ReunionThe former members of Stryper first reunited in 1999, when Michael Sweet and Sindizzy were invited to play at a summer rock festival in Puerto Rico. As an encore, Sweet joined Oz Fox and Tim Gaines on stage and played several Stryper songs. Later, in 2000, the first "Stryper Expo" was held in New Jersey, and for the first time in 8 years the complete line-up of Stryper took the stage. That same year, a concert was held in Costa Rica at which the four members played together. A second "Stryper Expo" took place in Los Angeles in 2001.When Hollywood Records asked the former members of Stryper to record tracks for a new greatest hits compilation in 2003, the four members decided to go on a North American reunion tour in support of the compilation, titled Seven: the Best of Stryper. The band played 36 shows in the United States and finished the tour in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A live album, titled 7 Weeks: Live in America, 2003, was released the following year, and the concert in Puerto Rico was filmed for a live DVD. However, that show in Puerto Rico proved to be the last for the original line-up of Stryper.In the fall of 2004, the Sweet brothers and Oz Fox decided to enter the studio to record a new Stryper album. Bassist Tim Gaines had no interest in continuing with Stryper, so he was replaced by Tracy Ferrie, the long-time bass player for Michael Sweet's solo band.Despite their reunion, controversy continued to follow the band. In November 2004, Stryper was scheduled to play in Mexico City at the Palacio de los Deportes. The band canceled the show, which led to a major disagreement between the band and the promoter. Stryper and their management claimed the promoter was too inexperienced to stage an event of this magnitude, but a group of well-known Christian rock bands, including Saviour Machine, Narnia and Mortification, sided with the promoter. The promoter demanded that Stryper return all the money they had received related to their appearance, but the band refused. Later, Stryper began selling items on their website in part to refund this promoter.Stryper's latest album, Reborn, was released in August of 2005, and was the band's first recording of original material in 15 years. The new album received a positive response from fans and critics, some of whom labeled Reborn as one of the best albums of that year (2). With a more modern sound incorporating aspects of alternative and grunge, along with fewer guitar solos, the new record updates their style while keeping the Stryper identity. The lyrics also have returned to the band's familiar themes of God and salvation.In 2006, the band released Greatest Hits: Live in Puerto Rico after two years in production. Less