Metal Sludge — In a new social media posting, Stryper singer Michael Sweet is upset and ranting like the Devil is at his door.

Sweet has written a blog about an unidentified Indy Record Label that he says legally licensed the rights to remaster and reissue some of the band’s back catalog but without his approval.

In the singer’s rant, he outlines his reasons why he’s not happy with this person (Label) then implores fans “don’t buy any” of the albums and suggests “don’t support people like this.”

On his official Facebook Sweet writes: “So this guy who is supposed to be a friend goes to our old label and buys the rights to release our catalog. What’s the problem with that?”

Sweet then goes onto list his reasons as to what is wrong (from his perspective) with this business move from the unnamed label.

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1 – He never came to us to see if this was something we were planning on doing.

2 – We’re releasing a few albums this year (side projects and a new Stryper album) and he’s over stepping our plans. It’s just something you don’t do, especially if you call yourself a “believer” and a “friend” and it’s unethical.

3 – He licensed and “remastered” our albums and we didn’t approve this and we haven’t even heard them. He never spoke to us about it and if he had we would have said “no”. That’s something that the band should have the rights to, not anyone else. It’s our band, our brand and our right. Legally he can do it but it’s just wrong. All it does is hurt us financially. We’re doing our best to survive and when someone does this it just makes it harder for us to survive.

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Sweet continues with: “If you want to support the band and help the band continue on, don’t support people like this. I won’t name names but it isn’t hard to figure out. This guy isn’t helping us, he’s hurting us. All I can ask is that you don’t buy any of these albums and you wait till we (Stryper) release legitimate, official merchandise. Please don’t support other people who are living off of our name and legacy.”

Our own CEO here at Metal Sludge decided to chime in and share his opinion on the matter, on the social media thread, but unfortunately Sweet quickly deleted it.

With that, we have decided to share what Stevie Rachelle commented with on Sweet’s rant.

Below is what Rachelle wrote directly to Sweet.

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Michael,

A few words of wisdom here, from one of your favorite people.

“”””” Legally he can do it but it’s just wrong. “””””””

So, he’s broken no law, other than upset you and the band personally?

But truth is, he is 100% within his right to do this, and obviously with his “licensing deal” followed all the rules as set forth by the industry.

“”””””He never spoke to us about it and if he had we would have said “no”.“”””””””

But you or the band don’t own these masters, so it’s not your position to say yes, or no, even if he had asked or told you about it in advance.

And as you stated above, it was “legal” for him to do so.

“”””””””He never came to us to see if this was something we were planning on doing.“””””””””

Perhaps you, the band or management waited too long and dropped the ball here?

These licensing deals, with old classic 70’s/80’s releases have been going on for years… decades even… especially with the vinyl craze.

While you were recording a half-dozen side-projects for Frontier’s Records, with >insert guitarist name here<, all of which YOU don’t own the rights to either, obviously someone else was doing their homework.

I can promise you Michael, regardless of your immature “Don’t Buy These” campaign here… they will likely reissue on vinyl, and they will sell like crazy.

“””””””when someone does this it just makes it harder for us to survive. “””””””

I disagree, and here is why.

You are shooting yourself in the foot, over and over again, by signing ANY of these (small advance) record deals, especially in modern day.

You know, the ones you talked about at length on social media a few years ago, that was then shared on Blabbermouth and Metal Sludge, where you admit to only making a few thousand dollars per recording after all is said and done, and hence the reason you do several per year?

You, and many other bands of your ilk and caliber should be owning and controlling you masters, publishing and more at this stage in the game.

The same way you, or most of these bands now do with their own Merchandise, T-shirt sales at shows, or through a Website / Internet related sales… like those over-priced $75 cloth masks that you were selling when Covid hit.

Imagine had you licensed these old masters yourself, with the band and management… repackaged, reissued, and sold to the fans, direct from the band? Then you wouldn’t have to record another Sun Bomb demo to pay Rent for a month or two!

I don’t think this, I know this.

I promise you and every other 80’s guy that reads this… those labels are doing their artist no favors… you are being short-sighted, taking their $10,000.00 to make a record, that they will then OWN, and SELL for the rest of eternity. And in a few years, that same label guy you are upset with today, could license those recordings too. But, I doubt he will… with respect to all, no one wants a Sun Bomb remaster.

“”””””All I can ask is that you don’t buy any of these albums and you wait till we (Stryper) release legitimate, official merchandise.”“””””””

Legitimate and official?

Defined as, or by whom?

His deal is legitimate, and these will be his label’s “official” and “legitimate”, licensed products.

Maybe you should have considered all of this when signing previous record deals or contracts. Including the ones you’re signing every year with Frontier’s Records.

Truth is, if I went to Frontier’s with the right offer, I too, could license, remaster, repackage and sell the same, as stated above.

I will let this rest for now… even though there are countless more things I could say, write, and give examples of here, as to how so many of you Rock Stars, who once sold millions of records, even after decades of time passing, you still truly don’t know how the music business works.

With that… have a nice day… and oh yeah, I will be ordering ALL of those reissues from that label and distributor, as I am a big fan of those early records.

Your friend,
Stevie Rachelle

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Metal Sludge has done a little digging and discovered the label Sweet is talking about is Girder Music.

Girder Music is a Christian label who have an extensive catalog.

Also, there seems to be as one would expect, multiple sides to this story.

One online blogger named Scott W. has noted on the official Girder Music Facebook thread promoting these Stryper reissues: “Girder Music contacted Sweets management. They have known for months. As well they were paid royalties for these releases.”

Another response from Brian G. reads as follows: “It’s been stated here multiple times by someone who actually works with Girder that the band’s management was involved in the licensing deal and that all royalties were paid. In order for it to be the “underhanded, behind the back” act that it’s been described as, the band’s management would have had to have been in on it. Which simply doesn’t make sense.”

Aside from the band (Sweet) and the label (Girder) seemingly being at odds here, the fans are speaking out as well.

Randy L. writes: “Sweet riles up the base who mostly don’t understand how licensing works. If he didn’t want it to happen he could have done it himself long ago. Didn’t. No sympathy at this point. Especially the way he called out these people. That was the unethical part.”

While some seem to be following every word or direction from Sweet to not support, many others are taking the exact opposite stance in supporting Girder Music out of spite for what Sweet has said.

Or, they are making up their own mind without anyone’s influence to boycott or shun the other side and doing what they want regardless of where the product comes from.

For more information on their catalog and the Stryper reissues on Gold Vinyl visit their site here.