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 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. By the time they recorded their debut album "W.A.S.P.", Lawless had taken over on bass and Chris Holmes had joined on lead guitar. At the same time, guitarist Chris Holmes joined the band.
Shortly after the album's release in 1984, Richards was replaced by former Keel drummer Steve Riley. The group released "The Last Command" in 1985, before Piper left in July 1986. Lawless subsequently switched back to guitar, with Johnny Rod (real name John Tumminello) leaving King Kobra to take over as bassist. "Inside the Electric Circus" followed in October. A live album "Live...In the Raw" was released in 1987. Riley left during the subsequent tour to join L.A. Guns. He was replaced for future shows by a string of temporary substitutes. By early 1988, W.A.S.P. had started working on its fourth studio album with Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali.
The band's popularity peaked in the 1980s, 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 have sold over 12 million copies of their albums.
The band was a prominent target in the mid-1980s of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) led by Tipper Gore, who at the time was wife of then-Senator Al Gore (D-TN), 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.
"I Wanna Be Somebody" was the most successful single from W.A.S.P.'s debut album. and It was ranked at No. 84 in VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs of All Time.
In October 2007, W.A.S.P. embarked on The Crimson Idol Tour, to celebrate that album's 15th anniversary. It is the first time that the album, often regarded to be among the band's finest work, was performed in full from start to finish. The tour kicked off in Greece, in Thessaloniki at the Principal Club Theater on October 26, 2007.
Blackie Lawless remains the only member from the original line-up. They released their most recent album in November 2009, entitled Babylon.
On September 21, 2012, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of their first ever live show by kicking off a world tour at The Forum in London. The set for the tour was split into three sections: songs from the first four albums, a cut-down rendition of the Crimson Idol performance and a final segment for newer material.
Asylum
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you insane?
Welcome to the Asylum
House of true enchanted minds
It's the happiest place on earth
For the violent
We almost lost ya
[The Nurses] You're here for life - life
[Doctor "D"] I'll fix ya right - right
[The Nurses] Gimme your life - life
[Doctor "D"] It's all you gotta do
[The Nurses] I'll give you life - life
[Doctor "D"] I'll make it right - right
[The Nurses] You're here for life - life
[Doctor "D"] I want to welcome you
[Doctor "D" to Jesse]
Are you in pain
Or just merely misguided?
Tell me of the demons you've inside
I'll shrink where you think
Till you're fears are subsiding
I'm your physician slash
Magician of minds
[The Nurses] Asylum # 9
[Doctor "D"]
Oh - no running away
There ain't no place to hide
[The Nurses] Asylum # 9
[Doctor "D"]
Oh- I'm your physician with a mission
in mind
Oh- I'm your healer I'm your stealer
of minds
The song Asylum by W.A.S.P. begins with Doctor "D" asking Jesse if he is insane and welcoming him to the asylum, which is said to be the happiest place on earth for the violent. The nurses then chime in saying that Jesse is there for life and Doctor "D" will fix him right if he gives him his life. The lyrics go on to talk about the demons inside Jesse and how Doctor "D" will shrink where he thinks until his fears are subsiding. The song repeats the chorus of Asylum #9, indicating that the song itself is referring to a specific institution.
The lyrics of this song seem to be a commentary on mental health institutions and the way that they are run. The asylum is portrayed as a place for the violent and Doctor "D" is presented as a magician of minds who can fix his patients. However, the repetition of "Asylum #9" suggests that this particular institution may not be a place of healing at all, but rather a place where people are trapped for life.
Overall, the lyrics of Asylum by W.A.S.P. suggest a deep distrust of mental health institutions and the way that they handle patients. The song portrays the asylum as a place of confinement and control, rather than a place of healing and care.
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor "D" to Jesse
Opening address by Doctor D to Jesse.
Are you insane?
Doctor D asking if Jesse is mentally ill.
Welcome to the Asylum
The place where mentally ill people are treated.
House of true enchanted minds
A place where people can recover from mental illness.
It's the happiest place on earth
The asylum is the best place for Jesse to be in her current state.
For the violent
Indicates that the asylum caters to patients with violent tendencies.
We almost lost ya
Jesse was almost at a point of no return.
But we caught ya in time
The doctors were able to intervene just in time to save Jesse's life.
You're here for life - life
Jesse will be living in the asylum for the rest of her life.
I'll fix ya right - right
The doctor will make sure that Jesse is restored to good mental health.
Gimme your life - life
The doctors will handle everything for Jesse, giving her a stress-free life.
It's all you gotta do
Jesse only needs to let go and let the doctors take care of her.
I'll give you life - life
The asylum will give Jesse a new life worth living.
I'll make it right - right
The doctor will ensure that Jesse is given the best possible treatment.
You're here for life - life
A reminder to Jesse that the asylum is now her home.
I want to welcome you
The doctor is thrilled to have Jesse as a patient.
Are you in pain
The doctor checks to see if Jesse is experiencing emotional pain.
Or just merely misguided?
The doctor asks if Jesse's issues are due to external factors affecting her thoughts and emotions.
Tell me of the demons you've inside
The doctor wants Jesse to share her internal struggles with him.
I'll shrink where you think
The doctor will help Jesse tackle her problems head-on.
Till you're fears are subsiding
The doctor will work with Jesse until she overcomes her fears.
I'm your physician slash
The doctor is both Jesse's physician and counselor.
Magician of minds
The doctor is skilled at helping people improve their mental health.
Asylum # 9
Jesse is in the ninth asylum run by Doctor D.
Oh - no running away
Jesse cannot leave the asylum.
There ain't no place to hide
Jesse cannot avoid her problems while in the asylum.
Asylum # 9
A reference to the fact that this is the ninth asylum run by Doctor D.
Oh- I'm your physician with a mission in mind
The doctor is focused on helping Jesse achieve better mental health.
Oh- I'm your healer I'm your stealer of minds
The doctor will help Jesse overcome her mental problems and give her a new perspective on life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: STEVE EDWARD DUREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind