Stryper, composed by brothers Michael and Rob Sweet, Oz Fox and Tim Gaines, released their first album, The Yellow And Black Attack in 1984 with Enigma Records. In 1985, a follow-up, Soldiers Under Command came. Soldiers Under Command sold well, reaching gold record status, and The Yellow And Black Attack was re-released in 1986, in preparation for the release of Stryper's chart topper, To Hell With The Devil. To Hell With The Devil became one of 1987's most widely sold albums worldwide, reaching platinum record status and the band's #1 classic album. They went on a worldwide tour that took them to Tokyo, San Juan and other places, and the song Free became an anthem to the Christian youth of that era.
In 1988, they followed that album with another, In God We Trust, which also made it to the charts and enjoyed wide popularity, achieving the gold record sales level.
Despite their late 1980's success, in the 1990's Stryper became another casualty of the Hip Hop revolution, and failed to produce another popular album after In God We Trust.
The band is now on tour again, and has been seen singing in Costa Rica, the Stryper Expo 2002 and some other places. Gaines recently married the former Irene Kelly.