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 Medley
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are my God
You cover me e e
Common won't you just sing that with me
Nothing I can do without You Lord You u u are my God
You are my God You cover me
You cover me nothing I can do o
Nothing I can do without You Lord no no no no no no no no no no
You are my God You cover me
You cover me
Nothing I can do without You Lord You are my God
You are my God You cover me
You cover me yes hallelujah
Nothing I can do without You Lord hallelujah
You are my God
You cover me
You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone wi i ll my spi i i rit yield
You alone are my heart desire
And I love to worship You
Lord I love to worship You
The lyrics to W.A.S.P.'s song "The Medley" convey a clear religious message of dependence and worship towards God. The singer acknowledges that they are nothing without the Lord and that he is their strength and shield. The repetition of the phrase "Nothing I can do without You Lord" emphasizes the importance of God in the singer's life and the fact that they cannot function without him. The lines "You alone are my heart desire / And I love to worship You" further underline the singer's devotion to God and their enjoyment in worshipping him.
The use of the word "medley" in the title suggests that the song is a collection of different songs or parts, which is reflected in the changing melodies and rhythms throughout the piece. The shift in tempo and style between the different sections mirrors the range of emotions that can be experienced in worship, from slow and reflective to upbeat and celebratory. The repetition of certain phrases also adds to the overall sense of unity and coherence in the piece.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing I can do without You Lord
I am completely dependent on You, Lord, for everything in my life.
You are my God
You are the only God I recognize and worship.
You cover me e e
You protect me from harm and provide for all my needs.
Common won't you just sing that with me
I invite others to join with me in praising and worshiping You, Lord.
Nothing I can do without You Lord You u u are my God
Without You, Lord, I am powerless and lost. You are my only God.
Nothing I can do without You Lord no no no no no no no no no no
I repeat this to emphasize my reliance on You, Lord, and my inability to do anything without You.
You cover me yes hallelujah
I express my gratitude for Your protection and provision, Lord, with a joyful hallelujah.
Nothing I can do without You Lord hallelujah
I declare again that I am completely dependent on You, Lord, and praise You for being my God.
You alone are my strength my shield
I recognize that You, Lord, are the source of my strength and protection from harm.
To You alone wi i ll my spi i i rit yield
I submit my entire being and will to You, Lord, as the only one worthy of my devotion.
You alone are my heart desire
My deepest longing is for You alone, Lord, as the center of my life.
And I love to worship You
I express my love and reverence for You, Lord, by joyfully worshiping You.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shaun Pillay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyrone Spear
on One Tribe
Its clear to me Blackie is talking to Jesus