Bruce Springsteen is quite famous for rocking the stage for long hours during his shows. In a recent chat with Kris Peters of Heavy Interviews, Stryper frontman Michael Sweet compared their gigs to Springsteen’s and explained why it was easier for the rocker to perform longer than Stryper.
Springsteen has probably been playing longer shows than everyone else in the music world with a huge setlist. He frequently extends the industry-standard running time of nearly two hours at most while delivering his concerts. Even though many of his counterparts appreciate his commitment to his music and audience, it is, of course, not something every solo artist or band can do.
During his latest interview, when asked whether it was getting harder for them to put together a setlist that would make everyone happy, Michael Sweet accepted it was and then gave Bruce Springsteen as an example. The singer explained that sometimes it is even going to the point where they need to perform a three-hour set like Springsteen.
Yet, according to Sweet, it is easier for Bruce to pull off three-hour shows compared to them because their style of writing and singing is completely different. The frontman respects Springsteen for being able to perform for long hours but finds it harder for Stryper, as their shows require more physicality and vocal strength on the stage.
When asked if deciding on a setlist was getting more challenging for them, Michael Sweet replied:
“It really is. It is like one of those things where it’s getting to the point where we need to pull a Bruce Springsteen and play for three hours. God bless him for doing that but man, Bruce, his style of writing and his style of singing, I think, is a little easier to pull off for three hours in. Our style of writing and singing is a lot of high-register belting stuff, and it is not easy on the voice.”
So, according to Michael Sweet, they can’t play a three-hour setlist as Bruce Springsteen does because their singing and performing style is different than the veteran rocker. It seems like Springsteen set the bar so high that it is not easy for the other acts to keep up with him.
