releases and crave a taste of Metal with a message, then these shows are unmissable. We caught up with Michael Sweet to look back over the last 40 years and look ahead to what comes next and boy is there a lot to sink your teeth into!  Check out the dates at Silverback Touring ! Are you ready to Rock Australia? We are!

Michael: Hello!

Mark: Good morning Michael!

Michael: How are you Mark?

Mark: Good thank you, how are you Sir?

Michael: I’m doing well I’m moving in to the evening hours here and you are moving in to the morning hours.

Mark: Well sort of! Over here we’re in the West it’s 6a.m. so nice and early, and what better way to start the day!

Michael: Wow, sheesh!

Mark: Thank you so much for talking to the Rockpit this morning. It’s great to talk to you again.

Michael: of course, I love the site.

Mark: It’s fantastic to have you back Downunder are you looking forward to the long trip?

Michael: Yeah I’ll be honest with you I’m never looking forward to travelling or flying that far. It doesn’t matter where it is! But I’m looking forward to getting there and my feet being on the ground and spending a little time in Australia and of course New Zealand and we’re super excited man we really are.

Mark: You are sounding great as well! I mean for someone who personally who has been listening to the band for a very long time, I actually think your last 3 records are up there with the very best.

Michael: Well man thank you for saying that and I’m so happy to hear that – that’s amazing. We work hard on our records and we strive for perfection. I don’t know that we always accomplish that but we certainly try and give it our best and it’s always nice to hear the payoff from somebody saying that they’re up there with the old albums. I am just thrilled to hear that Mark I really am.

Mark: Yeah its interesting isn’t it, We’re sort of on the cusp of a big anniversary of ‘The Yellow and Black Attack’ which is 39 years old this year! When I saw that I thought “Wow I can’t believe I have been listening to Stryper for almost 40 years now!”

Michael: Yeah next year we’ll be officially celebrating the 40-year Anniversary Mark, and it is pretty mind blowing! Before you know it before we can snap our fingers and blink and we’re gonna be celebrating the 50-year anniversary and that’s just a bit scary to be honest! (laughs)

Mark: Yeah it is isn’t it! (laughs) It was interesting back in those early days – the thing that always got me in the pre-internet years was how big you were in Japan. I remember reading those old Burrn Magazine reviews when that first EP that came out. It must have struck you as being pretty odd to be embraced so completely by a country like Japan with no real Christian Heritage, they loved the band so much – how do you look back on that now?

Michael: You know we were so young. I mean we went over there in 1985 – when that album ‘Yellow and Black’ came out in 1984 I had just turned 21 so you know I was 22 years old going to Japan and what’s really interesting about that is we had never officially toured anywhere in the world before other than Japan and we were going there for the first time and we were thinking “Gosh how is this going to work out?” So we went there and there were so many fans and it was such an incredible experience and we wound up releasing the video (of the tour) hat went platinum. So much came from that historically and it really is humbling to say the least for whatever reason. I mean you wouldn’t imagine the Japanese people who were primarily Buddhist accepting a Christian band so it was really interesting and really humbling.

Mark: It would have been a wonderful blessing I guess that that happened when it did. You obviously went on to bigger and better things in the rest of the world but to me it all stems from that. It’s also 10 years since ‘Second Coming’ –  I loved those re-records of the first 3 albums and probably one of my favourite records was ‘No More Hell to Pay’ – that’s sort of like the hidden gem of the catalogue for me.

Michael: Yeah, I mean the thing about ‘Second Coming’ and ‘The Covering’ even was about getting back to our roots and that time period. We were thinking about that and starting to listen to those albums again like ‘Soldiers’, ‘To Hell with the Devil’ and ‘In God We Trust’ and as I was listening I was thinking to myself “you know what? The fans really want to hear this stuff and this style – this is Stryper – this is what we should be doing coming off the heels of ‘Reborn’ which was a curve ball, and rightfully so. It was really a solo album, everybody knows that. So when Stryper recorded it, it was very different – a little more modern and 90’s. And then you got ‘Murder By Pride’ which was a little softer and not as edgy. So when we came out with ‘Second Coming’ that was like “OK – Wow! What are they going to do next?” and then all of a sudden you have ‘No More Hell to Pay.’ I think people were listening to that album saying “Wow – they’re back you know they’ve found themselves again” and I think we truly did with that album.

Mark: Absolutely, that was the one for me! The new line up is sounding pretty damn good as well! Perry Richardson seems to have fitted in really nicely?

Michael: There is no question, Perry fits right in and you know he loves being in the band we love having him in the band and it’s so great to have him. He is such a great talent – such a great bass player, great singer and a great guy! We are very blessed to have Perry he really is a true gem and a great find and were so happy to have him in our band.

Mark: Yeah it’s great to hear him and I loved his previous band as well – Firehouse!

Michael: Absolutely.

Mark: You’ve always been  a very prolific writer and I’ve followed your solo career over the years as well, and loved the recent collaborations you’ve had with George Lynch which is quite interesting for me – two great guitarists getting together and producing some great music. What have you got on at the moment? It always strikes me that you are someone who i never at a loose end as far as writing music is concerned! What are you concentrating on right now?

Michael: Well I have the Sweet and Lynch album that is coming out in May. Sweet and Lynch III – it’s called ‘Heart and Sacrifice’ and it’s a really great album. Mark I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised because you know we ventured off a little bit on the second album, though I really like that album, but I can understand why some fans might not liked it as much as the first because it is a little different. This album is getting back to the sound of the first album and there are some songs on this album that I think are going to surprise people.

Mark: That sounds intriguing!

