Timothy Gaines

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. Gaines recorded the band’s debut EP The Yellow and Black Attack and their follow up full-length album Soldiers Under Command in 1985.

Gaines briefly left the band during the pre-production period of the band’s platinum selling album To Hell With The Devil but rejoined the band after the sessions were concluded in order to tour. Gaines did not play on the band’s follow up In God We Trust but did tour in support of the album.

Gaines contributions to the bands next release Against The Law were evident in his playing on the release but it should be noted that he did not play on the band’s cover of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Shining Star” (The track was recorded by Randy Jackson).

Post-Stryper

In his post-Stryper career, Gaines continued contributing to the musical world with appearances in Rex Carroll’s post-Whitecross initiative — King James — along with Robert Sweet, formerly of Stryper. Gaines went on to record a very memorable guest track with Tourniquet on their Crawl To China release as well. Following this activity Gaines joined former Stryper guitarist, Oz Fox, in Gaines and Fox’s Sindizzy. The band proved to be a very lively, and charismatic group releasing one album titled He’s Not Dead. Gaines’ bass playing was showcased in a manner which allowed enthusiasts a chance to hear him play in a very different way than he had in previous projects. In 1996 Gaines also began co-contributing with singer/songwriter (and soon to be future wife), Irene Kelly. The two would go onto to work on releases in Gaines’ free time away from SinDizzy.

Stryper Reunion

It was Gaines’ involvement in SinDizzy with Fox which lead to the band being sort of reunited in 1999 at a concert in Puerto Rico where both Sindizzy and Stryper frontman, Michael Sweet were invited. Later, they were asked to play a festival in Costa Rica in 2000 with Sweet. All former bandmates joined each other on stage and performed for a crowd in excess of 10,000 spectators ushering in the opportunity for a full blown reunion later in 2000 at the first annual ‘Stryper Expo’ with Robert Sweet joining his former bandmates.

The success of these appearances led to a 2003 reunion tour and a new release (Stryper’s 7), which would see the band tour and play venues around the nation. The concept of what became the art cover for “Stryper 7″ was Gaines’. Much talk ensued regarding the future of the band and each member’s role until it was decided that they would reunite. Soon after Stryper’s reformation in 2004, it was decided by both the band and Gaines that they would be best able to serve their separate ministries if Gaines left the band. Gaines who lives in Tennessee with his wife, remains active in both the Church and music contributing, writing, producing artists.

Gaines spent April and May 2007 touring the U.S., Dominican Republic, and Trinidad, with singer/songwriter Richard Marx as bassplayer.

Recordings:

  • 2007 - Christopher Burgan - Breakfast In The Sunroom - Fretless Bass - IceBurgan Music
  • 2007 - Monster Ballads Xmas - Stryper - Bass/Vocals - Razor & Tie Records
  • 2007 - Sin Paredes (Without Walls) - Bass - www.sinparedes.org
  • 2007 - Stryper - Roxx Regime Demo’s - Bass/Vocals - 53:5 Records
  • 2006 - Richard Zeier - Phenomenation - www.richardzeier.com
  • 2006 - Liberty N Justice - Soundtrack Of A Soul - Bass - LNJ Records
  • 2005 - Livin’ With Jack - www.livinwithjack.com - Demo
  • 2005 - Rock Of Ages - Bass - Madecy Entertainment
  • 2004 - Bryan Duncan - Music City Live - Bass - Red Road Records
  • 2004 - Stryper - 7 Weeks Live In America - Bass/Vocals - 53:5 Records
  • 2004 - Chris Burgan - Love, Hope, Faith - Bass - IceBurgan Music
  • 2003 - Stryper - 7 - Bass, Vocals, Keys - Hollywood Records
  • 2001 - Firelogg - Petrified - Fretless & Fretted Bass - Indie
  • 2001 - Firelogg - Tree - Fretless & Fretted Bass - Indie
  • 2000 - Debra J. Vaughn - Joy Comes In The Morning - Bass - Indie
  • 2000 - Irene Kelly - If You Were Here - Producer, Bass, Harmonica, Songwriter - TGM Productions
  • 1998 - Sin Dizzy - He’s Not Dead - Producer, Bass, Songwriter - TGM Productions
  • 1997 - Tourniquet - Crawl To China - Fretless & Fretted Bass - Diadem/Benson
  • 1994 - King James - Bass - Star Song
  • 1993 - Inertia - Bass - Indie
  • 1993 - No Stranger - Untitled - Bass/Voc - Indie
  • 1991 - Stryper - Can’t Stop The Rock - Bass, Vocals, Keys - Hollywood Records
  • 1990 - Stryper - Against The Law - Bass, Vocals - Enigma/Capitol Records
  • 1989 - Guardian - First Watch - Vocals - Enigma/Captiol Records
  • 1985 - Stryper - Live In Japan Intro Theme - Writer/Keys - Enigma/CBS Sony
  • 1985 - Stryper - Reach Out - Bass/Voc -Enigma/Capitol Records
  • 1985 - Stryper - Together As One - Bass/Voc - Enigma/Capitol Records
  • 1985 - Stryper - Soldiers Under Command - Bass, Vocals, Keys - Enigma /Capitol
  • 1984 - Stryper - Winter Wonderland/Reason For the Season - Bass, Vocals, Keys - Enigma/Capitol
  • 1984 - Stryper- Yellow & Black Attack - Bass, Vocals, Keys - Enigma/Capitol
  • 1982 - Stormer - Untitled - Bass/voc - Rockwoodz Muzic
  • 1982 - Stormer - Be Mine For Christmas/Yuletide Fever - Bass, Vocals -
  • Rockwoodz Muzic
  • 1981 - Stormer - Untitled - Bass/Voc - Indie
  • 1979 - Afton Kid - Untitled - Bass/Voc - Indie

Gear:

  • Early years 83 - 86 Tim used Aria Pro basses and Peavey amps and cabinets.
  • From 86 - 93 he used Status Graphite basses, Spector basses, 4 Ampeg SVT heads and 8 SVT 8×10 cabinets.
  • From 93 - present along with the Status graphite (now retired)
  • He use assorted Vintage Fender Precision basses, Jazz basses, Musicman Stingray basses.
  • His amplifiers and cabinets have been made by SWR.
  • Strings have been D’adarrio XL160’s and XL170’s from the beginning.

Status graphit