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.
Can't Die Tonight
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trading my sould to the night - but it's
Alright, I got no pain tonight
My demon alcohol's alive
Oh no I can't stand
Trading nine lives for tonight
But it don't matter much
Cause I don't give a fuck
But tonight
No I can't die tonight
Maybe I'll live forever
I just can't die tonight
Tonight
No I can't die tonight
So high I'll live forever
No I can't die tonight
Whiskey bar superman
I don't give a damn
Oh it's alright
I'm too numb to stand
And I don't give a damn
Oh too high to die
Can't die tonight
No, no not tonight
Can't die tonight
Oh no tonight
The song "Can't Die Tonight" by W.A.S.P. is an anthem to living life to the fullest without any fear of the consequences. The opening lines, "Oh yeah here I go again, trading my soul to the night" immediately set the tone for the song. The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer is willing to give up everything to live a wild and reckless life. The line "My demon alcohol's alive" is an acknowledgment that the singer is under the influence of alcohol, which acts as a catalyst to live this reckless life. However, the singer knows that the consequences of their actions might be severe, indicating lines like "But I don't give a fuck."
The chorus of the song is a declaration that the singer is invincible, and nothing can bring them down. They want to live forever, and tonight, they cannot die. The line "Whiskey bar superman" is an indication that the singer feels powerful, and their drunk state of mind amplifies that feeling. They are too numb to stand, but it doesn't matter because they don't give a damn. The final line of the chorus reiterates that the singer cannot die, emphasizing the feeling of invincibility.
Overall, the song is about living life with no fear, pursuing whatever makes one happy, even if it means taking risks. The chorus is a declaration that the singer is unstoppable and willing to take on anything, even death, just to live this reckless life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah, here I go again
Starting another night of trading my soul (to the night)
Trading my soul to the night - but it's alright
Surrendering to the night's darkness, but it's tolerable
I got no pain tonight
Being devoid of unhappiness, thanks to my demon alcohol
My demon alcohol's alive
Being engrossed in the consumption of alcohol, my personal demon
Oh no I can't stand
I can't take it anymore
Trading nine lives for tonight
Trading off an undetermined amount of life for a night of abandon
But it don't matter much
It doesn't matter much to me
Cause I don't give a fuck
I couldn't care less
Hell on wheels I wanna ride
I want to be reckless and wild
But tonight
Tonight
No I can't die tonight
I am determined to not die tonight
Maybe I'll live forever
Maybe I'll never die
I just can't die tonight
I just cannot let go of living tonight
No I can't die tonight
I repeat that I cannot die tonight
So high I'll live forever
I'm too intoxicated to die soon
Whiskey bar superman
I am untouchable
I don't give a damn
It doesn't matter to me
Oh it's alright
Everything is fine
I'm too numb to stand
I'm too desensitized to care
Oh too high to die
I'm too intoxicated to die
Can't die tonight
Cannot die tonight
No, no not tonight
Repeating that I cannot die tonight
Oh no tonight
Saying that tonight is not the night to die
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE EDWARD DUREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TrueDreadMetal
Remember searching for this song a while ago and thought i was just crazy when i couldn't find it. Thanks for putting it back up!
Kursad Atalay
Same thing happened to me yesterday. 👍🏻👍🏻
Kyle Kenan
Kinda sounds like Cocaine Cowboys
Kyle Kenan
Or Dirty Balls
Darcy Morton
same been trying to find it for last month i reckon
JusTicE
@Kursad Atalay me to xD
ericswain70
Dude lives more in a 4 minute video than most people live in the whole of their lives. Makes me wish I took more chances when I was younger. Just awesome all the way.
Mrs MetalHead
it's never too late to live a little, since i hit 40 i do more than when i was younger, loving getting out on the motorbike, doing the speed limit of course😉😇
ericswain70
@Mrs MetalHead 53 and gonna hit the old CR 125 today a little harder than normal cuz of your comment. Have a great day. Wish me luck lol 🍻
Mrs MetalHead
@ericswain70 Remember we only regret the rides we didn't take, have a great ride✌🏍