Michael: Mark, I honestly think people are going to think “Wow! I didn’t see that coming!” in a good way! George is ripping it up and its really got a great feel to it. Aside from that I just turned in another album that I co-wrote & co-produced and which I’m singing on. It’s a throwback to the early 80’s – Journey, Foreigner, Toto that kind of stuff it’s not a Metal album at all but it’s a great album!

Mark: Wow! I can’t wait to hear that one, that’s a solo album is it?

Michael: Well not really, I am working with its myself and a guy by the name of Alessandro Del Vecchio who is from Frontiers and he wrote the music and I wrote the melodies and the lyrics and then we have another guy who is co-writing the lyrics with me his name is Giancarlo Florida – I hope I pronounced his name right! He’s going to kill me if I didn’t because he is a dear friend of mine! But I tell you Mark it’s a really great album and I’m super excited for people to hear that one as well because it’s just different for me. I think people expect Metal and me screaming in every song, and this is different I am singing and there’s less screaming! And in a different range and a little bit of a different style too. And then we’ve got the Stryper acoustic album coming out this year and I’m starting on a new Iconic album this year as well.

Mark: I knew there would be a lot! But I didn’t realise there would be that much to look forward to! That’s fantastic news or fans!

Mark: One of the things that I always love to ask song writers, especially for someone like you who is so prolific. How do songs come to you?

Michael: Well I’ll tell you Mark I don’t really think about them until it’s time to write them, so in other words I’m out living my life and doing my thing and going to the movies and the supermarket and all that regular stuff. And then when it’s on the books and I look at the calendar and reads “Write album tomorrow” I pull out my equipment and I start writing for tomorrow, and then it’s a song a day, and after 11 days there’s 11 songs. And that’s just how it works for me. With every album. And I’m very grateful for that. So far I haven’t turned in any duds, at least I don’t think so!

Mark: That’s incredible! I mean I know talking to people a song will come to them when they are in the shower or when they are out getting their groceries and stuff like that but that’s incredible that the songs just come as you need them!

Michael: They do. That’s exactly how it happens –  they come as I need them and once I put my mind to it that’s when the river starts flowing. You know the well starts just overflowing and that’s just the way my mind works.  I hyperfocus on it at that point in time and then it all comes together. And so far I haven’t had any dry spells in the past like 15 years. I’m very grateful for that. I hope that day never comes, but you know I feel like I am getting better, or at least I’m trying to get better at what I do. I’ve been doing it for a long time you know. I was in the studio playing on my Dad’s country sessions when I was 10 years old and 11 years old and that’s a few years ago now!

Mark: Is that where it all started for you? I always imagined it was and I must admit I have read the book which you signed for me on the Monsters of Rock Cruise a few years back, but is that where it started as far as you are concerned? That moment when you knew that music was going to be your life?

Michael: Definitely. I mean I grew up in a musical family and I was born into music at a very early age. I was humming song melodies and trying to write lyrics when I was a young kid and my parents were off performing at clubs and we would have a babysitter watching us and when we would have family reunions we would have a jam session every time! It was a very musical family and it’s almost like I even didn’t have a choice – even if I had wanted one I didn’t! (laughs) But you know music is in my DNA and part of all that I am. I think it is just always going to be that way and I am very blessed in the sense that I feel that I have never had a job in my life – you know it’s always felt like a privilege to play music and, you know, just pure sheer fun doing what I do. You know when I write I love it, when I play I love it. I get stressed out some times and I don’t like travelling and all that stuff,  but I mean doing music for a lifetime is such a honor and I’m very blessed to be able to say that.

Mark: I think everyone is there for a purpose and that certainly seems to be your purpose to make great music.

Mark: One of the things that always puzzled me was when Stryper  came out – a band with such a positive message, it was always strange that more bands like Stryper didn’t follow with that same sort of positivity about  them. A band that wasn’t talking about girls and guitars and going out for beers but had something more to say lyrically, And all these years later it still intrigues me that more didn’t follow even with less overtly Christian themes. I always wondered why there weren’t more bands who were oy there spreading the word, especially today  in a world that is, shall we say, having some interesting moments to say the least. Why  do you think that is?

Michael: Well I think an easy explanation, whether people agree or not, is that the world as you know is all about following the leader and peer pressure. Y ou know if Metallica is on top then a thousand other bands want to be Metallica and not Stryper. We are one of those bands that breaks the mold – we don’t do what others do –  we don’t follow any leaders. We lead our own way, we tread our own path, obviously with God as our focus, but you know I think because of that maybe it scares people? There is a little fear involved that makes it hard for fans sometimes. I know musicians that are in other bands that are, and pick any band you know, in ‘mainstream M etal bands’  and they’re fans of Stryper secretly! You’ll rarely hear them talk about it in the press, its almost like we are a guilty pleasure you know! (laughs) I understand – we’re a hidden pleasure, one they don’t want to admit to liking, and I understand that but at the same time it’s frustrating. But I do get it because  we are singing about God, and that’s not cool not in this world you know! You gotta sing about the devil, you gotta sing about girls and booze and Satan – that’s what cool but  when you really break it down that’s what’s not cool! (laughs)  Singing about that is so cliche and boring and trite and it’s like “OK  I get it, enough already.” But we’re singing about something that is eternal and that will never die and that will live on forever.  

Mark: It’s interesting because you can look at it on so many different levels. The level I guess I choose is to look at it this way:- that good music is good music irrespective of any message or any cliched or bad lyrics and if that’s what matters to some people so be it. To me Stryper has always been one of those bands that always delivers  but just has that extra element I guess and that works for me.

Michael: Thank you.

Mark: Do you have any plans for the fortieth anniversary? Are you going to be doing anything special?

