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| Blackie Lawless, was born Steven Duren on 4th September 1956. He lived in Staten Island, New York, where he hung out with Ace Freley of Kiss Fame. At the age of 13, Blackie was stabbed in a fight and at 14 he was sent to Military School to learn discipline. After 18 months o |
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Blackie Lawless, was born Steven Duren on 4th September 1956. He lived in Staten Island, New York, where he hung out with Ace Freley of Kiss Fame. At the age of 13, Blackie was stabbed in a fight and at 14 he was sent to Military School to learn discipline. After 18 months of a two year sentence he was thrown out after beating up a Sargent Major.
Blackie was nine when he got his first guitar and in that same year he earned 16 dollars and 35 cents in his first band called THE UNDERSIDE. At the age of 16 Blackie played with an East Coast band called BLACK RABBIT, tauting his talents around local bars. Another early band was called ORFAX RAINBOW in which he played for quite a while. When a singing vacancy came up with the legendary NEW YORK DOLLS, after Johnny Thunders leaves, Blackie takes it up - he had just turned 18.
After six months playing with the then dying NEW YORK DOLLS, Blackie and fellow DOLLS bassist Arthur Kane decide to leave New York and head to L.A. They form a band called KILLER KANE and release a 33 ½ EP. This includes the tracks MR COOL on Side 1, LONGHAIRED WOMAN and DONT NEED YOU on Side 2. Blackie is known at this time as "Blackie Gooseman". Eventually KILLER KANE breaks up, Arthur decides to go back to New York and Blackie stays in L.A.
In 1977, Blackie and Randy Piper join together to form a band called SISTER. SISTER where amongst the first groups in L.A. to experiment with occult symbolism and face make up. It is also believed that Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) also played in the band for a while. Out of the SISTER experience Blackie meets up with Chris Holmes. While browsing through the "Beaver Hunt" section of Hustler magazine, Blackie spots ex - U.S. Marine Chris and decides to contact him.
Unfortunately, the late 1970's were a bad time for Heavy Metal and SISTER failed to generate record company interest despite their loyal club following. Other bands that Blackie had played in around this time were CIRCUS CIRCUS and LONDON.
Blackie and Randy stayed in contact and in 1982, when Blackie felt that he had good enough material to form a new band he contacted Randy. Chris and Tony Richards were also added to the line up. The band also dabbled with bassist Don Costa for a while before he joined Ozzy.
W.A.S.P were now formed and in late 1982, they started live gigging. Their first gig was at a place called "The Woodstock" in Orange Country, and by May 1983, they were able to sell out the then 3000 seated "Santa Monica Civic Hall". Momentum continued with a number of sold out gigs at the "Troubador".
Late in 1983, Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood went to see the band. He was extremely impressed with the music and outrageous live performances he decided to get involved. A substantial recording contract was agreed with Capitol Records in early 1984 and the band started to record their debut album "W.A.S.P".
The bands first single "ANIMAL" was not included on the album as it would have meant it being banned from major chain stores. Capitol planned to release it as a single only in Europe, in a black plastic bag with a sticker warning of offensive lyrics. At last minute Capitol backs out and the single is salvaged when W.A.S.P strikes a one off deal with "Music For Nations", who release it in its original sleeve in April of 1984.
In August the album "W.A.S.P" (the original title was planned to be "Winged Assassins") is issued followed by the single "I Wanna Be Somebody" in September. Just before the start of their British Tour, Tony Richards decides to leaves the band. He is replaced by ex-Keel drummer Steve Riley. After the tour a further single "School Daze" is issued.
In May 1985, work begins on the bands second album "THE LAST COMMAND", working with Spensor Proffer at Pasha Studio's in L.A. The band also goes on tour without their signature of blood and guts stage show and open for such major acts as Kiss. The album is released in September, with the first track off the album called "BLIND IN TEXAS" being released in October.
Wild Child is issued in June of 1986. Around this time the band comes up with two major inconveniences. Firstly Randy Piper leaves the band and is replaced by bassist Johnny Rod (King Kobra). This enables Blackie to switch back to playing rythum guitar. Also the band starts to run up against on organisation called the P.M.R.C. This was run by U.S. senators wives and wannabes trying to protect decent society from Rock Music. They referred to Blackie as being sick.
The summer of 1986 was spent recording in L.A, with plans to return to Europe to do an Autumn tour. Their first single from the new sessions "9.5. N.A.S.T.Y." was released in September and the tour began in October. To co-inside with the tour, the bands third album called "INSIDE THE ELECTRIC CIRCUS" was released.
