Stryper frontman Michael Sweet has addressed why longtime guitarist Oz Fox does not appear on the band’s upcoming eighteenth studio album, Throne Of Thorns, set for release on September 25, in comments shared on The Rock Is George Podcast.
Sweet clarified that Fox’s absence from the recording was not connected to his 2024 brain surgery. It stemmed from a separate, unexpected medical issue involving his blood pressure that surfaced during rehearsals.
“Well, believe it or not, it wasn’t related to [Oz’s] health issues in terms of his [2024] brain surgery,” Sweet said. “He’s been doing great with that. He’s been out touring with us and doing great.”
“This was something completely different,” he continued. “This was based on the fact that he stopped taking blood pressure medication ’cause he’s supposed to take that every day. He has issues with his blood pressure, like many people do, and he stopped taking it. And we didn’t really know that he’d stopped taking it.”
Sweet went on to describe how the problem was discovered and how severe it became once the band gathered to record.
“And Rob [Stryper drummer Robert Sweet] went into rehearsals with him and discovered, like, ‘Wait a minute. Something’s not right here,'” Sweet said. “[Oz] had trouble playing and with his pitch and his hearing. His high blood pressure really affected that, and it was really high — going up, spiky, like go-to-the-hospital high. And we didn’t really know this until he came out to the studio, and he was having issues with it. And it was time for him to start playing, and his blood pressure was checked. We had a way to check it there, and it was through the roof.”
Despite efforts to stabilize Fox’s condition, Sweet said the guitarist ultimately was not able to perform the parts himself.
“So we were able to get him some medication and get him to lie down and rest and able to get him to feel a little better,” Sweet said. “But still, when it came time for him to play, he wasn’t able to play. He literally couldn’t go from chord to chord. He couldn’t play. And it was a bad situation. And I knew the songs, so I just said, I suggested, I said, ‘Dude, don’t worry about it. I’ll gladly play the parts,’ and he was very relieved to hear that. And then when we got to the solos, the same thing happened. So I wound up, at that point, having to play all the guitars.”
Sweet admitted that stepping into the role on short notice, while also focusing on his vocal duties, presented its own challenges.
“I wasn’t prepared for it, being honest,” Sweet said. “I was moving into vocal mode at that time, and I had very little time — not as much time as I would’ve liked — to prepare for all the guitars, having to do that, and think like two guitar players. That’s a whole other thing. When you’re playing a certain style and that’s what you do, then you gotta try to think like another player and make it sound like two guys. That’s not an easy task. I did my best. I don’t know if I pulled it off. Fans will determine that. But I think so far people seem to really like the guitars. And I haven’t heard any complaints yet, so it worked out.”
This is not the first time Fox’s health has forced adjustments within the band. In 2025, he sat out Stryper’s Latin American tour on the advice of his doctor. Howie Simon, known for his work with Jeff Scott Soto and Graham Bonnet, stepped in as a temporary replacement, just as he had done before. Fox underwent brain surgery in May 2024, a procedure that also kept him off the road during the band’s “To Hell With The Amps” acoustic tour that spring.
Throne Of Thorns marks Stryper’s first new studio album in two years. It arrives via Frontiers Music Srl on September 25. The band has already released the title track along with an official music video, giving fans an early preview of the record ahead of its full release. A month before the album hits shelves, Stryper held an exclusive fan event in Nashville, offering attendees the first opportunity anywhere to hear Throne Of Thorns in its entirety.
Fox, despite not playing on the new record, remains an active member of Stryper. He expressed enthusiasm ahead of the album’s rollout. “I am looking forward to it,” Fox said of the Nashville listening event. His comments signaled his continued involvement with the band, even as his bandmates carried the guitar duties on the new material.
Sweet handled all lead, rhythm, and solo guitar work on Throne Of Thorns. The album represents a notable shift in Stryper’s studio dynamic. Still, the band has emphasized that Fox’s role within the group remains intact. His live performances will continue whenever his health allows, as demonstrated during recent touring dates where he has appeared alongside Sweet and the rest of the band.