Michael: Well I mean we do we have a lot of plans for next year and we are going to be trying to do something really special for our Fortieth – the official fortieth in 2024, b ut nothing in stone as yet, nothing on the calendar. But we’ve talked a lot about what we want to do and it’s going to be really great.  But just to throw one other thing in with what you were  just talking about I think what happens with Stryper and I’ve met those people many times over, is there are a lot of kids who got beat up in school back in the 80’s for  wearing a Stryper shirt to school. You know things like that sounds silly but it’s a reality and I think that’s what happens when you know when you’re a Stryper fan you’re pretty  brave. You’re a brave soul because you are going to take a little heat for being a Stryper fan from somebody.

Mark: Yeah, that’s a very good point and I hope that shows how far we’ve come. No one is going to be beat up or ridicule you for coming to any of the shows in Australia or New Zealand though, it’s going to be a fantastic time. L et’s hope we put on a warm reception for you. Before we go I have to ask a few questions for teh radio show: ‘ f you could of been a ‘fly on the wall’ for the creation of any great album from any point in the history of rock n roll what would you have loved to have seen being made – just to see how the magic happens?

Michael: Oh gosh, I would definitely have to say Van Halen I.

Mark: Yeah, an absolute classic!

Michael: I mean just being a part of that and getting to see behind the scenes for such a ground breaking album – you know a music world changing album! I would have loved to have been there. I can’t  even imagine that!

Mark: Yeah would have been fantastic and we know relatively very little about it. There’s plenty of huge albums that we know quite a bit about but there has never been that much written about the  recording of Van Halen I.

Michael: No. I tell you what we came close though because we recorded our album ‘Soldiers Under Command’ in 1985 at a studio called Amigo and Van Halen recorded there so some of the tracks were recorded there f rom Van Halen II. They had plaques all over the walls for Van Halen and I know that Ted Templeman had worked out of Amigo a lot,  so that was kind of cool to be in the same  studio that Van Halen had been in. 

Mark: That is so cool, Rock and Roll has had its ups and downs over the years and I guess what we understand by Rock and Roll sort of started in the fifties – what do you think the next 50 years hold? Are we still going to be  out there and rocking into out 90’s!

Michael: Oh gosh yes absolutely, you can’t kill Rock and Roll you know that old saying! It’s so true you can’t! it’s just always gonna live on for sure. I do hope that more bands show accountability and stop  pushing the envelope so far, I mean some of the lyrics and some of the stuff I see that bands are singing about its like really, really – come on you know it’s heartbreaking. I just hope there is more of a positive   influence lyrically in the music world as time goes on. 

Mark: Yeah its interesting – over the years I’ve seen things becoming more and more extreme and people just going in that one direction and I’m just waiting for the bounce back when people get back to the basics – great songs played well  and get back to interesting lyrics and getting back to songs that don’t rely on too much production or whatever it may be. But we will wait and see, we might be around for a little while longer ! (laughs)

Michael: I hope so!

Mark: Thank you so much for your time today Michael its always great to catch up. It’s always great to see you play live so I can’t wait until you get down here to Australia. H ave a safe trip my friend and we’ll see you when you get here! 

Michael: Thank you brother, thanks for your time and getting up early for me and God bless you and we will see you soon!   

Mark: Thanks Michael take care .

STRYPER Performs As Three-Piece At Australian Tour Kick-Off (Video)

STRYPER kicked off its Australian tour last night (Friday, August 17) at Max Watts in Melbourne. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

The band is touring without its guitarist Oz Fox , who was forced to stay home after collapsing onstage during a Las Vegas performance last weekend. Doctors who have been treating him have found two tumors in his head — one by his ear and the other in the back of his brain.

Oz 's wife, Annie Lobért , wrote in a Facebook post that he "cannot drive, fly or work for three months because of the potential seizures." Furthermore, STRYPER has had to cancel its Japanese shows because Oz cannot perform due to his medical condition.

The band's frontman, Michael Sweet , said in a Facebook post that he's been friends with Oz since he was "almost 13 years old. We've been a 'duo' for almost our entire lives and I love him," he wrote. "He's family and a brother to me... We're all waiting to hear good news and we're all praying deeply for that.

"The important thing right now is Oz 's health and well being," Sweet added. "Please continue to pray for him at this time. Pray for Annie and his family as well."

Formed 35 years ago, STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER 's albums include "To Hell With The Devil" , "Second Coming" , "No More Hell To Pay" , "Fallen" and the band's latest effort, "God Damn Evil" .

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).

Interview with Michael Sweet (Stryper)

When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, STRYPER is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success, with both Grammy nominations and Dove Awards to their name, and their venerable endurance.

In 2023, the band celebrate their 40th anniversary and do so on the back of both consistent touring and consistent album releases with their latest release The Final Battle receiving rave reviews the world over. Sirius XM radio host Eddie Trunk says, “Stryper is more active than any other band from the ‘80s”, and they are.

The group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like ‘Calling on You,’ ‘Honestly’ and ‘ Always There for You.’ STRYPER’s career album sales exceed 10 million worldwide, including 1986’s multi-platinum release To Hell With The Devil.

The band also made history in 1987 when it notched three songs in Dial-MTV’s Top 10 with videos ‘Calling on You,’ ‘Honestly’ and ‘Free’, being the first band ever to have two songs in the Top 10 simultaneously.

Silverback Touring is pleased to announce that STRYPER , comprising three original members including brothers Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar) and newest bandmate, seasoned bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse), return to Australia and New Zealand in 2023 for a tour covering every major Australian city and, for first time in decades, Auckland.

The band last visited Australia in 2018 and were forced to play as a trio due to Oz Fox falling ill ahead of the tour, giving fans a unique opportunity to see the band in a different and unique format.

