W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from … Read Full Bio ↴W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Guns N' Roses and others.

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.

Live to Die Another Day
W.A.S.P. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yes, I walk through valleys deep
Shadows of death I will fear no thing
I fear no man and no evil speak
No slave to grave and no death to be
Almighty's riding next to me
I know I've, I got the devil to beat

Hellbounds are running close to me

On the trail of my life
I was hellbound, but now I'm running free
From Satan's Angels of Light

Resurrect me high
And then rise me up
Reaper leaving my bones
I'm dead asleep until now
You wake me up
Rapture me and I'm gone

I'll live to die
Die another day
Another place, another time
I'll live to die, oh Lord
I'll rise to life again
I will live to die another time

Oh, so close, I feel him breathe
Devil's come for my life
Showdown's a coming 'round, ya see
A bigger gun, I come to take his life

Resurrect me high
And shake me up
Leave the Reaper my bones
Raise the dead in me now
And take me up
Rapture me and I'm gone

Yes, I walk through valleys deep
I will fear no man, I will fear no speak

No slave to grave and no death to be
Almighty's riding next to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Live to Die Another Day" by W.A.S.P. are a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The song starts with the singer proclaiming his fearlessness in the face of death and evil, and his determination to live life on his own terms. He knows that he has the devil to beat, but he is confident in his ability to overcome any obstacle.

The second verse describes the singer's struggle to break free from the clutches of hell and Satan's Angels of Light. He has been on the trail of his life, but now he is running free, resurrected and alive again. He knows that he will live to die another day, in another place and time, but he is ready to face whatever challenges come his way.

The final verse is a warning to the devil himself that the singer is coming for him. He is ready for the showdown, armed with a bigger gun, and determined to take the devil's life. The song ends with a restatement of the singer's fearlessness, knowing that he has the strength and power of the almighty on his side.

Overall, "Live to Die Another Day" is a powerful song about the human spirit's ability to overcome even the greatest challenges and rise again. It is a message of hope and determination that speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Line by Line Meaning

Yes, I walk through valleys deep
I face difficult times and challenges head on.

Shadows of death I will fear no thing
I am not afraid of anything.

I fear no man and no evil speak
I am not scared of anyone or any negative words that may be spoken against me.

No slave to grave and no death to be
I am not bound by death and will not succumb to it.

Almighty's riding next to me
I feel the presence and protection of a higher power.

I know I've, I got the devil to beat
I have the strength and determination to overcome obstacles.

Hellbounds are running close to me
I am being pursued by negative forces.

On the trail of my life
These forces are a constant presence in my life.

I was hellbound, but now I'm running free
I was once a prisoner to these forces, but I have broken free.

From Satan's Angels of Light
These forces were disguised as something positive.

Resurrect me high
Help me to rise from a low point.