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.
The Great Misconceptions of Me
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thank you for coming into my theatre of fear
Welcome to the show, you're all witnesses you see
A privileged invitation to the last rights of me
Remember me? You can't save me
Mama you never needed me
No crimson king, look in my eye, you'll see
I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
The crimson idol of a million
I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
The crimson idol of a million eyes, of a million
I am the prisoner of the paradise I dreamed
The idol of a million lonely faces look at me
Behind the mask of sorrow, four doors of doom behind my eyes
I've got their footprints all across my crimson mind
Long live, long live, long live the king of mercy
Long live, long live
There is no love, to shelter me
Only love, love set me free
No love, to shelter me, only love, love set me free
I was the warrior, with an anthem in my soul
The idol of eight thousand lonely days of rage ago
And remember me when it comes your time to choose
Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true
Red, crimson red, am I the invisible boy
The strap on my back
Red, crimson red, no I was never to be
Only one crimson son, no it never was me
Living in the limelight little did I know
I was dying in the shadows and the mirror was my soul
It was all I ever wanted, everything I dreamed
But the dream became my nightmare and no-one could hear me scream
With these six-strings, I make a noose
To take my life, it's time to choose
The headlines read of my suicide, of my suicide
Oh sweet silence, where is the sting
I am no idol, no crimson king
I'm the imposter, the world has seen
My father was the idol, it was never me
I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
The crimson idol of a million
I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
The crimson idol of a million eyes
No love, to shelter me, only love
Love set me free
No love, to shelter me, only love
Love set me free
"The Great Misconceptions of Me" by W.A.S.P. is a song that tells the story of the singer's rise to fame as a rock idol and his fall into despair and eventual suicide. The lyrics of the song are reflective of the themes of the fallen hero, disillusionment, and the desire for freedom and acceptance.
The song starts with the singer addressing the audience as his guests in his "theatre of fear" where they have witnessed his last moments of life. He questions his audience if they remember him and his longing for acceptance from his mother, whom he feels he never needed him. He accepts that he has become the "prisoner of paradise" and that his life has become a living hell with his soul trapped behind a mask of sorrow.
In the end, the singer realizes that he was an imposter and his father was the real idol, and he never wanted to be the crimson king idolized by millions. The song ends on a sad note with him taking his own life, yearning for the silence and freedom that only death can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the show the great finale's finally here
The end has come, and I thank you for being here to witness it
I thank you for coming into my theatre of fear
This is a place of darkness and terror, and I appreciate you being brave enough to come inside
Welcome to the show, you're all witnesses you see
You are all here to witness my downfall and destruction
A privileged invitation to the last rights of me
You are privileged to be here and witness my death
Remember me? You can't save me
You may remember me, but you cannot prevent my fate
Mama you never needed me
My mother never loved me or cared for me
No crimson king, look in my eye, you'll see
I am not the powerful king I appeared to be, and if you look closely, you will see my true weakness
Mama I'm lonely, it's only me, only me
Despite achieving fame and fortune, I am still lonely and abandoned
I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be, I don't wanna be
I do not want to embody the ideal image of success and fame
The crimson idol of a million
The symbol of success and fame, worshiped by millions
The crimson idol of a million eyes, of a million
The symbol of success and fame, watched and judged by millions
I am the prisoner of the paradise I dreamed
I am trapped in the perfect world I imagined for myself
The idol of a million lonely faces look at me
I am the center of attention for many people who are also lonely and unhappy
Behind the mask of sorrow, four doors of doom behind my eyes
Beneath my facade of sadness, there are four paths leading to my tragic fate
I've got their footprints all across my crimson mind
My mind is consumed by the expectations and opinions of others
Long live, long live, long live the king of mercy
May the kind and merciful one live forever
There is no love, to shelter me
No one cares for me or will protect me
Only love, love set me free
Only through love can I find freedom and escape
I was the warrior, with an anthem in my soul
I was once a fighter, with a strong and passionate spirit
The idol of eight thousand lonely days of rage ago
I was once the symbol of hope and inspiration to many people who were unhappy and angry
And remember me when it comes your time to choose
Remember my story when you are faced with a choice of how to live your life
Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true
Your dreams may turn into nightmares, so be careful what you ask for
Red, crimson red, am I the invisible boy
I am lost and forgotten, like a ghost or apparition
The strap on my back
The burden I carry on my shoulders
Red, crimson red, no I was never to be
I was never meant to be a hero or a legend
Only one crimson son, no it never was me
I was not the chosen one, but just another ordinary person
Living in the limelight little did I know
I was famous and popular, but I did not realize the cost of my success
I was dying in the shadows and the mirror was my soul
I was slowly losing myself and my identity behind the facade of fame, and my true self was reflected in the mirror
It was all I ever wanted, everything I dreamed
I thought fame and success would bring me everything I ever wanted
But the dream became my nightmare and no-one could hear me scream
The reality of fame and success was actually a nightmare that no one else could understand
With these six-strings, I make a noose
My guitar, which brought me fame and fortune, now becomes a weapon against myself
To take my life, it's time to choose
I have decided to take my own life, and it is a final choice
The headlines read of my suicide, of my suicide
The news will report on my own self-inflicted death
Oh sweet silence, where is the sting
Finally, there is peace and quiet, and the pain is gone
I am no idol, no crimson king
I am not the hero or the leader that people see me as
I'm the imposter, the world has seen
I am a fake and a fraud, and everyone knows it
My father was the idol, it was never me
My father was the true hero and idol, not me
No love, to shelter me, only love
There is no protection or support for me, except for love
Love set me free
Love is the only thing that can liberate me from this cycle of pain and sorrow
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: STEVE EDWARD DUREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Cecil
One of the best heavy metal albums -CRIMSON IDOL!Love it
Kane@D
There not blach enough and balla
Васил Киров
Totally agree!!!!!
Skullkan6
I found it once on cassette and just HAD to have it.
L Saltwelsh
William Cecil agreed!
jeff cordova
if anyone has gone through shit as child, has fucked up memories & feels like they don't know what to do or who they can talk to about it the music is always there.. doesn't judge doesn't fuck you over for someone else.. doesn't abandon you.. it's always there...for me music is my saviour..if it wasn't for music I'd be in jail or dead.. long live the king of mercy
William Combs
I feel ya. RUSH/Neil Peart was my beacon.
cochis
Couldnt t agree more
Kamen Rider LA
Man... I needed to read this comment right now... Thank you
Pepik
This shit is always inside. RIP Arthur Janov.