Oz Fox
Encyclopedia
Richard Alfonso Martinez (born June 18, 1961), better known by the stage name Oz Fox, is the lead guitarist
of the Christian glam metal band Stryper
. Martinez's high school friends called him Oz in honor of Ozzy Osbourne
due to his ability to emulate the vocals of Osbourne while playing Black Sabbath
covers in his pre-Stryper days. He was recruited by the Sweet brothers in 1983 to form what would become Stryper. As a founding member of the band, Fox recorded and toured with Stryper until the band's first break up in 1992.
, California
, to Richard Joseph Martinez and Jessie Maria Martinez. Having been influenced by artists from many styles of music including country, Fox's style can best be described as having been heavily influenced by the style pioneered by Edward Van Halen. It is a little known fact that Fox would often warm up by playing Van Halen
's "I'm The One" note for note before Stryper shows. He joined the trend in LA guitarists to heavily incorporate tapping, sweeping, string skipping and wild tremolo use along with peers such as George Lynch
, Warren DeMartini
, Jake E. Lee
, Mick Mars
, and Tony Palacios
. Fox recorded half of the guitar solos with Stryper while additionally providing background vocals for the group. He later took up the main vocal duties for a period of four months in 1992 after founding member Michael Sweet
decided to leave the band and pursue a solo career. With Fox on lead vocals, the threesome did two short tours in Europe.
After Stryper, Fox played in several projects, including his own band, Sindizzy
where he played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals. SinDizzy, which released an album in 1998 titled He's Not Dead, included former Stryper bassist Tim Gaines
, drummer John Bocanegra and LA guitarist Bobby MacNeil. SinDizzy was a departure for Fox as it allowed him to explore his writing and playing from a much different perspective than in his prior work. SinDizzy would be put on hiatus however due to Fox and Gaines being asked to rejoin Stryper for their reunion in 2003 in support of the album 7 after the widespread acceptance and excitement generated by the first 'Stryper Expo'. Though Gaines would elect to leave the band, Fox, together with brothers Robert and Michael Sweet and newcomer bassist Tracy Ferrie
, is still recording and touring with the group. Fox's latest work is on Stryper's Murder by Pride
album released in July 2009.
.
In 2006, he joined the band Bloodgood
and has performed at several Christian rock festivals with them.
Fox has helped to develop artists and bands in Southern California including recent HMMA's Award Winning Metal Band Fellguard from Murrieta and Fiasco, (formerly known as Understated) from Rancho Cucamonga.
From 2006 to 2009, Fox gave private music lessons in Pasadena at a small music shop, Groovin On Music.
Beginning in 2008, Fox joined the Las Vegas based classic rock band "Playground" featuring Frank Di Mino from the rock group Angel
.
Fox has three children from his previous marriage, Paul Fox Martinez, Lea Fox Martinez and Tara Fox Martinez.
Fox married Annie Lobert
, a former prostitute for 16 years, turned evangelical Christian, in Las Vegas
on June 5, 2009. The ceremony was broadcast live on the Internet. Lobert has a ministry to prostitutes still on the streets called, "Hookers for Jesus."
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
of the Christian glam metal band Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
. Martinez's high school friends called him Oz in honor of Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
due to his ability to emulate the vocals of Osbourne while playing Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
covers in his pre-Stryper days. He was recruited by the Sweet brothers in 1983 to form what would become Stryper. As a founding member of the band, Fox recorded and toured with Stryper until the band's first break up in 1992.
Background
Fox was born on June 18, 1961 in WhittierWhittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to Richard Joseph Martinez and Jessie Maria Martinez. Having been influenced by artists from many styles of music including country, Fox's style can best be described as having been heavily influenced by the style pioneered by Edward Van Halen. It is a little known fact that Fox would often warm up by playing Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
's "I'm The One" note for note before Stryper shows. He joined the trend in LA guitarists to heavily incorporate tapping, sweeping, string skipping and wild tremolo use along with peers such as George Lynch
George Lynch (musician)
George Lynch is a hard rock/heavy metal guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls of We.-Pre Dokken:...
, Warren DeMartini
Warren DeMartini
Warren Justin DeMartini , nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene.-Early life:...
, Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
, Mick Mars
Mick Mars
Mick Mars is the lead guitarist for American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Career:After his family relocated from Indiana, to California, Bob Deal dropped out of high school and began playing guitar in a series of unsuccessful blues based rock bands throughout the seventies, taking on menial day...