Fans are in for a real treat with one of the world’s most consistent and loved hard rock/heavy metal groups.

STRYPER March 2023 Tour Dates

Thursday 2nd March - BRISBANE, Princess Theatre

Friday 3rd March - SYDNEY, Liberty Hall

Saturday 4th March - PERTH, Magnet House

Sunday 5th March - MELBOURNE, 170 Russell

Wednesday 8th March - ADELAIDE, Bridgeway

Friday 10th March - AUCKLAND, Galatos

  Tickets available via: https://www.silverbacktouring.com.au/stryper-2023/

• 12 Mighty Orphans
• 12 Years a Slave
• 15:17 to Paris, The
• 300: Rise of an Empire
• 80 for Brady
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• A Journal for Jordan
• A Million Miles Away
• A Small Light
• Against the Ice
• All Eyez on Me
• All My Life
• American Gangster
• American Hustle
• American Made
• American Sniper
• American Underdog
• Amityville Horror (1979)
• Amityville Horror (2005)
• Annabelle: Creation
• Antwone Fisher
• Arthur the King
• Bad Education
• Battle of the Sexes
• Beanie Bubble, The
• Beautiful Boy
• Beauty and the Beast
• Being the Ricardos
• Best of Enemies, The
• Big Lebowski
• Big Short, The
• Big Sick, The
• BlacKkKlansman
• Bleed for This
• Blind Side, The
• Bling Ring, The
• Blue Miracle
• Boardwalk Empire
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Boston Strangler
• Boys Don't Cry
• Boys in the Boat, The
• Breakthrough
• Brian Banks
• Bridge of Spies
• Burial, The
• Butler, The
• Bye Bye Man, The
• Calendar Girls
• Can You Ever Forgive Me?
• Captain Phillips
• Case for Christ, The
• Catch Me If You Can
• Charlie Wilson's War
• Chasing Mavericks
• Cocaine Bear
• Concrete Cowboy
• Conjuring 2, The
• Conjuring, The
• Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The
• Courier, The
• Crowded Room, The
• Current War, The
• Danish Girl, The
• Danny Collins
• Darkest Hour
• Dear Edward
• Death of Stalin, The
• Deepwater Horizon
• Deliver Us From Evil
• Devil Wears Prada, The
• Disappointments Room, The
• Disaster Artist, The
• Dolemite Is My Name
• Donnie Brasco
• Downton Abbey
• Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
• Dream Horse
• Dropout, The
• Eddie the Eagle
• Emancipation
• End of the Tour, The
• Erin Brockovich
• Exorcism of Emily Rose, The
• Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
• Eyes of Tammy Faye, The
• Fabelmans, The
• Farewell, The
• Fault in Our Stars, The
• Favourite, The
• Fighter, The
• Fighting with My Family
• Finding Neverland
• Finest Hours, The
• Five Days at Memorial
• Flamin' Hot
• Florence Foster Jenkins
• Ford v Ferrari
• Founder, The
• Free State of Jones
• Freedom Writers
• Gigi and Nate
• Girl from Plainville, The
• Glass Castle, The
• Goldbergs, The
• Good Nurse, The
• Good on Paper
• Goodbye Christopher Robin
• Gran Turismo
• Greatest Beer Run Ever, The
• Greatest Showman, The
• Gridiron Gang
• Hacksaw Ridge
• Hands of Stone
• Haunting in Connecticut, The
• Heaven is for Real
• Hidden Figures
• Hillbilly Elegy
• Hollywoodland
• House of Gucci
• Hurricane, The
• I Am the Night
• I Can Only Imagine
• I Saw the Light
• I Still Believe
• I Wanna Dance with Somebody
• Imitation Game, The
• Infiltrator, The
• Inventing Anna
• Irishman, The
• Iron Claw, The
• Jerry and Marge Go Large
• Jersey Boys
• Jesus Revolution
• Jimi: All Is by My Side
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Kill the Messenger
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• King Arthur
• King Richard
• Last Duel, The
• Last Full Measure, The
• League of Their Own, A
• Lone Survivor
• Lost City of Z, The
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
• Maggie Moore(s)
• Man Who Invented Christmas, The
• Masters of the Air
• Mauritanian, The
• McFarland, USA
• Megan Leavey
• Men of Honor
• Military Wives
• Million Dollar Arm
• Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The
• Miracles from Heaven
• Molly's Game
• Monuments Men, The
• Mothman Prophecies, The
• Mrs. America
• Munich: The Edge of War
• My All American
• Next Goal Wins
• Not Without My Daughter
• Old Man & the Gun, The
• On a Wing and a Prayer
• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
• One and Only Ivan, The
• Only the Brave
• Operation Finale
• Operation Mincemeat
• Oppenheimer
• Ordinary Angels
• Outlaw King
• Outpost, The
• Pain & Gain
• Pain Hustlers
• Passion of the Christ, The
• Patch Adams
• Patriots Day
• Pawn Sacrifice
• Penguin Bloom
• People v. O.J. Simpson, The
• Pianist, The
• Pope's Exorcist, The
• Prayer Before Dawn, A
• Promise, The
• Public Enemies
• Pursuit of Happyness, The
• Queen of Katwe
• Quiet Ones, The
• Railway Man, The
• Remember the Titans
• Rescued by Ruby
• Revenant, The
• Richard Jewell
• Right Stuff, The
• Rookie, The
• Saving Mr. Banks
• Saving Private Ryan
• Schindler's List
• Serpent, The
• Slender Man
• Social Network, The
• Society of the Snow
• Soul Surfer
• Sound of Freedom
• Staircase, The
• Survivor, The
• Tender Bar, The
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The
• Texas Rising
• Theory of Everything, The
• Thing About Pam, The
• Thirteen Lives
• To Write Love on Her Arms
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Trees of Peace
• Trial of the Chicago 7, The
• True Spirit
• United Kingdom, A
• United States vs. Billie Holiday, The
• Unsung Hero
• Upside, The
• Victoria and Abdul
• Walk the Line
• Watcher, The
• We Own This City
• We Were the Lucky Ones
• Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
• Welcome to Marwen
• When the Game Stands Tall
• When They See Us
• White Boy Rick
• White House Plumbers
• Wicked Little Letters
• Wolf of Wall Street, The
• Woman in Gold
• Woman King, The
• Young Woman and the Sea
• Zookeeper's Wife, The

