| Interview With Tim Gaines of Stryper |
In the 80's Stryper was a household name in Christian music. Their first full-length release, Soldiers Under Command (SUC), sold over half a million units and stayed on Billboard's Top 200 album chart for over forty weeks. In 1992, Michael Sweet left Stryper to pursue a solo career. While Robert Sweet, Oz Fox and Tim Gaines continued as a three piece for another year, there were no more studio recordings until March 25, 2003, when Hollywood Records released Seven, The Best Of Stryper and it included 2 new songs. Stryper didn't perform on stage together, as a whole, from the time Michael left until May of 2000 at the first annual Stryper expo, which was held in New Jersey. Seven months later Stryper performed it's first full blown set in 9 years, in Costa Rica. In June of 2003 the band announced its first-ever reunion tour that will be held this fall for ALL of the original members celebrate the bands 20th anniversary. In honor of Stryper's Reunion tour and all of the great music that they've given us over the years, I asked Tim Gaines to answer a few questions. Even though he is an extremely busy guy, he was gracious enough to take some time to talk with me. I enjoyed hearing what he had to say and I'm sure that you will too.
Tim Gaines Interview
7/31/03
Kim: A lot of people out there are very hyped over the upcoming reunion tour. What made you guys decide to get back together to release the new CD and tour again?Tim: Well, we really didn't decide to do anything. It just kind of happened. Hollywood records asked Michael his input on doing another "best of" CD, and he said that he had some new songs, and what if Stryper recorded two new songs? Hollywood thought it was a good idea and we went into the studio in January, 2003 and did the new tracks. From there we thought about maybe doing a few shows, and that ended up into being a full blown tour of the US.
Kim: Are you seeing a future with Stryper being back together for a more permanent thing?
Tim: I don't know. It's hard to say at this point. Our new management team seems to have some good idea's on marketing and keeping the Stryper name out there. I would like to see Stryper do a new full length album and quit messing with the best of CD's. We will just have to see what happens. If it is going to happen, it will be the Lord opening the doors and making it work. I think the Lord has opened a few doors for us at the moment.
Kim: How does it feel to know that God used Stryper to open doors in the Christian music industry 20 years ago that have expanded our definition of "Christian music"?
Tim: I don't know how I am supposed to feel. It was God who did it all and we just went along for the ride. I feel embarrassed that people look to us like we were some great thing that happened, when in all honesty, they should be looking to the Lord. My hope is that the name of the Lord is glorified by it all.
Kim: What have you missed most about Stryper?
Tim: Seeing the Holy Spirit move.
Kim: Anything you'd like to say to those people who seem to believe that Christian rock is "too worldly" to be acceptable to Christ?
Tim: If you don't like it, don't listen to it. Don't eat or drink with sinners either. Seriously, I don't think any particular style of music is bad. But I would say that everything needs to be tested. Christ said you will know them by their fruits. Not every band out there who calls themselves Christian is following the Lord. The spiritual father whom you serve will be the inspiration and spirit behind your music. Test the spirits, what are they saying? Does it line up with what the Bible says? If it does, then it is of the Lord, if it doesn't, then it is anti christ.
Kim: Do you have any particular "ritual" (for lack of a better term) that you perform before you go on stage?
Tim: Some people get nervous before they go on. For me my nerves work in reverse. I get so tired that I can hardly keep my eyes open. I can't explain why but I fight to stay awake for maybe a half hour before I go on stage.
Kim: What's something that the fans don't know about you?
Tim: I can't tell you, It's a secret.
Kim: You've been playing bass for a long time. Do you still do practice drills? If so, how much time do you generally spend practicing (not including rehearsals, recording or shows)?
Tim: I have been playing close to thirty years now. I don't practice that much anymore because my hands hurt. When I do have a concert or something that I need to be in shape for, I will practice for about 2 weeks before the gig to get back into shape. When I was a kid and first starting out, I used to practice about eight hours a day.
Kim: What has God been teaching you lately?
Tim: Patience. I find that I am so impatient. Whenever I think I have finally gotten somewhere in my walk with the Lord, I find I have so much farther to go. That's why my favorite scripture is Philippians 1:6 - "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I know that God will not be finished working in my life until he comes for me.
Kim: I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Any last comments you'd like to make?
Tim: Thank you for the opportunity. Hope to see you in 2003. God bless you all.
As you can see, Tim is not only a fantastic bass player, he is also a very articulate man who is extremely grounded in his faith. Stryper and its members had their fair share of detractors over the years. After going over his responses I am again reminded that things are not always as they appear. This man's dedication to God and to doing the work that God has put in front of him is heart warming. Yes, Strypers music brought them personal glory, but never forget, they deflected it right back to where it belonged ... to Christ.
Tim's Web Site
Stryper Web Site
Image used with permission from Tim Gaines.
Copyright Tim Gaines, all rights reserved
