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.
don't cry
W.A.S.P. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Surrounded by my friends tonight
At war between my heart and mind
So I just laugh so I don't cry
So I don't cry
So I don't
I feel alone inside but all my friends are here
Why do I feel distant yet surrounded by my peers
Almost like somebody's holding me and poking at my fears
There's so much on my mind I couldn't tell it all right now
No astrology or Myers Brigg can tell you all my doubts
If you stepped into my mind, you won't believe what flies around
Watch your head, watch your step, or you may not make it out
I don't feel like, I belong here
I don't feel like, I should be here
Will you love me, with all my fears
Will you love me, when I'm not here
I want you to be
The one who answers the phone
You care enough for me
With you I'm never alone
Smile on your cheeks
It start to hit me real slow
I hope you never leave
Through all the highs and the lows
Sometimes I feel alone inside
Surrounded by my friends tonight
At war between my heart and mind
So I just laugh so I don't cry
So I don't cry
So I don't
The song "Don't Cry" by W.A.S.P. is a song about the internal struggles that one may face while trying to fit in with their peer group. The lyrics talk about feeling alone even when surrounded by friends and the constant war between the heart and mind. The singer of the song finds himself in a difficult emotional state and uses laughter as a way of hiding his true feelings and avoiding crying. The lyrics are emotional and relatable, as many of us have experienced similar feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The opening lines of the song describe the contradictory feelings of being surrounded by friends but still feeling alone inside. The singer is torn between his heart and mind, as his emotions often contradict his thoughts. The use of laughter as a coping mechanism is common among people who find it hard to express their feelings. The lyrics also suggest that the singer has a lot on his mind but is unable to share his concerns, even with his closest friends.
The chorus of the song is a refrain that drives home the main message: "Sometimes I feel alone inside, surrounded by my friends tonight, at war between my heart and mind, so I just laugh so I don't cry." This chorus sums up the emotions expressed in the verses, emphasizing the feeling of being isolated despite being among friends.
Overall, "Don't Cry" is a powerful song that speaks to the inner struggles we all face at some point in our lives. The lyrics are relatable and emotional, while the melody captures the mood of the song perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel alone inside
I experience a sense of loneliness within myself at times
Surrounded by my friends tonight
Although I am among friends, I still feel alone inside
At war between my heart and mind
I am in conflict with myself, torn between my emotions and my thoughts
So I just laugh so I don't cry
In order to hide my emotions, I choose to laugh instead of cry
I feel alone inside but all my friends are here
Although I am surrounded by friends, I still feel isolated within myself
Why do I feel distant yet surrounded by my peers
I wonder why I am emotionally disconnected despite being around people I know
Smile on my face so that you never see my tears
I put on a smile to conceal my tears and keep my emotions hidden
Almost like somebody's holding me and poking at my fears
I feel like someone or something is constantly taunting me by making me face my greatest fears
There's so much on my mind I couldn't tell it all right now
I am overwhelmed by the thoughts in my mind and cannot express them all at once
No astrology or Myers Brigg can tell you all my doubts
Even the most accurate personality assessments cannot fully reveal my doubts and insecurities
If you stepped into my mind, you won't believe what flies around
If someone were to see the thoughts in my mind, they would be shocked by what they discover
Watch your head, watch your step, or you may not make it out
Navigating through the overwhelming thoughts in my mind is challenging and requires great care
I don't feel like, I belong here
I feel a sense of not fitting in or not belonging in my current surroundings
I don't feel like, I should be here
I question whether or not I am in the right place or situation
Will you love me, with all my fears
I wonder if someone will truly love and accept me despite my fears
Will you love me, when I'm not here
I question whether someone will still love me even when I am not physically present
I want you to be, The one who answers the phone
I desire someone to be there for me and answer my calls when I need them
You care enough for me, With you I'm never alone
I feel comforted and never alone when I am with someone who cares about me
Smile on your cheeks, It starts to hit me real slow
I appreciate the smile on your face, and it slowly begins to lift my mood
I hope you never leave, Through all the highs and the lows
I pray that you will always stay with me through both good and bad times
Sometimes I feel alone inside
Again, I am expressing my feeling of loneliness within myself
Surrounded by my friends tonight
I am repeating that I am with friends, yet still feel alone
At war between my heart and mind
Once more, I am conflicted between my emotions and my thoughts
So I just laugh so I don't cry
And I conclude by stating that I choose to mask my emotions with laughter
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Samuel Tucker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D V
daaaaamn my new favourite...been listening to this album for almost a year now and just now i got to it
Michele Miller
Ty love the song. WASP rocks forever
Jerry Jackson
Nobody writes a love song like Blackie Lawless
Robert Cash jr
lol
Mckinley Potter
🤘🤘
jay katcher
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Michael Ingram
this song is very disrectful to a woman
Trevor Blackbird Guitar
Michael Ingram rock and roll is about being a rebel
Michael Ingram
I KNOW THAT WASP IS AWESOME OK
Andrew Mullen
I believe the tongue is firmly in the cheek. Rock and roll is about giving the middle finger to the pc brigade.