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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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Dying For The World (2002)
1. Shadow Man
Asleep in black
There's no light in the crack
The crooked fingers for you
No don't ya dare say a prayer
It's just the nights in your mare
Oh the long forever you'll do
No mercy - no coming back
No mercy - forever fade to black
Oh where's the god that made you
Oh you're superman
Going down forever - to never land
Oh where's the God you pray
Forsaken again
Never knew forever
The Shadow Man
Oh free at last
With a heart in the black
Forever shadowing you
Don't you swear to the terror
Your god never cares
Oh come oh whatever your do
[Repeat bridge]
[Repeat chorus]
[Repeat chorus]
Where's the god that made you
Oh you're superman
Going down forever to never land
Don't runaway or hide again
No gates of Heaven
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Listener
| 2. My Wicked Heart
Am I free
Am I done believing
Oh God Jehovah
I've never known religion
Lost in the darkness of my memories
Deep in the darkness of my heart
Coiled in the grasses that torment me
There lies my serpents in the dark
Father I'm here in the dark
And I know it's forever night
Ain't nothing gonna change forever
My wicked heart
Father I'm here in the dark
And I know my heart is the darkness
Oh tell me can you claim me never
My darkest heart
Am I too far beyond forgiving
A borrowed soul ain't never known
believing
Lost in the dark can you forgive me
Deep in the darkness of my heart
Coiled in the grasses that torment me
There lies my serpents in the dark
[Repeat chorus]
Because nothing can change my wicked heart
Nothing can tame my wicked heart
Nothing unchains my wicked heart | riff_master | 3. Black Bone Torso
Black bone torso, black bone torso
Cyanide a suicide
No thoughts of pain
Genocide a crucified martyr's laid
Down to the dust there to fade away
All geeks and circus freaks
Come play with me
Pimps to bring my sex fiends
Molesting me
Round to the lust my debauchery
Destined here to reign supreme
Your bloodied king
Dying for the world
Oh death where is thy sting
My black bone torso's
Bleeding me | riff_master | 4. Hell For Eternity
Where ya gonna run
Ya never should have come
But welcome to the ball
My hands on the trigger
My guns getting bigger
I'll introduce you all
Won't you say
Hello my little friend
On your knees
And pray to die
Oh, you're gonna burn tonight
Hell - kill'em to Hell for Eternity
Oh, tonight
Hell - send'em to Hell for Eternity
Oh, it's allright
Nothing's gonna save ya
Oh ya better pray - to
Whatever God you want
Yeah I'm a killer
Oh I'm a thriller
I'm Godzilla with a gun
[Repeat bridge]
[Repeat chorus]
Oh don't you cry
To your God for mercy
Oh woah you're gonna die
Like a shot from my gun
You're gonna burn, burn, burn
Yeah you're gonna burn, burn
[Repeat chorus] | riff_master | 5. Hallowed Ground
Come and take me down the dark beyond
And take me there where I come from
Take me down to the place where I'll
kneel
And let me lay my shadow down
In through the eyes of a child's inner me
No pain to heal my bloodied brow
There is no rain to save this silent town
There is no rain to save at all
There is no place to save this silent ground
There is no place to save at all
Oh Father take me unto where I'll lay me
down
On Hallowed Ground
Oh the sky is falling
And I don't know where my home is now
My Hallowed Ground
Oh and can you take me
For I have tasted Hallowed Ground
Oh all around
Father - do you hear me
This pain I will not cry aloud
Father - I know you hear me
My head is bludgeoned but unbowed
[Repeat chorus] | riff_master | 6. Revengence
Why's my blood race
Why I gnash my teeth
Sand man's come here
With his misery
You wrought with pain
As you slash my flesh
Wrath's revenge lives again
I'll kill your pain oh the seeds of cane
I ain't no stranger giving love
Don't ya plead
Oh won't ya bleed for me
Hell's be raining from above
I'm coming home
Vengeance be thy name
I'm coming home
Revengeance scream my name
Cane killed Abel - did his brother's deed
Cursed all time
Damned to spread his seed
Pricks to blind
Thorns are in my side
Oh, slay thy brother's life
[Repeat bridge]
[Repeat chorus]
Oh your God's got you dying to be
Oh your martyr's in the sand
I'll hunt you down like the dogs that you
be
Your Armageddon's in my hands
[Repeat chorus] | riff_master | 7. Trail Of Tears
There's a thousand voices in my head
Long ago
Come inside, see yourself tonight
Let me in, floating in the wind
Oh, I don't know
The sounds you hear
Are silent in the night
Take me down to the trail of tears
Where tomorrow never knows
A resurrection closer to a
Light I've never known
Play the game existence to the
Living end I go
Take me down to the trail of tears
Where tomorrow never knows
The lost road of destiny
I ride away home
Head to lay on velvet nails tonight
And will I lay down to close my eyes
Oh, I don't know
Spirit wind with broken wings to fly away
home
[Repeat chorus]
My feet are raw from the
Trail where I've been
Oh God these tears are evermore
My heart is gone
Oh to never come again
I'll walk the stars
On my way home
[Repeat chorus] | riff_master | 8. Stone Cold Killers
Think about the sorrow you brought
Think of all the horror you made
Lying to a world that you wrought
Dying for the world, oh that you made
Johnny get your guns
You'll need all of those prophets you
pray
Oh yeah Johnny get your guns
I've come to kill the god that you made
I'm gonna murder superman
Murder superman
Stone cold killer's what I am
Your widowmaking ones come
You can't hide
I'm gonna murder superman
Murder superman
I got a heart breaker in my hands
Yeah here I come
You're gonna die
What'd you get for the souls that you
bought
The bloody dead in the trades
Don't never blame the souls that you lost
Upon the whores of Babylon that you laid
[Repeat bridge]
[Repeat chorus]
Your lying messiah you know isn't real
How will you die for the one that you kneel
Better get your guns
I'm gonna kill your god
My God will kill your god | riff_master | 9. Rubber Man
The man of steal is
Master of lies
This rubber mother's
Tied to me for life
Heart breaker the snake
He'll do it to you
Oh he's killing me alive
I'm tied to rubber
I'm tied up for life
I'm dying from pain
Let me go
Here he comes I'm hiding my hole
Don't give me your grease
I'm dying for rubber
I'm dying from pain
I'm dying no
Don't give me your love
Get down on your knees
And give me your rubber
The son of Charlie
Morgue of liars
Don't let him get ya
Oh or he'll sodomize you
Ball breaker and raper'll
Do it to you
Rubber man's a fucking liar
[Repeat bridge]
[Repeat chorus] | riff_master | | 10. Hallowed Ground # 5 (Acoustic) | riff_master | | | |
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