Before the start of their British Tour, W.A.S.P fly into London a few days early to appear live at the "Town and Country Club" for a BBC2 special called "Rock Around The Clock". Their usual grand finale with Blackie's cod piece exploding in a shower of sparks was deemed to be unsuitable and was not filmed. Also around this time there were bomb threats at arenas were W.A.S.P were playing and Blackie had his life threatened by gunshots.
In 1987 W.A.S.P were listed fifth on the bill of the Castle Donington, "Monsters Of Rock" festival in the U.K, which was headlined by Bon Jovi. Their act included the return of the "Torture Routine" in all its glory. The week before the festival, "SCREAM UNTIL YOU LIKE IT", the theme tune to the horror movie"Ghoules 2" was released. This was then followed by the release of the bands forth album called "LIVE..... IN THE RAW". February 1988 leads to Music for Nations following up the original "ANIMAL" release with a live version.
By the end of the year the band were putting finishing touches to their forth studio album called "THE HEADLESS CHILDREN" in Baby O Studios in L.A. Before recording had began, Steve Riley leaves the band and Frankie Banali drummer from Quiet Riot was borrowed for the album sessions. The finished record had a better sound than its predecessors, with the addition of Ken Hensley (ex-Uriah Heep) on keyboards and string arrangements being used on certain tracks.
Mean man was issued at the end of February 1989 and becomes the bands first U.K. Top 30 Hit. The actual album was issued in April and they planed to tour that month too, but the bands inability to find a suitable drummer lead to the tour being re-scheduled for May, when Frankie was free to join the band after finishing touring with Quiet Riot. Their British tour was supported by Zed Yago and was completed at the end of May. Also in May "THE REAL ME" (a cover of The Who's classic from Quadrophenia) was issued. FOREVER FREE was also released and gets to number 25 in the U.K. singles chart.
Rumours start to amount that Chris Holmes has left the band and this is confirmed. Blackie announces that he is working on a new project, a rock opera, which is to be called "THE CRIMSON IDOL" without Chris.
In March of 1992 the single "CHAINSAW CHARLIE" (the first single in three years) is released followed by the album "THE CRIMSON IDOL" in June. It was recorded at Blackie's Fort Apache studios and was written and produced by the man himself.. Frankie Banalli left the band during the recording sessions and Stret Howland took over on drums, also Johnny Rod does not play on the album, but he is later re-recruited for the tour . Bob Kulluck is included and takes over on guitar for studio work only.
August 1992 W.A.S.P play Castle Donington, Monster of Rock festival in the U.K, headlined by Iron Maiden, and also tour later that year. The touring line up included Blackie, Johnny Rod, Stret Howland and Doug Blair.
The single "SUNSET AND BABYLON" is issued in October 1993, followed by the release of the album "FIRST BLOOD….LAST CUTS" in the same month. Around this time Blackie declares that he has disbanded W.A.S.P to pursue a solo career.
Blackie signs a new record deal with Castle records and in June 1995, the album "STILL NOT BLACK ENOUGH" is released still under the name W.A.S.P. Blackie stated that at the time that he had began writing the album, he had intended to put W.A.S.P behind him, but as the album come together there were songs in the classic W.A.S.P style and it seemed natural to call it a W.A.S.P album, anything else would not have been true to the many legions of W.A.S.P fans who had shared the experiences. "BLACK FOREVER" a CD single was also issued too. W.A.S.P do not tour, but Blackie makes personal appearances to promote the record.
March 1997 leads to the release of "KILL FUCK DIE" through Raw Power and a one track limited edition CD of the same name was released a month earlier. The album has a much darker mood to it and has included the return of guitar player Chris Holmes to the band. Stret Howland is also in the band and Mike Duda is added on bass guitar. The band tours and their stage show is very outrageous, it included the raping of a nun and the cutting up of a pig.
W.A.S.P sign a new deal with CMC International Records and Blackie wins a court case against Capitol and contains full control of the W.A.S.P back-catalogue. He re-masters the catalogue and re-issues them with B sides and live performances added.
"DOUBLE LIVE ASSASSINS" is released in the U.K. in February 1998 and in the U.S. in June. This is a live album which was recorded on their world tour in 1997. They join the Metal Manics tour with Iron Maiden, but due to problems with the tour they pull out.
In January of 1999 Blackie announces the name of the new album which is called "HELLDORADO" it is to be released in May followed by a European tour.
