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.

Seas Of Fire
W.A.S.P. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look out baby
Time to wake up
Make up your bed
Storm's a coming
Got a fire that's right on your head

Oh, get up, get up, get off your knees
Get up, get up and rise

The seas are on fire
Oh, get up, get up, get on your feet
Get up, get up tonight

Sky's on fire
And the hills are all running red
Babies crying, there's a rider come for your head

Say hello to the judgment seat
Say good night, it's all right
Say hello to a fiery sea
The stars all fall down tonight

Sky's on fire

And the hills are running red
Babies crying, there's a rider come for your head

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to W.A.S.P.'s song "Seas Of Fire" are filled with apocalyptic imagery, warning the listener of the impending end of the world. The opening lines serve as a wake-up call, urging the listener to prepare for what's to come. The storm that's mentioned is not a physical storm, but rather a metaphorical one, representing the chaos and destruction that's about to ensue.

The line "Got a fire that's right on your head" is particularly striking, as it suggests that the listener is personally affected by what's happening. This could be seen as a call to action, urging the listener to take control of their own fate.

As the song continues, the lyrics describe a world that's literally falling apart. The sky is on fire, the hills are running red, and babies are crying. The imagery is vivid and graphic, painting a picture of a world that's in complete turmoil.

The final lines of the song serve as a final warning. The listener is urged to say hello to the judgment seat and say good night, as the fiery sea awaits. The use of biblical imagery and language adds to the sense of warning, emphasizing the gravity of what's to come.

Overall, the lyrics to "Seas Of Fire" are a warning of impending doom, urging the listener to prepare for what's to come. The vivid imagery and biblical language create a sense of urgency and drama, making for a powerful and impactful song.

Line by Line Meaning

Look out baby
Be alert and aware, something is coming

Time to wake up
It's time to be alert and take action

Make up your bed
Get your affairs in order, prepare for the worst

Storm's a coming
A crisis is on the way

Got a fire that's right on your head
You are in danger and must act fast

Oh, get up, get up, get off your knees
Stop being passive and take action

Get up, get up and rise
Take charge and show strength

The seas are on fire
The world is in chaos and danger

Oh, get up, get up, get on your feet
Don't give up, stay strong and active

Get up, get up tonight
Take action immediately

Sky's on fire
The world is going up in flames