How Accurate is Unsung Hero? The True Story of the Family Behind For King & Country

Is unsung hero about for king & country.

No. When I first heard that Unsung Hero was going to be released, I assumed it was going to be a movie that chronicled the true story behind the rise of the band For King & Country. After all, the poster somewhat confusingly states, "A For King & Country Film," which could be interpreted in more than one way. However, Unsung Hero is not a For King & Country movie, at least not directly. The band is instead behind the making of the film (Luke Smallbone is an executive producer and Joel co-directs and stars in the movie). Joel Smallbone and his brother Luke, lead singers of the Christian pop duo For King & Country, are just boys in the movie. The film instead focuses on the early struggles of their family after moving to America and the breakout success of their older sister, singer-songwriter Rebecca St. James. "The film really chronicles 1991 to about 1992 or three," Joel told Faith on Film TV .

Did their father, David Smallbone, run a successful music company in Australia that went under?

The Unsung Hero true story confirms that David Smallbone's once-thriving music business in Australia fell apart. He had been a concert promoter and had brought in acts like Amy Grant, the Christian metal band Stryper, and the Christian pop-rock band White Heart. Like in the movie, his business in Australia went under. When the Smallbone family came to America, they had nothing. "Dad was a concert promoter back [in Australia]," son Luke Smallbone said on Huckabee . "On one particular tour that he brought back, we lost everything that we had as a family. We lost the house. We lost the car. We lost the life savings, and so, dad was looking for a fresh start for his career, for the family, and so he thought it would be a good idea to move his six kids, and his wife who was six months pregnant at the time, to Nashville. ... Soon after we arrived in Nashville, my dad lost the job opportunity that he had here. So we were Australian, no friends, no family, sleeping on beds made out of clothes, and didn't have any way for our little sister to be born in a hospital." Joel Smallbone (bottom) portrays his father David (top) in the movie. Photo: Instagram @joelsmallbone

Did the Smallbones have six children at the time they moved their family to America?

Yes. When the family emigrated to America in 1991, Helen and David Smallbone had six children and Helen was six months pregnant with their seventh when they arrived in Nashville. This photo was taken shortly after the birth of the seventh Smallbone child several months after the family arrived in America. Rebecca is in the back, Joel is in the middle, and Luke is third from the bottom. Photo: Instagram @rebeccast.james

Does For King & Country frontman Joel Smallbone portray his father in the film?

Yes. As indicated by the Unsung Hero cast vs. real people section at the top of this page, musician Joel Smallbone, who fronts the Christian pop band For King & Country, portrays his father, David, in the film. Joel told The Drive-In Podcast that the jacket that he wears for much of the film was his father's actual jacket from 30 years earlier. "He's a dreamer. He's a passionate man," Joel said of his father. "It was a very volatile time in his life, and we didn't want to shy away for politics sake or even for family peace, we didn't want to shy away from telling it truthfully ... warts and all." Joel is not new to acting. One of his other notable lead roles was starring in the 2016 human trafficking film Priceless , which found him playing a widower who takes a shady job driving a box truck, only to discover that his cargo is actually people. Like last year's much-talked-about human trafficking drama Sound of Freedom , Priceless was also inspired by true events, and as with Unsung Hero , its title was borrowed from one of the band's hit songs. David and Helen Smallbone are portrayed by Daisy Betts and Joel Smallbone in the Unsung Hero movie. Photo: Instagram @joelsmallbone

Does Unsung Hero accurately portray the hardships that the Smallbone family faced after they arrived in America?

"Our family moved from Australia to the U.S. in 1991, and it was a little bit of a traumatic beginning to our first couple years here," says For King & Country's sister, Rebecca Smallbone, whose stage name is Rebecca St. James. "My dad lost [the job he had lined up] soon after we moved. We had six kids in the family. My mom was pregnant with my sister and we had nothing, and so, what we did is we prayed and we asked God for money, for food, for a car, for furniture, for all the things that we needed." The Smallbone family's struggles are chronicled in her mother Helen's book Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family . Rebecca told Tampa's News Channel 8 that they saw God answer their prayers. People showed up at their house with groceries and furniture. Unexpected checks arrived in the mail and someone paid for Rebecca's sister to be born in a hospital. "I think those years of seeing God show up for us really set the stage for me, not only in my private life and my faith with God, but then publically too." Rebecca says that as a 16-year-old musician, she drew from those hard times and the redemption her family experienced. It allowed her to speak from a place of hope. Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family

Are Lucas Black and Candace Cameron Bure's characters, husband and wife Jed and Kay Albright, based on real people?

