Stryper frontman Michael Sweet says musicians should resist complaining about life on the road and focus instead on the opportunity to perform.
He was asked how he feels physically at this point in his career, given the high energy his shows demand, and whether the performance falls apart without that intensity.
“It’s not easy. But the thing that you got to try to stay away from is going to that negative side. Start complaining.”
“We get out on the road and it starts. Like, ‘Oh gosh, I wish we were home. Oh, this is so hard.’ Most of it is mental. Most, not all, but most. And once you go negative mentally, it’s going to go downhill from there. You have to stay positive. And it’s a lot of grunt work. It’s hard.”
“But, man, this is what we do. This is what we were born to do. This is what we always dreamed about doing. So, let’s enjoy the ride. And the ride’s still going. It’s not over.”
Sweet acknowledged the “grunt work” involved in touring but said musicians should remain positive and remember why they chose the profession. That outlook is shaped in part by a career that has spanned more than four decades.
The band continues to feature three original members — brothers Michael Sweet on lead vocals and guitar and Robert Sweet on drums, along with guitarist Oz Fox — with veteran bassist Perry Richardson, formerly of Firehouse, rounding out the lineup.
Stryper has continued to mark milestones on the road. The band supported its 2024 album When We Were Kings with a 40th-anniversary tour that covered 40 cities in three months, followed by additional international and U.S. performances.
Sweet has spoken proudly about that recent chapter as well. When We Were Kings was produced by Sweet himself, who described it as the band’s “best modern-era album.”
For Sweet, the demanding schedule remains tied to the same motivation that drove him at the beginning: the desire to perform. His message is simple — touring can be physically difficult, but musicians should avoid letting exhaustion replace the passion that keeps them onstage.
