To Hell With The Devil

Album: To Hell with the Devil (1986)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the title track for the Christian heavy metal band's third album. Lead singer Michael Sweet wrote the song to celebrate God and send a musically unique message to their young fans - Stryper was in the minority when it came to denouncing the devil in metal music. The band's fans were a mix of Christian believers and folks who just liked their music, thanks in large part to their hit "Honestly."

    Looking back on how their music helped spread the Word, Michael Sweet told Songfacts: "Those songs, particularly that album is what catapulted the band into crossover mainstream success. So we went from playing theatres to playing arenas and selling three or four hundred thousand units to selling a million and a half units. So it was all of a sudden magnified and multiplied. And because of the effect those songs had on people's lives, the changing power of Christ is the music or the lyric or what have you, absolutely. And people look back and say, 'Okay, To Hell with the Devil, man, I remember that in my junior year. And I heard that song and I went and saw the band and I accepted the Lord and it changed my life.'"
  • The band's hard rock image and in-your-face Christianity sparked much debate in Christian circles. While their metalhead fans adored them, Stryper were denounced from pulpits and picketed at their concerts. To Hell with the Devil meanwhile was a commercial success, spending over 40 weeks on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, a remarkable achievement at the time for an overtly Christian band. It became the first contemporary Christian album to sell over a million copies and it remained the best selling Christian Metal LP until P.O.D.'s Satellite in 2001.
  • Stryper took their name from a Bible verse Isaiah 53: 5, which says "….by His stripes we are healed." Stryper they explained was an acronym meaning "Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace, Encouragement and Righteousness."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."