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.
Ballcrusher
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 finally leave her in her dust, I'm gonna 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
Bye bye bye Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
Bye bye bye Ballcrusher
Bye bye bye
W.A.S.P.'s song Ballcrusher is a song about a man who is in a relationship with a woman who is a "wicked vicious woman, black magic voodoo queen, Lesbo nymphomaniac" and who also has a girlfriend that is seventeen. The man has finally had enough of her behavior and decides to leave her. The lyrics refer to her as a liar and the "princess of pain" and the chorus states "Bye bye bye Ballcrusher" repeatedly, indicating the man's desire to end the relationship.
The second verse describes how the woman has stolen the rent money and drank all of the singer's Jack Daniels, as well as hijacking his brand new car. She also argues with him over AC vs DC, adding to her "bizarre" behavior. The singer declares that before he leaves her for good, he will "hit her till she can't stand up". The final chorus repeats the "Bye bye bye Ballcrusher" phrase and adds "the daughter of DeSade" to describe her.
Overall, the song is a commentary on a dysfunctional and abusive relationship. The woman is portrayed as a villainous and manipulative character, while the man is trying to stand up for himself and end the cycle of pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a wicked vicious woman, black magic voodoo queen
Describing the woman as wicked and vicious, having magical powers and being capable of casting voodoo spells.
Lesbo nymphomaniac, ooh, she's got a girlfriend that's seventeen
The woman is attracted to other women and has a young girlfriend who is still a minor.
Bye bye bye Ballcrusher
The singer is saying goodbye to the woman who he calls 'Ballcrusher.'
Stole the rent and drank all my JD, she went and hijacked my brand new car
The woman stole the singer's rent money and drank his Jack Daniels, and also took his new car without permission.
I say AC, she says DC, the damned bitch is just too bizarre
The woman disagrees with the singer on everything, even when it comes to basic things like electrical currents. He finds her behavior bizarre.
I call her liar
The singer accuses the woman of lying.
Her eyes burn the flame
Suggesting that the woman's eyes look fiery and intense, perhaps indicating that she is angry or deceitful.
Liar, the princess of pain
The woman is being labeled as a liar and is also associated with causing pain to others.
Such a wicked vicious woman, the hellraiser finally pushed her luck
Reiterating that the woman is wicked and that the singer has finally had enough of her behavior.
Before I finally leave her in her dust, I'm gonna her till she can't stand up
The singer plans to get revenge on the woman before he leaves her for good. He is going to fight her until she is physically incapable of standing.
Liar, the daughter of DeSade
The woman is again called a liar and is now associated with the infamous French writer and aristocrat, Marquis de Sade, known for his erotic and violent literature.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: B. LAWLESS, C. HOLMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind