WHITESNAKE, CHICKENFOOT, FOZZY Members Featured On New MICHAEL SWEET Solo Album Samples

Michael Sweet of Christian hard rockers STRYPER has released audio samples of two more songs from his upcoming solo album, to be issued via Big3 Records along with his new autobiography. The newly released tracks available for preview are "Unsuspecting", featuring CHICKENFOOT drummer Kenny Aronoff; and "Anybody Else", featuring FOZZY singer Chris Jericho on backing vocals and WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich.

Previously released audio samples include "I'm Not Your Suicide", a co-write with Blair Daly; a cover of the NEIL YOUNG classic "Heart Of Gold"; "Taking On The World Tonight", featuring Tony Harnell of TNT; and "How To Live", a power ballad featuring Michael's brother Robert Sweet and STRYPER's Timothy Gaines.

"Unsuspecting" audio sample:

"Anybody Else" audio sample:

"I'm Not Your Suicide" audio sample:

"Heart Of Gold" (NEIL YOUNG cover) audio sample:

"Taking On The World Tonight" audio sample (featuring Tony Harnell):

"How To Live" (featuring Robert Sweet and Timothy Gaines):

Regarding Harnell's appearance on the CD, Sweet previously stated, "I think Tony is truly one of the most underrated singers of all time. He's always been one of my favorites and is an incredibly nice, humble guy to boot. I've always wanted to work with Tony and I knew this would be the perfect song and opportunity to do so. 'Taking On The World Tonight' is very heavy with a combination of old-school riffs and solos yet it's got a very modern, relevant sound as well. It's the best of both worlds! You won't be disappointed."

Writing on Facebook, Sweet stated about reaction to his previously released solo album sampes, "First, thank you for all the amazing comments on the solo record samples! I can assure you that this record will be the best solo record to date and that you (at least most of you) won't be disappointed.

"Second, to the handful of people who think it sounds like STRYPER — well, earth to moon, I am the singer/guitarist/songwriter for STRYPER so there is the remote chance that their will be similarities right? Maybe you can't comprehend that but I think most people here do.

"For those of you who wonder why it isn't a STRYPER record, the truth is that I had the opportunity to make a record and I took it. It's been almost 12 years since my last solo release and I felt it was long overdue. There is a lot of down time with STRYPER and life goes on, you've got to do what you've got to do. This doesn't mean that STRYPER is going to take a backseat. We have big plans for the band as well including a re-record record with two new songs, touring throughout 2012 and eventually a new, all original STRYPER record.

"We all have done solo projects over the years and it's a great way for all of us to be artistic and express our musical ideas individually. I love what I do and I hope it shows!

"For the 99.9% of the people who do get it, you advance to the head of the class. To the 0.1% of the people who don't get it, you're in detention for the rest of the year :-)

"Seriously, thank you all for the incredibly positive feedback/comments on my new solo project and I can't wait to release it so you can hear the songs in their entirety. You'll hear similarities (duh) and yet you'll also hear me."

Sweet's last solo album, "Touched", was released in December 2007 exclusively through Michael's official web site, MichaelSweet.com. The CD, which included reworked versions of four STRYPER songs, was not made available in stores.