W.A.S.P. (band)

W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the early 1980s Los Angeles heavy metal scene. The band's popularity peaked that decade, yet they continue to record and tour, making them one of the most enduring of the West Coast heavy metal bands. W.A.S.P. gained notoriety for their shock rock-themed image, lyrics and live performances. They are estimated to have sold over twelve million records worldwide, with their first two albums, '' W.A.S.P.'' (1984) and '' The Last Command'' (1985), being certified as gold by the RIAA.

W.A.S.P. was a prominent target in the mid-1980s of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), an organization that pushed for warning labels on recorded music. The band immortalized its fight with the PMRC on the song "Harder, Faster" from their 1987 live album, '' Live...In the Raw''. Their most well-known songs include " Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)", " I Wanna Be Somebody", "L.O.V.E. Machine", " Wild Child", "Blind in Texas", "Forever Free", "Mean Man", "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)" and "The Idol", as well as their cover versions of Ray Charles' " I Don't Need No Doctor" and The Who's " The Real Me". The band's most recent album, '' Golgotha'', was released in 2015 and they have reportedly been working on new material.

History

Early years and rise to fame (1982–1985)

W.A.S.P. began following the demise of Circus Circus, a Los Angeles-based band featuring Blackie Lawless and Randy Piper. The original lineup of W.A.S.P. was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1982 by Lawless, Piper, Rik Fox, and Tony Richards. The band became notorious for its raunchy and, at times, shocking live shows. Lawless was known to tie semi-naked models to a torture rack, and to also hurl raw meat into the audience. The band's debut single, entitled "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)", and its cover were equally controversial.

The first lineup did not last for long, as Rik Fox was let go and went on to join the band Steeler with vocalist Ron Keel and guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. He was replaced by Don Costa, the bassist in Richards' former band, Dante Fox (which later evolved into Great White). Shortly afterward, Costa also left the band and his position on the bass was filled by Brayden Parker. At the same time, guitarist Chris Holmes joined the band.

W.A.S.P. signed to Capitol Records for their debut album, '' W.A.S.P.'', released on August 17, 1984. The debut was at one time planned for release with the title ''Winged Assassins''. The band's first single " Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)" was omitted from the album in the United States to prevent it from being banned from major chain stores. ''W.A.S.P.'' was accompanied by the band's first world tour, performing with numerous bands such as Kiss, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Dokken, Krokus, Helix, Quiet Riot, and Armored Saint.

Shortly afterwards, the band made an appearance in the 1984 film ''The Dungeonmaster'' and on the soundtrack to ''Ghost Warrior'' with the song "Tormentor".

"L.O.V.E. Machine" and "I Wanna Be Somebody" helped the album sell, and set the band up for "Blind In Texas", a song written in St. Paul, Minnesota, by Lawless. The song was released on their next album '' The Last Command'' in September 1985. ''The Last Command'' remains W.A.S.P.'s highest-charting album, peaking at No. 47 on the Billboard album chart. "Blind in Texas" is perhaps their best known song, more than three decades after its release. ''The Last Command'' was also the first album with new drummer Steve Riley (formerly of Keel), who had replaced Richards at the beginning of the 1984-1985 tour. W.A.S.P. supported the album by participating in two arena tours, first opening for Kiss on their ''Asylum'' tour, and then, along with Anthrax, they supported Black Sabbath on their ''Seventh Star'' tour.

After ''The Last Command'' tour, Piper departed the band. Former King Kobra bassist Johnny Rod joined W.A.S.P. as Lawless went back to playing rhythm guitar. Around this time, W.A.S.P. became a very prominent target of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), an organization led by Tipper Gore and dedicated to opposing music with lyrics deemed violent or overtly sexual in content. This lowered the band's reputation to such a degree that concert halls were getting bomb threats, band members were receiving death threats by the hundreds, and Lawless was shot at twice (though not hit). The controversy generated valuable publicity for the band.

Mainstream success (1986–1989)

With the lineup changes made, they recorded their third album, titled ''Inside the Electric Circus''. It was released in October 1986, and a near year-long world tour in support of the album followed, including supporting Iron Maiden on their ''Somewhere in Time'' tour in Europe, and a headlining North American tour with Slayer, Raven and Saxon. ''Inside the Electric Circus'' received a mixed reaction from the music press: it was considered a big hit with W.A.S.P. fans, while critics, on the other hand, dismissed it as "7th-grader rock". Songs like "Shoot From The Hip" and the minor hit single "95-N.A.S.T.Y." helped the band live up to the reputation of one of the possible meanings of their band name, "We Are Sexual Perverts". However, Blackie Lawless himself, known to be a harsh critic of his own work, cited in the album's re-release liner notes that ''Inside the Electric Circus'' was " tired record by a tired band." Ultimately it was an unfavorable critical review of the single "95-N.A.S.T.Y." that convinced Lawless to take some time off and reconsider the band's creative direction.

In 1987, W.A.S.P. had their song "Scream Until You Like It" included on the soundtrack of the movie '' Ghoulies 2''. The same year, a few dates during the ''Inside the Electric Circus'' tour were recorded and on November 27, 1987, the Long Beach arena concert was released as the '' Live...In the Raw'' album. By this time, Riley had left W.A.S.P. to join L.A. Guns, and was replaced by local drummer Chad Nelson. Eighteen-year-old Glenn Soderling, who had recorded an album in 1983 with the band Pandemonium, then joined the band, but did not play any shows due to Holmes' illness. Soderling left during rehearsals and was replaced by Kelly Martella for their Donington appearance and a ''Top of the Pops'' performance of "Scream Until You Like It" on BBC
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