“When one person starts complaining, everyone starts complaining. Stay positive or stop.”
— Stryper singer Michael Sweet complaining about complainers
SOCIAL MEDIA — In a recent post on his official Facebook page, Stryper frontman Michael Sweet has shared a message to his followers about people who complain.
Sweet, 62, the band’s co-founder, chief song-writer and lead vocalist who also holds down some guitar duties is always open to share his thoughts.
Late last week on August 8th Sweet wrote on his Facebook: “If you’re a musician who complains all the time about what you do, your job – quit. No one around you wants to hear it. It’s a joy robber, a life sucker and an absolute downer.
“When one person starts complaining, everyone starts complaining. Stay positive or stop. Just some truthful advice from someone who deals with this all the time.
“Smile and never forget why you do this. For the love of it.” added Sweet.
It seems a bit ironic, that Sweet‘s post about complainers, appears to be just that – him complaining – but this is nothing new from the golden child of Stryper.
The California born musician is quick to defend his position and he’s always fierce when he takes a stance with his music and/or his religious beliefs.
Sweet is no stranger to his sometimes controversial views and posts on social media that over the years have found him being consistent in talking about others, or taking a shot at them, but when the same comes his way, he’s quick to lash out.
Back in early June 2025 Sweet wrote the following in a Facebook blog: “Some people just love to hate. Hate us. Jealousy, envy? Who knows. Who cares. I’ve come to the conclusion that the hate for this band stems from hatred for God. It’s deep. It’s sad. It’s pathetic. Its shallow. It’s pointless.”
The singer never acknowledged anyone in particular with that above post, but it’s evidence of him complaining.
A year ago in August of 2024 Sweet took to social media and aired his grievances about how (some) people didn’t understand, like, or were even familiar with the group Stryper telling his readers: “It’s interesting to see people comment on their distaste for Stryper. Often they say they don’t like us yet they really aren’t that familiar with us. They would never admit that most likely it’s the lyrical content. If that’s true – how sad. To not like something you don’t even understand. Yet people will listen to bands praising Satan, sex and God knows what else and lift a beer and say “I love this!”
Again, there were no individuals named, or pointed out… but yet another example of Sweet complaining.
As Metal Sludge wrote previously, Sweet is quick to stir the pot, but isn’t always accepting of those with a view that differs from his own.
Sweet has his own staunch religious beliefs and when someone goes against his view, he aggressively dismisses them as jealous or envious and often plays the victim.
In February 2023, the guitar website Ultimate Guitar wrote an article titled, “7 Great Glam Bands That the Rise of Grunge Hit the Most”, and it listed Cinderella, Faster Pussycat, White Lion, Mötley Crüe, Winger, Stryper and Nitro.
The article didn’t say anything harsh or negative about Stryper, but that wasn’t enough for Michael Sweet, as he had to make sure to share the piece, and added: “We were NOT a “Glam Band.”
Sweet then engaged with readers, debating and arguing his point as fans shared images of Stryper looking as glam as everyone of the aforementioned bands.
“We may have looked glam (as did most every other rock band at the time) but we were certainly not glam musically. Poison, Faster Pussycat, Tuff – yes. Stryper – no.” boasted Sweet.
In 2022 Sweet made sure to complain to his readers about a Christian record label called Girder Music that legally licensed, to distribute and sell copies of the Stryper back-catalog.
But since the band were not directly involved (Sweet alleged) he went out of his way to tell fans: “Please don’t support people who are living off our name and legacy.”
Metal Sludge did a little research, and found out that Girder Music had done this deal directly with Stryper‘s management (their stance), and that they had also paid the royalties in advance on said releases.
Back in 2018 Sweet complained about “a few websites” that he referenced as “absolutely disgusting” with a social media rant we covered here.
Again, he doesn’t name any sites but he complains about them… sound familiar?
Sweet rattled Sebastian Bach pretty good when he went on record in late 2016 about teen singing sensation Moriah Formica after she released a cover of the Skid Row song “I Remember You.”