After completing a successful European Tour in June 1999. Blackie at to postpone the U.S. Tour due to a injury on his elbow.
February 2000, W.A.S.P embark on their long awaited American Tour. A Best Of CD entitled 'The Best Of The Best' is released in March. The CD included classic songs such as Animal, L.O.V.E Machine and Wild Child. Also there were two extra tracks on the CD, a version of the Elton John hit 'Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting' and a new track entitled 'Unreal'.
The band play a show at the Key Club in Los Angeles on April 22nd 2000. This show was broadcasted live all around the world via the internet. This was an historic event in W.A.S.P history and fans came together from all over the world to watch the same show. It was amazing.
In May of 2000 W.A.S.P took part in charity show sponsored by Concreate Marking in which all proceeds of the ticket sales went to the T.J. Mashal foundation. Other bands that took part in this event where Great White and Megadeath. Parts of this show was also recorded for an Hollywood film.
October 2000 saw the release of a CD called 'The Sting'. This CD is a recording of the Netcast show that took place at the Key Club Los Angeles on April 22nd 2000.
W.A.S.P. released Unholy Terror through the Metal-is label, on April 9th 2001. It was Recorded in Los Angeles with W.A.S.P main man Blackie Lawless at the production helm, 'UNHOLY TERROR' dealt with many issues that Blackie sees in the world today, and never being afraid to comment on these issues through his music said: ''One subject that this album deals with is socio, religious, and political hypocrisy. I had a fundamentalist Christian upbringing and I grew up seeing the world through a different pair of eyes''. In the song 'Charisma', Lawless, who has constantly been the target of religious zealots throughout his career, explains: ''There's a dark side of charisma that mesmerizes all of us when we look at the world figures who possess that dark gift. In the song there's a line that goes 'Preaching fear and using religion with the Bible and Koran', as often organised religions wield a mighty power over it's congregations in the name of God''. That said, this is still a Rock n' Roll record, and sees W.A.S.P's trademark high octane brand of relentless, driving rock, standing shoulder to shoulder with songs about Disaffected Youth and Dictators, Popes and Politicians, and will surely go down as one of their most accomplished albums to date.
They played some European festivals in June, July & August of 2001, before returning to the U.S.A to do an Autumn Tour.
On June 11th, shock rock innovators W.A.S.P. will release their most inspired effort to date through Sanctuary/Metal-Is Records.. On the heals of 2001's critically acclaimed Unholy Terror (heralded as an "…excuse to flay your carcass more ruthlessly than anyone else can…" by L.A. Weekly and "…hard, nasty and loud…" by Hit Parader Magazine), Blackie Lawless and company are unleashing a 10-track demonstration of inspiration through aggression entitled Dying For The World.
With a lineup that currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/ringleader Blackie Lawless, longtime contributing drummer Frankie Banali and bassist Mike Duda, and newcomer Darrell Roberts (who joined the band just prior to the Unholy Terror U.S. Tour), Dying For The World was recorded and mixed at Blackie's studio in Los Angeles. The album was actually inspired by letters received from troops who fought in the Gulf War.
Blackie explains: "Our motivation for this record was prefaced by letters sent to us from the tank divisions during the Gulf War, where the troops would actually go into battle blaring 'Fuck Like A Beast' and 'Wild Child.' After the events on 9/11, we felt we would give them a fresh batch; in essence, we've literally made an album to go kill people by."
Consisting of songs entitled "Shadow Man," "Hell For Eternity," "Trail Of Tears," "Rubberman," "My Wicked Heart," "Stone Cold Killers," "Hallowed Ground," "Hallowed Ground #5 (acoustic)," "Black Bone Torso," and "Revengence," Dying For The World emphasizes a method of dealing with anger.
A native of Staten Island, Blackie elaborates: "This problem isn't going to go away; we WILL have to deal with the Middle East eventually. There is no longer an 'if', it's 'when'!"s 'when'!"
W.A.S.P. have cancel their U.S. tour scheduled for fall 2002, due to the fact that the band are continuing work on the forthcoming studio album, which will be a double record set scheduled for release in the fall of 2004
Due to the enormity and the complexities of what will be a concept/ opera, the band feel that they will need as much time as possible in effort to make this forthcoming release everything that it can possibly be.
