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.
Hellion
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That smokin powder keg
You're riding on is hell-bound
And you're the one they claim
It's going down in flames
You're riding Hades' rails (Hellion)
Hellion
Hellion
Will never have to die
Well child, you're sweatin' and you're stoned
That alcohol you downed
Makes you crazy- All night, you damn the hurt and pain
And drink the devils rain
It's screaming out your name
Hellion
The Devil's Hellion child
Hellion
Will never have to die
The Gods you worship are steel
At the altar of rock 'n' roll you kneel
A slave who forever rocks
Is chained in the devil's locks
And slain by the bloody axe I wail
Hellion
The Devil's Hellion child
Hellion
Will never have to die
W.A.S.P.'s song "Hellion" is a heavy metal anthem about living fast and hard. The lyrics describe a wild and reckless rock star who is on a self-destructive path. The "hellion" in the song is a metaphor for this lifestyle, representing both the singer and the genre of heavy metal itself. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the fast and dangerous ride that this character is on, as she tears through life on a smoking "powder keg" that's "hell-bound." The lyrics go on to imply that this character is already a lost cause, doomed to go down in flames.
Line by Line Meaning
Hell-hound, hot leather on your legs
You have the devil's energy within you and you're ready to unleash it.
That smokin powder keg
Your energy is explosive and will ignite those around you.
You're riding on is hell-bound
You are heading towards a dark path.
And you're the one they claim
You are the one the devil has targeted to fuel his power.
It's going down in flames
You will face a fiery end.
You're riding Hades' rails (Hellion)
You're taking a one-way trip to hell.
Well child, you're sweatin' and you're stoned
You're heavily intoxicated and feeling the effects.
That alcohol you downed
You're drinking to numb the pain.
Makes you crazy- All night, you damn the hurt and pain
You're struggling with your inner demons and using alcohol to cope.
And drink the devils rain
You're indulging in sinful behavior and embracing the devil's ways.
It's screaming out your name
The devil has claimed you and you're in his grasp.
The Gods you worship are steel
You idolize rock music and live for it.
At the altar of rock 'n' roll you kneel
You worship and follow the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.
A slave who forever rocks
You're a slave to the rock 'n' roll way.
Is chained in the devil's locks
The devil has control over you.
And slain by the bloody axe I wail
You will meet a violent death at the hands of the devil.
Hellion
You are the devil's child.
The Devil's Hellion child
You are the devil's offspring.
Will never have to die
You may live forever, serving the devil.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: STEVE EDWARD DUREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Paducahrus
Mom and Dad swore up and down that my next door neighbors didn't really want to listen to this every time I played it. 🤣
My favorite though was this conversation:
Dad - "What are you going to feed them?"
Me - "Feed who?"
Dad - "The dead you're trying to raise."
I miss Dad.
@hellishmetalrider
Hell-hound, hot leather on your legs
That smokin powder keg
You're riding on is hell-bound
And you're the one they claim
It's going down in flames
You're riding Hades' rails (Hellion)
Hellion, The devil's Hellion child
Hellion, Will never have to die
Well child, you're sweatin' and you're stoned
That alcohol you downed
Makes you crazy
All night, you damn the hurt and pain
And drink the devils rain
It's screaming out your name
The Gods you worship are steel
At the altar of rock 'n' roll you kneel
A slave who forever rocks
Is chained in the devil's locks
And slain by the bloody axe I wail
16/09/23 354K REPRODUCCIONES
@cipheroth
YOU OWN THIS MUSIC
YOU OWN THIS MUSIC
YOU OWN THIS MUSIC
YOU OWN THIS FUCKING MUSIC
YOU OWN THIS FUCKING POWERFUL MUSIC
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
@vinaymulukutla358
This album is a heavy metal masterpiece from arguably one of the greatest years for heavy metal ever being 1984. An album to piss your parents off and complete with speed, power, rebellion, rage and all the controversy imaginable.
@rageoval8997
Agreed
@Jorge-Tamacas
I also agree with you
@rawnbadillo9886
I've said it hundreds of times...song for song this is the best album ever recorded
@vinaymulukutla358
Couldn’t agree more dude! Although The Headless Children runs a close second, W.A.S.P have somehow never managed to better this album.
@deathiscertainlifeisnot7292
hellion is definitely one of their best songs ever
@ilsgrade8357
I 100% agree. To this day it's still one of my favorite songs of all time and I'm basicly a walking rock and metal wiki. 🤣
@gabi.m.hshshs8913
Right
@El_Is0o
I'd prefer COB Cover ✌🏼
@christinepalanca9540
I agree