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.
Bad
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And feel the salt-lick stingin' loves wound
Those tears that you cry leave a blood stain
They fall to the ground like a sweet rain
'Cause bad girls they do
B.A.D.
Bad, make your mom and daddy sad
B.A.D.
You see what's in you head: fantasy
And need, but you can't have B.A.D.
Call a spade a spade only if you want to
'Cause by any other name it's taboo
'Cause bad boys they do
B.A.D.
Bad, make your mom and daddy sad
B.A.D.
Bad, It's the bloody fix you do, the bloody fix you do
B.A.D.
Bad, make your mom and daddy sad
B.A.D.
Bad, gonna drive you raving mad
B.A.D.
Bad, make your mom and daddy sad
B.A.D.
Bad It's the bloody fix you do
The song B.A.D. by W.A.S.P. is a song about rebellion, sexuality, and the taboo. The lyrics narrate the pain and suffering that comes along with the exploration of the darker side of human nature, where bad girls and boys do what pleases them and, in turn, create havoc in the lives of their families. The first verse sets the tone for the entire song, where the cries of love are heard in a sad tune, and the sting of loves wounds is felt like a salt-lick. The second verse, on the other hand, emphasizes the fantasy that one’s head creates and the need that arises therein, asserting that badness is a bloody fix that ultimately drives one raving mad.
The chorus reaffirms the idea that badness, be it bad girls or bad boys doing what they do, only leads to making their parents sad and, for the former, leaves blood stains on the ground like a sweet rain. The song stresses that one can call badness any name they want, but it is still a taboo. B.A.D. is a commentary on how society views those who break conventions, where being bad is seen as something to be despised and shunned. W.A.S.P. is urging listeners to question this view and embrace the dark side of human nature, to explore sexuality and desires without shame and be themselves in the face of societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
You hear the cries of love, a sad tune
You hear the sounds of heartbreak and anguish, a somber melody
And feel the salt-lick stingin' loves wound
And feel the pain and agony of heartbreak, akin to an open wound stinging with salt
Those tears that you cry leave a blood stain
Your tears are so plentiful and tinged with such deep emotion that they seem to leave a physical mark, like blood stains
They fall to the ground like a sweet rain
Despite the sadness expressed in your tears, they seem to fall like a gentle and soothing rainfall
'Cause bad girls they do
B.A.D.
Because women who are seen as 'bad' have a certain allure or danger to them, making them both intriguing and potentially harmful
Bad, make your mom and daddy sad
B.A.D.
'Bad' behaviors or attitudes can bring shame or disappointment to family members, as they are seen as unacceptable
Bad, It's the bloody fix you do, oh, Look out
Engaging in 'bad' behaviors can become addictive, almost like a 'fix' that one craves or needs to feel satisfied, and can sometimes have negative consequences
You see what's in you head: fantasy
And need, but you can't have B.A.D.
You may have certain fantasies or desires, but indulging in 'bad' behaviors is discouraged or not possible for various reasons
Call a spade a spade only if you want to
'Cause by any other name it's taboo
Speaking directly or honestly about certain topics, especially taboo ones such as 'bad' behavior, may not be socially accepted or could even be frowned upon
'Cause bad boys they do
B.A.D.
Just as 'bad' women have a certain allure or danger, so do men who are seen as 'bad' in some way, often because of a rebellious or rule-breaking nature
Bad, It's the bloody fix you do, the bloody fix you do
B.A.D.
Once again emphasizing the addictive and potentially negative nature of engaging in 'bad' behaviors or attitudes
Bad, gonna drive you raving mad
B.A.D.
Engaging in 'bad' behaviors can sometimes push one to the brink of insanity or emotional breakdown, either because of the risks involved or because of the constant need for a 'fix'
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: BLACKIE LAWLESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind