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.
Wasp
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God of creation are we blind?
Cause some here are slaves that worship guns that spit thunder
The children that you've made have lost their minds
This monster that we call the earth is bleeding
Cause the children have been left alone too long
This thing that we've made is fat and feeds on the hate
Of the millions that it's taught to sing the song
The Headless Children
The screams that fill the night, fill the night, fill the night, fill the night
The Headless Children
The madness steals the light, steals the light, steals the light, steals the light
Timebombs in the hands of all the wicked war babies
Light the fuse of temptation and we all burn
Four horsemen sit high up in the saddle
And waiting and ride the bloody trail of no return
Sleeping in the arms of a nightmare
And wake to find we've been away too long
This frankenstein of flesh stitched together back from death
And preying on the souls of everyone
The Headless Children
The screams that fill the night, fill the night, fill the night, fill the night
The Headless Children
The madness steals the light, steals the light, steals the light, steals the light
The lyrics of W.A.S.P.'s song "Wasp" address the destructive nature of humanity and the consequences of our actions. The first verse expresses a plea for a higher power to save us from the madness we find ourselves in. The use of "God of creation" highlights our blindness to the destruction we create. The second line speaks to the worship of guns, an act in which we become slaves to our own creation, leading to the loss of innocence in our children. The following line, "This monster that we call the earth is bleeding," reveals the impact of our actions on our planet. The children have been left isolated, leading to the creation of a creature that feeds on hate.
The chorus, "The Headless Children," represents the loss of innocence, while "The screams that fill the night" and "The madness steals the light" illustrate the destruction that follows. The second verse speaks of our temptation toward violence, "Timebombs in the hands of all the wicked war babies," which leads to our destruction. The four horsemen of the apocalypse ride the bloody trail of no return, while we sleep in the arms of a nightmare. The final line of the verse states that we have created a monster that preys on the souls of humanity, bringing destruction wherever it goes.
Overall, the song's lyrics reflect an apocalyptic vision of the future, where we have become slaves to our own creation and lost touch with our humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Father come save us from this madness we're under
Request for divine intervention against the chaos and insanity of the world
God of creation are we blind?
Questioning the existence of a higher power in light of the evil in the world
Cause some here are slaves that worship guns that spit thunder
Criticism of the glorification of violence and weaponry in society
The children that you've made have lost their minds
Concern for the younger generation being negatively influenced by societal issues
This monster that we call the earth is bleeding
Metaphorical representation of the planet suffering from human actions
Cause the children have been left alone too long
Blaming society for the deterioration of youth
This thing that we've made is fat and feeds on the hate
Referring to systems of power that perpetuate hate and oppression
Of the millions that it's taught to sing the song
Commenting on the ways in which society indoctrinates individuals into toxic ideologies
The Headless Children
Title of the song, symbolic of the loss of innocence and morality in society
The screams that fill the night, fill the night, fill the night, fill the night
Emphasis on the chaos and destruction wrought by societal issues
The madness steals the light, steals the light, steals the light, steals the light
Describing the overwhelming darkness and hopelessness of the situation
Timebombs in the hands of all the wicked war babies
Reference to the dangers of putting weapons in the hands of those who are morally corrupt
Light the fuse of temptation and we all burn
Warning about the destructive consequences of giving into temptation and vice
Four horsemen sit high up in the saddle
Biblical allusion to the apocalypse and the riders of the four horses of the apocalypse
And waiting and ride the bloody trail of no return
Portraying a violent and apocalyptic end to the world
Sleeping in the arms of a nightmare
Characterizing the current state of the world as a nightmare
And wake to find we've been away too long
Commenting on the sense of disorientation and confusion felt by those living in a world of chaos
This frankenstein of flesh stitched together back from death
Metaphorical representation of society as a Frankenstein's monster, created from disparate and incompatible parts
And preying on the souls of everyone
Description of the ways in which society can be predatory and destructive
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arvidjunstromcovers7060
Animal F**k Like A Beast 0:00
I Wanna Be Somebody 3:10
L.O.V.E. Machine 6:56
The Flame 10:49
B.A.D. 14:33
School Daze 18:31
Hellion 22:09
Sleeping (In the Fire) 25:49
On Your Knees 29:47
Tormentor 33:39
The Torture Never Stops 37:51
Show no mercy 41:50
Paint it black 45:40
@nickgage1162
THANK U QUARANTINE
0:00 Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)
3:08 I Wanna Be Somebody
6:51 L.O.V.E. Machine
10:48 The Flame
14:31 B.A.D.
18:30 School Daze
22:07 Hellion
25:48 Sleeping (In The Fire)
29:46 On Your Knees
33:37 Tormentor
37:50 The Torture Never Stops
41:49 Show No Mercy
45:38 Paint It Black
ALL HAIL W.A.S.P. WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR? WE AIN'T SURE, PAL
@okinawajapan1
5:30 I wanna be somebody solo
9:20 Love Machine solo
13:00 Before the flame burns out solo
17:12 BAD solo
*21:05 School Daze solo
*24:23 Hellion solo
**27:55 & 28:55 Sleeping in the fire solo
32:00 On your knees solo
33:55 & 35:53 Tormentor solo 37:10
40:05 the torture never stops solo
43:55 Wasteland solo
47:30 paint it black solo
@hallowedbutchery
One of the greatest metal albums ever made.
@Good-Enuff-Garage
they were being groomed to be the next best thing but they Effed it up somehow, had something to do with the Iron Maiden tour
@hisdudeness4537
W.A.S.P. had everything to be one of the biggest metal acts. Everything. PMRC stifled their growth in America.
Also Blackie is a self absorbed asshole.
@johnboisjolie1479
Chris Holmes is a bad a!! Axe man to say the least, I talked to him the other day.
God Speed in your circles,rock on. Rock on. J.b
@arvidjunstromcovers7060
Animal F**k Like A Beast 0:00
I Wanna Be Somebody 3:10
L.O.V.E. Machine 6:56
The Flame 10:49
B.A.D. 14:33
School Daze 18:31
Hellion 22:09
Sleeping (In the Fire) 25:49
On Your Knees 29:47
Tormentor 33:39
The Torture Never Stops 37:51
Show no mercy 41:50
Paint it black 45:40
@Lava6409
80-talet ringde Animal Fuck Like A Beast*
@cromlech6167
+80-talet ringde Thanx man!
@user-pf7qg9lc6p
80sMetal and toughest in 80's, every specially 80's music heavy fan should own this, i will becourse good memories for me, special picture lp is best!
@JeffGeorgalas
WHAT you stupid fuck?
@antoniogoncalves8288
Arvid Junström Covers fucking awesome album