Source: http://www.waspnation.com/history.html |
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Creator
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The Last Command (1985)
1. Wild Child
I ride, I ride the winds that bring the rain
A creature of love and I can't be tamed
I want you, cause I'm gonna take your love
from him
And I'll touch your face and hot burning
skin
No, he'll never ever touch you like I do
So look in my eyes and burn alive the truth
I'm a wild child, come and love me I want
you
My heart's in exile I need you to touch
me
Cause I want what you do... I want you
Tell me, tell me the lies you're telling
him
When you run away cause I wanna know
Cause I, I'm sure it's killing him to
find
That you run to me when he lets you go
Cause I'm burning, burning, burning up
with fire
So come turn me on and turn the flames up
higher
I'm a wild child, come and love me I want
you
My heart's in exile I need you to touch
me
Cause I want what you do... I want you
A naked heat machine, I want your love
When the moons arise we'll feel just what
it does
I'm a wild child, come and love me I want
you
My heart's in exile I need you to touch
me
Cause I want what you do I want you
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2. Ball Crusher
Such a wicked vicious woman, black magic
voodoo queen
Lesbo nymphomaniac, ooh, she's got a
girlfriend that's seventeen
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
Stole the rent and drank all my JD
She went and hijacked my brand new car
I say AC, she says DC
The damned bitch is just too bizarre
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
I call her liar
Her eyes burn the flame
Liar, the princess of pain
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Such a wicked vicious woman
The hellraiser finally pushed her luck
Before I go leave her in her dust
I'm gonna fuck her till she can't stand
up
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
Bye bye bye
Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
I call her liar Her eyes burn the flame
Liar, the daughter of DeSade | riff_master |
3. Fistful Of Diamonds
Money makes me crazy
Money makes me insane
Diamonds, silver, gold, and precious steel
I want it all It's mine to claim
I hold my hands out, I take it all
I want a fistful, fistful of diamonds
I live for the glory and fame
I want a fistful, fistful of diamonds
The millions are calling my name
Fortune come here to me, it's power that
rules the game
Seduction of silver and lawless greed
I love it all, I damn the shame
The root of all evil can hear me call
I want a fistful, fistful of diamonds
I live for the glory and fame
I want a fistful, fistful of diamonds
The millions are calling my name
Solitaire, come cast a spell of magic
The smell of green I stack my dollars high
Intoxicating, my mind's wreaking havoc
A famous face, I get what you can't buy
I want a fistful, fistful of diamonds
I live for the glory and fame
I want a fistful, fistful of diamonds
The millions are calling my name | riff_master | 4. Jack Action
I've been uptown, all around
I've looked here there everywhere
He killed my babe, today, with a gun
I'll get him now, he can't run
Well I'm looking for, looking for
Looking for Jack Action
To get my satisfaction
Looking for Jack Action
I'm looking, looking...
Now I can't believe she's gone away
He better run, ya know I don't play
Took my babe, my life, he's on the run
Look out Jack now, here's my gun, yeah
Well I'm looking for, looking for
Looking for Jack Action
To get my satisfaction
Looking for Jack Action
I'm looking, looking...
Oh no, a man with a war to wage
I'm a suicide brigade
He's mine, he's all mine
My bullets are bearing his name
And his life is mine to claim
It's time, now it's time
Jack Action, where are you?
It's been too long since I've known
Won't give up on you till I'm done
You'll be dead soon, you can't run, no
Cause I'm looking for, looking for
Looking for Jack Action
To get my satisfaction
Looking for Jack Action
I'm looking, looking... | riff_master |
5. Widowmaker
A thousand years I've roamed the plains
And waved the hand of doom
I've seen the tears that fall like rain
from the waste and all the ruin
A shadow's cast that falls from me on you
A time to claim
All that's mine
My wrath is blind
The balance is where you hang
I'm the WidowMaker
I'm the Lord of the Wings
I'm the WidowMaker
The cries of sadness never heard
Fall deaf upon my ears
The stench of madness, raging wars
I've seen a million years
The smell of sorrow fills the fields
And lingers in the sky
The littered ground will swallow down
The souls that fill my eyes
I'm the WidowMaker
I'm the Lord of the Wings
I'm the WidowMaker | riff_master |
6. Blind In Texas
An El Paso hellhole I couldn't higher
White lightning moonshine tastes like fire
I drank for free till I couldn't see
I fell on the floor, what I said is
I'm blind in Texas, the lone star is hot
tonight
I'm blind in Texas, the cowboys have taken
my eyes
I drank Dallas whiskey and lost my mind
Had high-balls in Houston, three for a dime
Everything starts to spin, loaded on gin
I fell out the door, what I said is
I'm blind in Texas, the lone star is hot
tonight
I'm blind in Texas, the cowboys have taken
my eyes
San Antonio and the West Texas town El Paso
Corpus Christi and Waco, the Yellow Rose is
wild
Hey dude, let's party
Raisin hell in Austin just after sundown
When the hoosegow police decided to come
round-they said
"Boy what's the matter with you,
what you trying to do?"
I looked at the man and I said
I think I'll have another one
We aint got no more
What do ya mean you ain't got no more
liquor?
We aint got no more
Go home what do ya mean go home?
What am I supposed to do... get on a horse
and ride back to LA
The hell you say... suffer!
I'm blind in Texas, the lone star is hot
tonight
I'm blind in Texas, I'm blind (Texas,
texas, texas) | riff_master |
7. Cries In The Night
Oooh, I'm sitting down thinking about
losing my mind
Cause I keep telling myself I'm only one
of a kind
My life is broke because my dreams were
shattered
For so very long nothing else mattered
I'm hearing Cries in the Night
I can't wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies
I'm standing cold in the light
I lose the dream and I go crazy
I'm hearing Cries in the Night
Yeah, they pull at my hair, and call out my
name
They think I'm cool and got worries with
fame
But I'm living to lose and dying to win
With those people around here my patience
wears thin
I'm hearing Cries in the Night I can't
wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies
I'm standing cold in the light I lose the
dream and I go crazy
I'm hearing Cries in the Night
Yeah, I'm trying to get away, get away
from it all
I stand and scream, I'm not gonna crawl
The dream never dies
That's why I sing the song
Like my maddening world, it turns on and on
I'm hearing Cries in the Night
I can't wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies
I'm standing cold in the light
I lose the dream and I go crazy
I'm hearing Cries in the Night | riff_master |
8. The Last Command
You don't know what's in our hearts
This is our time, we've made our mark
And can't you understand, we'll fight
till we fall?
But what do you want to do?
The time is right for you
To stand on your feet and answer the call
Stand up, for the first time, and shout it,
woah-oh
The last command is heard across the land
Stand up, for the first time, and cry out,
woah-oh
Hear the call we are, the Last Command
A thousand times I had this dream, the flag
was high I heard a scream
That cut through the still of the night just
like a knife
But that was yesterday, the darkness has gone
away
I stand on the edge, and I pledge my life
Stand up, for the first time, and shout it,
woah-oh
The last command is heard across the land
Stand up, for the first time, and cry out,
woah-oh
Hear the call we are, the Last Command
The destiny that I control will sever
And break the bonds and set me free forever!
Stand up, for the first time, and shout it,
woah-oh
The last command is heard across the land
Stand up, for the first time, and cry out,
woah-oh
Hear the call we are, the Last Command | riff_master |
9. Running Wild In The Streets
I'm looking to beat hell, looks like
I've got to run to be the leader
As my forces yell, you can hear 'em,
can't you hear them?
All the way-we'll go the distance
All the way-stand behind me now
All the way-no turning back
All the way cause we are together
I'm standin' proud, we're screaming
loud
I'll lead the crowd
Running wild in the streets
A heavy dose of mean, yeah, I'm a lethal
combination
Hear my forces scream, you can see them,
can't you see them?
All the way-we'll go the distance
All the way-stand behind me now
All the way-no turning back
All the way we are together
I'm standin' proud, we're screaming
loud
I'll lead the crowd
Running wild in the streets | riff_master |
10. Sex Drive
I got a message for you, it's something
you love to do
You're thinking bout it all the time
You're lying in bed and it runs through
your head
Cause you can't get it off your mind
You been thinking pink and you're losing
sleep
That rush is almost all you can stand
You feel it getting hard and your crotch
starts to throb
It's body language you understand
I'm talking bout a sex drive
Ooh, it makes you feel so alive
Sex drive
Ooh, it's everything you fantasize
Like a dog in heat all dirty love is a treat
And ya know it's just too good to believe
That feeling second to none, you pull the
trigger on your gun baby
Gotta get some relief
Your hands they tremble and sweat and you
want all you can get
A need to get close inside
Yeah you can take a lickin' and keep on
tickin' cause
You want to go on all night
I'm talking bout a sex drive
Ooh, it makes you feel so alive
Sex drive
Ooh, it's everything you fantasize
Come here and take what you need baby
I'm talking bout a sex drive
Ooh, it makes you feel so alive
Sex drive
Ooh, it's everything you fantasize
Sex drive
Tell me that don't hit the spot! | riff_master | | | |
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