Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music News Report

Walmart Refuses to Carry Chart-Topping Christian Rock Band Stryper's New Album




2018/04/18.WalmartRefusestoCarryChart-ToppingChristianRockBandStrypersNewAlbum.asp
NEWS SOURCE: Nashville PR
April 18, 2018

Expressing concerns over the album title, leading national retail chain Walmart has refused to carry chart-topping rock band STRYPER's upcoming 10th studio album, God Damn Evil — available April 20, 2018 from Frontiers Music SRL. Several Christian retail chains have also objected to the title and declined to carry God Damn Evil in their stores.

"We’re disappointed,” says STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet. “Stryper has always been about making people think outside the box. Our new album title God Damn Evil is a statement that's needed in our society. We've seen evil rise to new levels and this title is simply a prayer request asking God to damn or condemn all the evil around us. Many chains have joined us in making such a statement. Walmart unfortunately has not. The odd thing is of all the chains out there we assumed Walmart would be one to understand exactly what our point and purpose is. Unfortunately not. Although we respect their decision and what's done is done, it's frustrating to see something that's meant for good get misinterpreted and misunderstood.”

Rocking since 1984, STRYPER is responsible for such classic '80s metal albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell with the Devil and In God We Trust. In fact, STRYPER is the first band (and the only Christian band) to ever have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously with their hits “Free” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990's, STRYPER returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.

God Damn Evil is the follow-up to STRYPER’s ninth studio album, Fallen (Frontiers Music SRL), which released in 2015 and debuted at the top of the Billboard rock charts. 2016’s 30th Anniversary To Hell With The Devil Tour saw record crowds and featured the band’s largest sound and lighting production in nearly two decades.  

The new STRYPER album is the first release since the recent addition of bass player Perry Richardson, a founding member of the multi-platinum band Firehouse. He joins original members Michael Sweet (vocals and guitar), Robert Sweet (drums) and Oz Fox (guitar).  

STRYPER will return to the road this year, kicking off the God Damn Evil World Tour at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, Italy on April 28th.  

God Damn Evil is available now for pre-order at all major retailers including Amazon and iTunes: http://radi.al/GodDamnEvil.

The following limited edition pre-order offers are also available:

Stryper Webstore: Includes EXCLUSIVE yellow colored vinyl (limited to 100 copies worldwide), autographed vinyl test pressings, EXCLUSIVE t-shirt design (Stryper store ONLY), autographed CDs and more! Pre-order HERE: https://stores.portmerch.com/stryper/

Frontiers USA Webstore: Includes EXCLUSIVE gold colored vinyl (limited to 100 copies worldwide), autographed vinyl test pressings, EXCLUSIVE t-shirt design (Frontiers store ONLY), autographed CDs and more! Pre-order HERE: http://pmusic.co/34WWZE

Frontiers EU Webstore: Includes EXCLUSIVE silver colored vinyl (limited to 100 copies worldwide) and more! Pre-order HERE: http://bit.ly/2nSs5ey

Watch STRYPER's official music video for "Sorry" here: https://youtu.be/ByWWzDl_xrw

STRYPER 2018 TOUR DATES (As of April 18, 2018):
APRIL 28 - FRONTIERS ROCK FESTIVAL - MILAN, ITALY
MAY 5 - M3 ROCK FESTIVAL - COLUMBIA, MD
MAY 6 - AGORA THEATRE - CLEVELAND, OH
MAY 8 - GRAMERCY THEATRE - NEW YORK, NY
MAY 9 - STONE PONY - ASBURY, NJ
MAY 10 - JERGLE'S RHYTHM GRILLE - WARRENDALE, PA
MAY 12 - MIXX 360 - MALDEN, MA
MAY 13 - FISH HEAD CANTINA - HALETHORPE, MD
MAY 14 - SELLERSVILLE THEATER - SELLERSVILLE, PA
MAY 16 - DIESEL CONCERT LOUNGE - CHESTERFIELD, MI
MAY 17 - THE INTERSECTION - GRAND RAPIDS, MI
MAY 18 - GREEN BAY DISTILLERY - GREEN BAY, WI
MAY 19 - ROUTE 47 PUB N GRUB - FRIDLEY, MN
MAY 22 - THE SIDE ROOM IN RALSTON ARENA - RALSTON, NE
MAY 23 - VAL AIR BALLROOM - WEST DES MOINES, IA
MAY 25 - STAR PAVILION @ AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL - KANSAS CITY, MO
MAY 26 - BMI SPEEDWAY - VERSAILLES, OH
MAY 27 - BRAT FEST - MADISON, WI
MAY 30 - IDL BALLROOM - TULSA, OK
MAY 31 - PROOF BAR ROOFTOP LOUNGE - HOUSTON, TX
JUNE 1 - GAS MONKEY LIVE! - DALLAS, TX
JUNE 3 - PHARR EVENTS CENTER - PHARR, TX
JUNE 5 - SAM'S BURGER JOINT - SAN ANTONIO, TX
JUNE 7 - CENTER STAGE - ATLANTA, GA
JUNE 8 - THE FOUNDATION PERFORMING ARTS CENTER - SPINDALE, NC
JUNE 9 - CANNERY BALLROOM - NASHVILLE, TN
JULY 7 - BARCELONA ROCK FEST - BARCELONA, SPAIN
AUGUST 25 - KAWASAKI CLUB CITTA - TOKYO, JAPAN
AUGUST 26 - KAWASAKI CLUB CITTA - TOKYO, JAPAN
SEPTEMBER 7 - GRAND ROCKTEMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL - HINCKLEY, MN
SEPTEMBER 8 - THE ARCADA THEATRE - ST. CHARLES, IL
SEPTEMBER 13 - HOUSE OF BLUES - ORLANDO, FL
SEPTEMBER 15 - ROCK IN VIVO FEST @ VIVO BEACH CLUB - ISLA VERDE, PUERTO RICO
OCTOBER 19 - THE VENUE - DENVER, CO
OCTOBER 20 - LEATHERHEADS SPORTS BAR - DRAPER, UT
OCTOBER 25 - THE MARQUEE - TEMPE, AZ
OCTOBER 26 - RIALTO THEATRE - TUSCON, AZ
OCTOBER 31 - WHISKY A GO GO - WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA
NOVEMBER 4 - ACE OF SPADES - SACRAMENTO, CA

