Oz Fox

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' 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. Tim Gaines joined the band in 1983 after leaving Los Angeles-based hard rock band Stormer. As a founding member of the band, Fox recorded and toured with Stryper until the band's first break up in 1992 but has since rejoined the band.

Background Fox was born on June 18, 1961, in Whittier, California, to Richard Joseph Martinez and Jessie Maria Martinez. Oz joined Stryper after Robert Sweet, who had met Fox at Katherine Edwards Junior High School, rekindled their friendship at Pioneer High School. Michael Sweet, who was 13 when he joined his brother's band, described the songwriting process: the three developed material together while Robert and Oz worked the same job, building enough songs for a full set before their first live performances as Roxx Regime.

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 Eddie Van Halen; Fox would often warm up by playing Van Halen's "I'm The One" note for note before Stryper shows.

In 2014, he produced the first full-length album by Oklahoma Christian metal band, Chaotic Resemblance, Get the Hell Out.

Personal life Fox married Annie Lobert, a former sex-worker for 16 years turned evangelical Christian, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 5, 2009. The ceremony was broadcast live on the Internet. Lobert has a ministry to sex-workers still on the streets called "Hookers for Jesus".

In August of 2018, Fox had a seizure while performing in Las Vegas and was taken to the hospital. There two masses were found in his head.

In March of 2021, Fox entered the hospital and had brain surgery to treat the tumor near his ear to reduce the risk of hearing loss, impacted balance, possible loss of vision and spinal problems. However, following the surgery, Fox suffered hearing loss in his left ear.

Discography

Bloodgood 2009: Live in Norway DVD, Bloodgood (lead guitar & vocals) 2013: Dangerously Close, Bloodgood (lead guitar & vocals)

Guest appearances 1989: I 2 (EYE), Michael W. Smith (vocals on "All You're Missin' Is a Heartache") 1989: First Watch, Guardian (lead & vocals on "Hyperdrive") 1994: Scarecrow Messiah, Bride (guitar on "Doubt") 2000: Truth, Michael Sweet (guitar on "The Ever After") 2016: American Prodigal, Crowder (co-writer, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, & ganjo on "All You Burdens") 2020: Truth in Unity, Chris Catena's Rock City Tribe (guitar on "My Angel")

Other works 1998: SinDizzy, SinDizzy (lead vocals & guitar)