In the movie, Jed and Kay Albright befriend and help the struggling Smallbone family, including by giving them a van. During an interview with CBN, Candace Cameron Bure indicated that her character is based on a real person. However, Jed and Kay Albright don't appear by name in Helen Smallbone's book Behind the Lights . They seem to most closely resemble Jon and Luanne Mohr, who loaned the family their new Previa before giving them ten thousand dollars to buy their own van. They further helped the family financially by having Rebecca Smallbone babysit and clean. Like Jed (Lucas Black) in the movie, Jon is described as being a "prolific songwriter." Jon and Luanne also invited the family to a homeschooling Thanksgiving dinner. Helen mentions other people helping the family, including a neighbor named Kay Smith, who would buy extra groceries and drop them off. Kay was the one who told Jon Mohr about the Smallbones. Candace Cameron Bure was referring to this Kay in the CBN interview. In a later interview with the same network, she confirmed that her character is an amalgamation of more than one real-life woman who helped the family.

Did they really knock on the door of music executive Eddie Degarmo while looking for lawns to cut?

Yes. An Unsung Hero fact-check confirms that it's true that they encountered Eddie Degarmo, a Christian musician-turned-music executive, while they were looking for yards to cut to help make ends meet. In an interview with K-LOVE, Luke Smallbone commented on this pivotal moment in the movie. "I asked Eddie. ... Did we really like come and knock on your front door, and then you say, 'You can mow our lawn?' And he goes, 'Oh yeah,' and I said, 'Tell me about that,' and he goes, 'Well, I could tell that this family, you guys, were struggling,' and he said, 'I realized, you know what, if they're willing to work for this, I could help them by giving them a job.'" Music executive Eddie Degarmo is pictured on set with the actor who portrays him, Jonathan Jackson, who is best known for his role as Lucky Spencer on General Hospital . Photo: Huckabee

Did Rebecca St. James write the song "You Make Everything Beautiful" when she was a teenager?

No. "It's a song actually that Luke and I wrote together [in 2011], so it's not quite as old as what the movie portrays," Rebecca St. James told Mike Huckabee, "but it's a song that says you make everything beautiful in your time, like it's a song of redemption, and really the theme of the movie is that there's hope even in the hardest of times in our lives, that God can redeem it." In a key moment in the film, Rebecca (Kirrilee Berger) uses the song to audition for Eddie Degarmo (Jonathan Jackson). In real life, her performance for Eddie was in a church. "I was singing worship songs and he came to see me do it, and so it's very similar in the film," says Rebecca. Rebecca Smallbone is portrayed by American actress Kirrilee Berger. Photo: Instagram @kingdomstorycompany

Does Luke Smallbone have a cameo in Unsung Hero ?

Yes. Luke, who is the other half of the For King & Country duo and an executive producer on the film, has a cameo in Unsung Hero as the lead singer of the Christian metal band Stryper.

Does Rebecca St. James have a cameo in Unsung Hero ?

Yes. For King & Country's sister, Rebecca Smallbone (aka Rebecca St. James), has a small cameo as a flight attendant in the movie during the family's trip over from Australia. The film itself focuses largely on her breakthrough as a musician when she was 16. "It was a very hard role. I really had to focus on, you know, being present to this role," Rebecca said jokingly on Huckabee when discussing her brief appearance in the movie. She said that most of her siblings also have cameos in the film. Rebecca Smallbone, whose stage name is Rebecca St. James, has a brief cameo as a flight attendant in the movie. Photo: Lionsgate

Who is the "unsung hero" of the movie?

The title of the movie refers to their mother, Helen Smallbone. "Mother, in that time of going through enormous obstacles and enormous challenges, was the person who did all the things that nobody sees but that matter significantly in every person's heart and every person's soul, and that's essentially kinda the heartbeat behind wanting to make this film," said son Luke Smallbone. The title of the film was taken from the For King & Country song "Unsung Hero", which is about their mom and how much she meant to them and has inspired their own lives. Luke Smallbone, who is an executive producer on the film, says that the song helped to inspire them to move forward with the movie. He told Mike Huckabee, "Mother Teresa once said, 'If you want to change the world, go home and love your family,' and that's really the heartbeat behind the film." Co-director and star Joel Smallbone told Faith on Film TV that when casting their mother, it was important for them to find an actress who could represent her accurately. First and foremost, it was important that she be a mother and Australian. They also looked for a brunette and someone of similar height. They ended up casting Australian actress Daisy Betts at the last minute, ten days before production began. Betts is married with four children and lives in Australia. While the movie is about all of the unsung heroes in the Smallbone family, the title primarily refers to their mother, Helen Smallbone, who is portrayed by Daisy Betts. Photo: Instagram @kingdomstorycompany

Cyndi Lauper Announces 2024 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour

FIRST MAJOR TOUR IN OVER A DECADE KICKS OFF ON OCT. 18, WITH 23 STOPS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA INCLUDING HER DEBUT HEADLINING PERFORMANCE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

Tickets available starting tue., june 4 at 10 am local via presales, general onsale begins fri., june 7 at 10 am local on livenation.com.

Today, Cyndi Lauper has announced the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour.  Produced by Live Nation, the 23-city headlining tour – Lauper’s first major run in a decade – begins on October 18th at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC, making stops across North America in her hometown of New York City at the iconic Madison Square Garden, plus Boston, Nashville, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping up in Chicago, IL at United Center on December 5th. Throughout the tour, Lauper will be joined by special guests to be revealed at a later date.

Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning Tuesday, June 4. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, June 7 at 10 AM local time at LiveNation.com . Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, a guided backstage tour, pre-show VIP Lounge, exclusive tour poster & more. VIP package contents vary based on offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com .

The announcement of her farewell tour arrives alongside LET THE CANARY SING , a feature-length documentary film that explores Lauper’s extraordinary life and career. The documentary will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday, June 4. In celebration of the tour and the film, Lauper will be honored with an imprint ceremony at the prestigious TCL Chinese Theatre Hollywood tomorrow (June 4) in Los Angeles. A special private screening of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre will follow that evening, along with a Q&A.