Sweet said the following on a Facebook post: “This kid is the future of rock? So proud of her and honored to have her on my new album – Moriah Formica kills this and in my humble opinion, smokes the original singer?”
Bach wasted no time replying with: “Michael Sweet has a big fucking mouth. Behind a keyboard that is. Can’t wait to see this pussy in person again someday.”
Those comments resulted in a multi-year feud with Bach insulting Sweet and Stryper in the press, and the two eventually kissed and made up in 2022.
In September of 2016 Sweet spoke about Steven Tyler and Bret Michaels doing country music saying the following about the Poison singer’s latest single: “A little harder pill for me to swallow.”
It appears there is a pattern, of Sweet speaking out of turn on several of his peers in the industry, and often his comments are met with a backlash, then seemingly he tries to back-pedal to save face.
In the spring of 2014, Sweet took a public swipe at Nikki Sixx when the Stryper frontman was talking (hyping) about his own book release, and then added the following about the Mötley Crüe bassist’s writings: “Is it as controversial as MÖTLEY CRÜE? No, but I think half of what we hear about MÖTLEY CRÜE is B.S. anyway, like when you hear stories about Nikki Sixx dying three times and whatnot. It’s, like, how stretched is that? I don’t know, man!” said Sweet laughing.
Sixx quickly fired back and Sweet apologized in record time, which was likely too little too late, as Sweet then campaigned in 2019 about how Stryper should be the 4th band added to ‘The Stadium Tour‘ with Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard and Poison.
Stryper were never added, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts were slotted as the tour’s opener.
Rock Celebrities have recently shared a video collage on YouTube about Sweet and the video states that the Christian front-man boldly claims that Stryper are blacklisted by the entire music industry.
Perhaps Sweet should reconsider who he throws fire at, only to turn around and try to play nice when it suits him, his band, or advancing his career.
We at Metal Sludge are big fans of Stryper and with that, we have a message for Mr. Sweet: “Hey Michael, lighten up bro, it’s all entertainment.”
Read more articles featuring Michael Sweet of Stryper complaining as found here on Metal Sludge.
June 6th 2025 > HATERS UNDER COMMAND … Stryper singer Michael Sweet says: “I’ve come to the Conclusion that the Hate for this Band Stems from Hatred for God.”
August 29th 2024 > TO HELL WITH OPINIONS … Michael Sweet is Miffed when Fans are Not all in on Stryper, yet they Listen to Bands who Sing about Satan & Sex
January 21st 2024 > THE FARRAH FAWCETT of DRUMS … Stryper drummer Robert Sweet: “I was a maniac… My wife first met me when she was 14 and I was 22”
February 10th 2023 > WE’RE NOT GLAM … Michael Sweet of Stryper: “Poison, Faster Pussycat and Tuff” were Glam and notes, “Stryper were NOT a Glam Band”
May 21st 2022 > MICHAEL SOUR … Michael Sweet unloads on Indy label for Legally Licensing Stryper back-catalog and Implores Fans “Don’t buy any”
December 18th 2020 > HERE COMES TROUBLE … Stryper’s Michael Sweet: “I’ve always been a rebel, and I’ll always be a rebel”
August 15th 2018 > HONESTLY … Stryper singer Michael Sweet says some websites are “Absolutely disgusting…”
August 13th 2018 > LOUD N’ CLEAR … Timothy Gaines on Stryper plans to tour as 3-piece: “GET THE CASH YOU PIECES OF SH!T”
February 19th 2017 > TO HELL WITH THE BULLYING … Stryper bassist Tim Gaines lashes out in online message
November 28th 2016 > YOUNGER GONE WILD … Stryper’s Michael Sweet says teen artist ‘smokes the original singer’ on version of “I Remember You”
September 4th 2016 > BITTER PILL … Michael Sweet on Bret Michaels doing country single; “A little harder pill for me to swallow”
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