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.
Cries In The Night
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I keep telling myself I'm only one of a kind
My life is broke and my dreams were shattered
For so very long nothing else mattered
[Chorus:]
I'm hearing cries in the night; I can't wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies; I'm standing cold in the light
Yeah, they pull at my hair, and call out my name
They think I'm cool and got worries with fame
But I'm living to lose and dying to win
With those people around here, my patience wears thin
[Chorus]
Yeah, I'm trying to get away, get away from it all
I stand and scream; I'm not gonna crawl
The dream never dies
That's why I sing the song
Like my maddening world, it turns on and on
[Chorus]
The lyrics to W.A.S.P.'s song "Cries in the Night" conveys the frustration and desperation felt by a protagonist who feels trapped in their current life. The singer is paranoid and consumed with thoughts of being alone in the world, perhaps suggesting they suffer from some sort of mental illness. They believe they are not like anyone else, and feel isolated in their own misery. The failure of their dreams has left them hopeless, and the voices they hear in the night represent their own inner demons. They long for escape, desperately craving something more beyond their bleak existence.
The chorus of the song serves as a cry for help, expressing the singer's inability to go on like this any longer. They are overwhelmed by the voices and the weight of their own disappointments, and they know they can't continue to live like this. They want to escape their reality, but they feel beholden to the sadness they know so well. The dream may be dead, but the song is the only beacon of hope they have left. The lyrics are powerful and emotional, creating a sense of desperation that can be felt by anyone who has ever felt lost or alone in their own mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I'm sitting down, thinking about losing my mind
I am feeling overwhelmed and anxious about the state of my life.
'Cause I keep telling myself I'm only one of a kind
Although I feel lost, I remind myself that I am unique and special.
My life is broke and my dreams were shattered
I feel hopeless and defeated because my life has not turned out as I had hoped.
For so very long nothing else mattered
I have been consumed by my pain and disappointment for a significant amount of time.
I'm hearing cries in the night; I can't wait another day
My inner turmoil is keeping me up at night and I feel like I cannot handle it any longer.
No, no, no, tell me no lies; I'm standing cold in the light
I want people to be honest with me and not try to hide the truth, as I am facing my problems head-on.
I lose the dream and I go crazy; I'm hearing cries in the night
Whenever I feel like I am losing sight of my dreams, I become distressed and hear disturbing sounds during the night.
Yeah, they pull at my hair, and call out my name
People come to me with their own problems and needs, but I am on the brink of a breakdown myself.
They think I'm cool and got worries with fame
Others assume that I am successful and enjoying my life, when in reality I am struggling deeply.
But I'm living to lose and dying to win
It seems like the harder I try, the more I fail, but I am still determined to achieve my goals.
With those people around here, my patience wears thin
Dealing with people who cannot understand my struggles is frustrating and tiresome.
Yeah, I'm trying to get away, get away from it all
I am attempting to escape my problems and find peace and clarity.
I stand and scream; I'm not gonna crawl
I refuse to give up and submit to my challenges, I will persevere with strength and resilience.
The dream never dies
My aspirations will never truly fade or disappear.
That's why I sing the song
Expressing myself through music is how I cope with my pain and overcome my struggles.
Like my maddening world, it turns on and on
While my life may seem chaotic and out of control, time continues to pass and I must continue to navigate through it.
I'm hearing cries in the night;
My anxiety is leading to disturbing sounds that impact my ability to sleep.
No, no, no, tell me no lies; I'm standing cold in the light
I want people to be honest with me, because I am facing my problems head-on.
I lose the dream and I go crazy; I'm hearing cries in the night
Whenever I feel like I am losing sight of my dreams, I become distressed and hear disturbing sounds during the night.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: B. LAWLESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ROGER HR
Oh, I'm sitting down, thinking about losing my mind
'Cause I keep telling myself I'm only one of a kind
My life is broke and my dreams were shattered
For so very long nothing else mattered
I'm hearing cries in the night; I can't wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies; I'm standing cold in the light
I lose the dream and I go crazy; I'm hearing cries in the night
Yeah, they pull at my hair, and call out my name
They think I'm cool and got worries with fame
But I'm living to lose and dying to win
With those people around here, my patience wears thin
I'm hearing cries in the night; I can't wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies; I'm standing cold in the light
I lose the dream and I go crazy; I'm hearing cries in the night
Yeah, I'm trying to get away, get away from it all
I stand and scream; I'm not gonna crawl
The dream never dies
That's why I sing the song
Like my maddening world, it turns on and on
I'm hearing cries in the night; I can't wait another day
No, no, no, tell me no lies; I'm standing cold in the light
I lose the dream and I go crazy; I'm hearing cries in the night
One Flew Over The Phoenix Nest
You can really hear the pain in his voice. Such raw emotion.
So relatable, even to this day.
Szilard Fineas Covasa
I've seen a few dudes quite pissed-off that Blackie ultimately found that what he was missing at the top was due to a God-shaped void.
I'll never get this thing...not being happy for whomever finding peace in whatever they found was lacking - as long as no one is hurt in the process.
It anything, no alcohol etc. is good for these guys. Look at Alice Cooper as well. (Never heard one of his fans whining, either.)
Shantelle McLain
The soul in his voice gives me the chills. So love this song. 🤘🤘🤘
MJ
That's what I love about 80's metal : Their music was simple, not overdone shredding. Their lyrics were about everyday life, not all in metaphors. It's so much easier to listen to ^^. And Blackie's voice is the shit !
Ryan
Agreed. What a time for ballads.
I would argue though that there was overdone shredding in the 80s, just not here.
PEE PONG DING DONG
I disagree because of the 80's "over complicated" shredders like Yngwie, Lynch etc had a taste for good melodies and guitar tone and the records had good organic production, not overpolished flat records like today. Either way, W.A.S.P fucking rules.
madnic99
HIGHLY UNDER RATED!!! Wasp is way talented, they deserve way more credit!
ailouros1982
Blackie's voice is speaking straight to your inner deepest feelings!! God bless Blackie!!
Michael R.
There is no god.
Beflix
@JJ J What???