Lauper will also be a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this Wednesday, June 5 (ABC, 11:35PM ET/10:35PM CT), to talk about her farewell tour and LET THE CANARY SING .  She was also just profiled by CBS Sunday Morning .

Directed by Emmy® Award-winning documentarian Alison Ellwood, LET THE CANARY SING made its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.  Produced by Fine Point Films and Sony Music Entertainment in association with Concord Originals, the film chronicles Lauper’s meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact on generations through her music, ever-evolving punk style, unwavering feminism and tireless advocacy. The documentary takes the audience on an engaging exploration of a renowned and pioneering artist who has left a remarkable legacy with her art.

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, has released a companion product to the documentary of the same name. The LET THE CANARY SING companion album is a career-spanning collection that follows Lauper’s career. The album is available now on vinyl and as a digital expanded edition here .

Cyndi Lauper’s Farewell Tour is directed by Brian Burke and produced and designed in partnership with BrianBurkeCreative and DX7 Design.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN FAREWELL TOUR DATES:

Fri Oct 18 | Montreal, QC | Bell Centre

Sun Oct 20 | Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena

Thu Oct 24 | Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre

Sat Oct 26 | Boston, MA | MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Sun Oct 27 | Washington, DC | Capital One Arena

Wed Oct 30 | New York, NY | Madison Square Garden

Fri Nov 01 | Nashville, TN | Bridgestone Arena

Sun Nov 03 | Columbus, OH | Schottenstein Center

Wed Nov 06 | Tampa, FL | Amalie Arena

Fri Nov 08 | Hollywood, FL | Hard Rock Hollywood

Sun Nov 10 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena

Tue Nov 12 | Dallas, TX | American Airlines Center

Thu Nov 14 | Austin, TX | Moody Center

Sat Nov 16 | Houston, TX | Toyota Center

Tue Nov 19 | Phoenix, AZ | Footprint Center

Wed Nov 20 | San Diego, CA | Viejas Arena

Sat Nov 23 | Los Angeles, CA | Intuit Dome

Sun Nov 24 | Palm Desert, CA | Acrisure Arena

Tue Nov 26 | San Francisco, CA | Chase Center

Sat Nov 30 | Portland, OR | Moda Center

Sun Dec 01 | Seattle, WA | Climate Pledge Arena

Wed Dec 04 | Minneapolis, MN | Target Center

Thu Dec 05 | Chicago, IL | United Center

ABOUT CYNDI LAUPER

Cyndi Lauper is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning songwriter and performing artist with global record sales in excess of 50 million. Her iconic voice, influential punk glamor, and infectious live shows have catapulted her to stardom. Lauper won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist with her first album, She’s So Unusual , and became the first woman in history to have four top-five singles from a debut album including her anthem “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.”  Lauper has released ten additional studio albums, featuring classics like “Time After Time” and “True Colors,” and is a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and NY Times best-selling author.  In 2013, Lauper became the first solo woman to win Best Original Score (music and lyrics) for Kinky Boots .  She is also tireless in her advocacy work. She has been an activist since day one, always fighting for the underdog – especially women, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the LGBTQ community.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Cyndi Lauper

Shore Fire Media

Chris Taillie | [email protected]

Casey Hansen | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Nadine Peña | [email protected]

Read more about

Broome astronomer, tour guide and TV star Greg Quicke, known as 'Space Gandalf', dies aged 62

West Australian astronomer, TV star and tour guide Greg Quicke has died at the age of 62.

A legend in Broome, 2,000km north of Perth, Quicke — also known as "Space Gandalf" for his distinctive white beard — introduced generations of visitors and locals to the wonders of the universe through his "astro tours" from the Kimberley town.

He later rose to national and international prominence on the ABC and BBC Stargazing Live specials, appearing alongside Professor Brian Cox.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2023.

In a statement, his family said he was "survived by a legion of people whose lives he touched". 

"He brought the universe to us all and translated it into a language we all understood," the statement read.

"He was watched by millions of people around the globe and carried out his life work with inspirational spirit and freedom."

His enthusiasm for the stars and philosophy took hold as a young man working in the Kimberley.

"You think about astronomy and often it's presented as stuff that's out there," the self-taught astronomer explained to ABC Radio in 2017.

"But my take on it is that we're on a planet. We're moving through space. 

"These are things I can take out of your head and I can put them at your feet."

Born in 1961, he grew up surrounded by tall trees in the mill towns of South West WA, where his father was a forester. 

He recalled a free and nature-based childhood.

"Magnificently tall trees that I spent a lot of my childhood underneath or at the top of," he told Richard Fidler's Conversations in 2018.

"We loved the windy days because you'd get up top and it'd be swaying six feet from side to side and we loved a bit of adventure," he said.

"We'd climb out onto some of the branches about 150 feet up and hang upside down by our legs and bounce up and down."

The Kimberley was calling

But he soon fell in love with coastal Broome, arriving on a motorbike in 1982 after dropping out of a marine biology degree in Queensland.

Quicke then became a pearl diver and mechanic.

His interest in stars took hold after he observed the Kimberley's big tides and spent plenty of time in a swag gazing at the night sky.

As he shared his new passion with friends, they suggested he run tours showing others the beauty and wonder of the universe.

"I started talking about the stars, about what I'd noticed about how we're moving amongst them ... and they told me to keep talking," he said.

After handing out a few flyers advertising an astronomy tour in 1995, he was soon running events seven nights a week in Broome.

An estimated 100,000 plus people have listened in awe, over 28 years, to his softly spoken explanations about the night sky.