, and Tony Palacios
Tony Palacios
Tony Palacios is the lead guitarist of the Christian hard rock band, Guardian. Palacios joined the band in 1989 and has remained with them since, releasing nine studio albums, including three in Spanish....
. Fox recorded half of the guitar solos with Stryper while additionally providing background vocals for the group. He later took up the main vocal duties for a period of four months in 1992 after founding member Michael Sweet
Michael Sweet
Michael Sweet is a singer from Whittier, California, United States. Sweet is best known as co-founder, writer and frontman of the Christian glam metal band Stryper. He was also one of the two lead vocalists and one of three guitarists for Boston until August 2011.-Youth:He began his musical career...
decided to leave the band and pursue a solo career. With Fox on lead vocals, the threesome did two short tours in Europe.
After Stryper, Fox played in several projects, including his own band, Sindizzy
Sindizzy
SinDizzy is Christian metal band co-founded by former Stryper members Oz Fox and Tim Gaines. The band was founded in the mid 1990s after Stryper had disbanded. Its members included young drummer and lead guitarist...
where he played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals. SinDizzy, which released an album in 1998 titled He's Not Dead, included former Stryper bassist Tim Gaines
Tim Gaines
Timothy Gaines is bass guitar player of the Christian metal band Stryper.-With Stryper:Being a Sunset Strip regular, Tim joined the band in 1983, and quickly rounded out the quartet's sound with his bass, background vocals and keyboard skills...
, drummer John Bocanegra and LA guitarist Bobby MacNeil. SinDizzy was a departure for Fox as it allowed him to explore his writing and playing from a much different perspective than in his prior work. SinDizzy would be put on hiatus however due to Fox and Gaines being asked to rejoin Stryper for their reunion in 2003 in support of the album 7 after the widespread acceptance and excitement generated by the first 'Stryper Expo'. Though Gaines would elect to leave the band, Fox, together with brothers Robert and Michael Sweet and newcomer bassist Tracy Ferrie
Tracy Ferrie
Tracy Ferrie is one of two current bass players of Christian metal band Stryper. He was formerly the bass player for Michael Sweet's solo band and also a member of the bands Electrik, Sally Steele, Seraiah, Whitecross, Guardian, Rebecca St. James, Plumb, SONICFLOOd and Strange Celebrity...
, is still recording and touring with the group. Fox's latest work is on Stryper's Murder by Pride
Murder by Pride
Murder by Pride is the eighth studio album by Stryper. The first single for the album, "Peace of Mind", debuted at #27 on Christianrock.net on October 24, 2008 and peaked at #1 on February 22, 2009. The track is a cover version, originally performed by Boston...
album released in July 2009.
Other activities
Fox has hosted "Rewind" on JCTVJCTV
JCTV is a young adult television network devoted to music videos, owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. It is similar to MTV, but with a Christian focus....
.
In 2006, he joined the band Bloodgood
Bloodgood
Bloodgood is a Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington. Originally formed in 1984 and by 1988 represented one of the four largest Christian metal bands alongside Barren Cross, Whitecross, and Leviticus....
and has performed at several Christian rock festivals with them.
Fox has helped to develop artists and bands in Southern California including recent HMMA's Award Winning Metal Band Fellguard from Murrieta and Fiasco, (formerly known as Understated) from Rancho Cucamonga.
From 2006 to 2009, Fox gave private music lessons in Pasadena at a small music shop, Groovin On Music.
Beginning in 2008, Fox joined the Las Vegas based classic rock band "Playground" featuring Frank Di Mino from the rock group Angel
Angel (band)
Angel is a glam rock and heavy metal band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-70s by Punky Meadows and Mickie Jones. They were signed to Casablanca Records, and had the image of dressing in white.-History:...
.
Personal life
In 2006 Fox's marriage to Leslie Wilson ended in a divorce citing "irreconcilable differences."Fox has three children from his previous marriage, Paul Fox Martinez, Lea Fox Martinez and Tara Fox Martinez.
Fox married Annie Lobert
Annie Lobert
Annie Lobert is an American former call girl and sex industry worker, who founded the international Christian ministry Hookers for Jesus...
, a former prostitute for 16 years, turned evangelical Christian, in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on June 5, 2009. The ceremony was broadcast live on the Internet. Lobert has a ministry to prostitutes still on the streets called, "Hookers for Jesus."
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/lvplayground Playground MySpace Page
- http://www.planetrapture.com/stryperexpo/2000ExpoArchive/
- http://www.planetrapture.com/stryperexpo/