Additional tour dates to be added. For more information, visit www.Stryper.com.


###

For more info on Stryper, visit the JFH Artists Database.

 

 

 

 

News Report Archives

[2026]
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

[2025]
Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec.

[2001 - Present]
Visit our complete MUSIC NEWS ARCHIVE

 



Return to Main News Page

 

 

 

                 
Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 17
SINGLES
Alex Henry Foster Springtime - Single [Hopeful Tragedy]
NEEDTOBREATHE Last Drink - Single [UMG]

This Friday, June 19
ALBUMS
GVTH DVDDY GVDV [Velvet Blue Music]

SINGLES
AAH (All About Him) That's My God - Single (independent)
AustinThaNoble Issa Vibe - Single [Syntax]
CalledOut Music Everything and More - Single [Integrity]
Chris Caro Far From Home - Single [Syntax]
Dex the nerd who loves Jesus Lost Files 3000 - Single [Syntax]
DOE To You (feat. Joe L Barnes) - Single [Provident/Sony]
eddieM Be Still - Single [Syntax]
Emery Numbers - Single (independent)
Josh Grove Hope - Single (independent)
Jericko Come and Get it - Single [Syntax]
Kaboose Like That - Single [Polished Arrow Music]
KNGDM REVIVAL Psalm 91 - Single [Dream]
Kris Kristofferson, Tanya Tucker, Dennis Quaid On My Way to Heaven - Single [Gaither]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Final Say - Single [Motown Gospel / TeeLee]
Living Again Cynical and Jaded - Single (independent)
Tenielle Neda Who Do They Say I Am? - Single (independent)
The Protest Cloudwalker - Single (independent)
Raining Locusts Maligned Into Deformity - Single [Charon Collective]
Kierra Sheard Shine - Single [Karew]
Terrian Mad Big World - Single [Gotee]
Tyraels Ascension No End In Sight - Single (independent)
Bethany Wohrle Seen Too Much - Single [Bethel]
Nathan Woodard You Are Holy - Single [North Chapel Records]

Next Tuesday, June 23
ALBUMS
PFR Disappear (Remastered) (independent)

Next Friday, June 26
ALBUMS
Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed Magic & Bird 2 (independent)
Clark Beckham Acoustic Worship Sessions [NCS]
Dragons & Astronauts Broken Parables (independent)
floodlit MiDaSu (independent)
Gracie Miss Misfortunately [Tooth & Nail]
Tiffany Hudson When You're In The Room [Elevation]
Switchfoot FOREVER NOW [By Design/BMG]
TobyMac Heaven On My Mind – Guest List Edition [Capitol CMG]
Tomb Slayer Radiance: Modern Hymns for Kids [Tomb Slayer]
Tree63 VOYAGE (independent)

SINGLES
Death Protocol Illusion Of Faith - Single [Rottweiler]
Hillside Recording in the room - Single (independent)
Cameron Payne Time - Single (independent)
GLADDEN & Kurtis Hoppie Round & Round - Single (independent)
John Reuben 1-2-Barbecue (w/ Mike Tompkins) - Single (independent)
Trey Simon & Mountain People Worship Brother Jo - Single (independent)
Phil Wickham x Pat Barrett Praise The Lord Forever - Single [Fair Trade]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images