Captured by Broome's spirit

Quicke regularly featured in Broome's annual Shinju Matsuri, carrying the head of Sammy the Dragon, a 30-metre parade dragon through the streets.

"The spirit of the place is just amazing," he said of Broome, declaring it one of the country's most beautiful places.

"There's something unique about the place," he told UK Comedian Bill Bailey while the two star gazed together in 2023.

"Everything here seems bigger, the colours are bigger, the tides are bigger, the barramundi are bigger too.

"It's almost like our hearts have an opportunity to be bigger here as well."

Rise of Space Gandalf's star

But it was his appearances on the ABC and BBC which saw him gain international acclaim.

His distinctive flowing white beard, big hat and philosophical approach quickly led fans around the world to dub him #SpaceGandalf. 

The author and TV presenter stayed grounded however; surfing whenever Broome's famous Cable Beach could push up a swell, or riding a motorbike on the open road.

He was exhilarated to experience the total solar eclipse in Exmouth on an island in April 2023.

"This day has been huge ... My body spent, my heart full, I crash into a deep eclipse fuelled communion with the other worlds," he wrote to his 12,000 Facebook followers.

Bill Bailey, visiting Broome for the first time as part of his Wild West Australia ABCTV series, asked him if he had "found his niche in the world" by sharing the galaxy with others.

"It brings me a lot of joy," Quicke agreed.

"Everyone thinks it's all about stars but it's not — it's about people."

"Standing alongside someone who sees Saturn's rings for the first time it's like, wow! I could do that forever!"

Quicke is survived by his parents, a sister and an adult daughter.

His family has asked that their "sacred time be respected".

A memorial service will be held in Broome at a date to be announced.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Space gandalf is the newest star in the galaxy.

There are glimpses of ancient Mars on present-day Earth

Broome's 'staircase to the moon' a unique combination of tides, location and cosmic angles

• Astronomy (Space)
• Death and Dying
• Human Interest
• Regional Communities
• Space Exploration

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Arpichaya Yubol shoots a career-best 61 to take the first-round lead at ShopRite LPGA Classic

Arpichaya Yubol, of Thailand, tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Arpichaya Yubol, of Thailand, tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

A turtle is removed by staff at the 11th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Nasa Hataoka, of Japan, tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Narin An, of South Korea, tees on at the 12th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Hannah Green, from Australia, and her caddie stand near her ball in the tall grass on the 11th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Jin Young Ko, of South Korea, tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Stephanie Kyriacou, of Australia, hits from the fairway on the 12th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Brittany Lincicome tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Jenny Shin, of South Korea, tees off on the 11th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Wei-Ling Hsu, of Thailand, tees off on the 11th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Jeongeun Lee6 chips on the 12th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Ayaka Furue, of Japan, lines up her putt on the 10 hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J.. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Jeongeun Lee5, of South Korea, tees off on the 11th hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic golf tournament, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Galloway, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

• Copy Link copied

GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP) — Arpichaya Yubol followed a career-best finish on the LPGA Tour with a career-low 10-under 61 on Friday and took a two-shot lead over Jenny Shin after the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

The 22-year-old Thai player, who finished fifth in last week’s U.S. Women’s Open, had eight birdies and a chip-in eagle playing in calm conditions in the morning on the Bay Course at Seaview Resort. With a 60 within her grasp, she narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth hole, her last of the day.

Hannah Green is the only other player to shoot 61 this year, doing it at par-72 Seville in Gilbert, Arizona, in March.

“I feel like I just start to play golf, like happy golf like every hole,” said Yubol, who won as a professional in Thailand. “Because I feel like my (confidence) is coming back from last week in the U.S. Women. It was the greatest week in my life and it’s make me more confident for this week.”

Yuka Saso followed up her second U.S. Women’s Open title with a 2-under 69 on Friday. Hinako Shibuno, who was runner-up last week to her Japanese countrywoman at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, opened with a 66.

Yubol’s 61 matched the tournament record shared by Sei Young Kim and Sakura Yokomine in 2018. Annie Park ended up winning that year.

Shin, who has one win since joining the tour in 2011, played in the afternoon with stronger wind. She had nine birdies and bogey.

“Well, the fact that every hole is birdie-able, compared to last week, just helped a lot,” Shin said. “A little bit easier just kind of going after the pin, which I didn’t do at all. So, yeah, it was fun. That was the biggest difference: It was fun.”

Narin An shot a bogey-free 64 and was three shots back. The 28-year-old, a two-time winner on the Korean LPGA, is seeking her first U.S. victory.

Brittany Lincicome, the 38-year-old whose eight tour wins include this event in 2011, had her best round of the year playing with a new putter and was part of a large group at 65.

“I feel like I’ve been so close the last couple weeks,” said Lincicome, who has missed five of seven cuts this year and is looking for her first win since 2018. “Right on the bubble, missing the cut by one most weeks. So it was nice to get out there and get a round under par. Hopefully, we keep it going and see what we can do the next two days.”

Brooke Henderson, who won this event two years ago, also shot 65 alongside Nasa Hataoka, Megan Khang and amateur Rachel Kuehn, a 22-year-old from Wake Forest, who overcame a bogey-bogey start.

Defending champion Ashleigh Buhai shot 67.

Yubol has resurrected her game over the past two weeks. After finishing in a tie for 49th in her first event, she missed the cut in her next six. She rediscovered her form in the U.S. Women’s Open last weekend and shot 68-69 in the final two rounds to earn $465,375, her biggest payday.

Yubol said her manager visited her before the Open and they spent hours talking about her game. His message was he believed in her and she should believe in herself and stop worrying about losing her playing privileges.

It’s worked, so far.

This version corrects the spelling to Arpichaya.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf