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.
Sex Drive
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
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You're thinking 'bout it all the time
You're lying in bed and it runs through your head
'Cause you can't get it off your mind
You been thinking pink and you're losing sleep
That rush is almost all you can stand
You feel it getting hard and your crotch starts to throb
It's body language you understand
I'm talking 'bout a sex drive
Oh, it makes you feel so alive
Sex drive
Oh, it's everything you fantasize
Sex drive
Like a dog in heat, all dirty love is a treat
And ya know it's just too good to believe
That feeling second to none, you pull the trigger on your gun, baby
Gotta get some relief
Your hands - they tremble and sweat, and you want all you can get
A need to get close inside
Yeah, you can take a lickin' and keep on tickin' 'cause
You want to go on all night
I'm talking bout a sex drive
Ooh, it makes you feel so alive
Sex drive
Ooh, it's everything you fantasize
Sex drive
Come here and take what you need, baby
The song "Sex Drive" by W.A.S.P. is a celebration of lust and desire. The lyrics describe the obsessive thoughts and physical sensations that come with sexual attraction, framing it as a natural and powerful drive that is impossible to resist. The song opens with the singer delivering a message to the listener – that they love sex and can't stop thinking about it. The imagery is vivid and sensual, describing the way that sexual desire takes over, making it difficult to focus on anything else. The lyrics compare the listener to a "dog in heat," emphasizing the intensity of their desires and their willingness to pursue them, no matter the cost.
The chorus of the song reinforces this idea of sex as a driving force in life. The singer proclaims that sex drive makes you feel alive and that it's the source of all your fantasies. He encourages the listener to embrace their desire and take what they need, promising that sexual relief is the ultimate reward. The lyrics make it clear that this is not a song about love or romance – it's about physical pleasure and the pursuit of sexual fulfillment.
Overall, "Sex Drive" is a provocative and unapologetic celebration of carnal desire. It's a reminder that sex is a natural and powerful part of human experience, and that there's nothing wrong with indulging in your fantasies and embracing your desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a message for you, it's something you love to do
I have a message for you that involves something you enjoy doing.
You're thinking 'bout it all the time
You are constantly thinking about it.
You're lying in bed and it runs through your head
Even when you're in bed, it is on your mind.
'Cause you can't get it off your mind
You cannot stop thinking about it.
You been thinking pink and you're losing sleep
You have the color pink on your mind and this is affecting your sleep.
That rush is almost all you can stand
The excitement is almost unbearable.
You feel it getting hard and your crotch starts to throb
Your body is physically reacting to your desires.
It's body language you understand
It is a physical urge that you can comprehend.
Like a dog in heat, all dirty love is a treat
Having sexual desires is like being an animal in heat and any kind of physical intimacy is enjoyable.
And ya know it's just too good to believe
It is almost unbelievable how good it feels.
That feeling second to none, you pull the trigger on your gun, baby
This feeling is incomparable, it makes you act on your desires without thinking.
Gotta get some relief
You need to fulfill your desires to feel relief.
Your hands - they tremble and sweat, and you want all you can get
Your body is reacting heavily to your desires, and you want to satisfy them as much as possible.
A need to get close inside
You have a strong desire to be physically close with your partner.
Yeah, you can take a lickin' and keep on tickin' 'cause
You can handle physical intimacy for a long time without getting tired.
You want to go on all night
You want the physical intimacy to last all night.
Come here and take what you need, baby
Come here and fulfill your desires.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: STEVE EDWARD DUREN, CHRIS HOLMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind