W.A.S.P. Frontman BLACKIE LAWLESS – "When We Did The First Album, I Was Attempting To Do Social Commentary; We Were Doing It In Such A Way That It Scared People"

During a recent interview with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai for the new W.A.S.P. album, Golgotha, frontman/founder Blackie Lawless took some time to discuss two of the band’s album that are considered to this day to be some of their best work, The Headless Children (1989) and The Crimson Idol (1992), and W.A.S.P.’s early days. An excerpt is available below:

Prior to The Crimson Idol, in 1989, W.A.S.P. released The Headless Children, a game changer of epic proportions. After three albums of what was perceived and / or celebrated as lewd and crude music hailing the wonders of sex, drinking, more sex, and rock n’ roll, W.A.S.P. unleashed a dark and heavy record focusing on social, personal and political themes. The band was considered dangerous early on in their career; the intellect behind The Headless Children made them even more dangerous to some.

“Absolutely, because it was the truth” Lawless agrees without a hint of arrogance. “When we did the first album I was attempting to do social commentary and we were doing it in such a way that it scared people. I realized they didn’t understand a word of what I was saying. The idea was to talk to people on a level they would understand. You’re absolutely right. We became a much more uncomfortable band to consider when we did The Headless Children and everything after that.”

The lead track on the album, ‘The Heretic (The Lost Child)’ was unlike anything W.A.S.P. had recorded previously. Nothing could have prepared the band’s fanbase for it. The song was a “welcome to the show” for what is widely regarded as one of W.A.S.P.’s best works in their 15 album catalogue.

“The whole crack epidemic was just getting started, and living in LA, I was watching the news and seeing reports on kids dropping like flies.” Lawless says of what inspired the song, and ultimately the album. “I don’t take drugs, so if you’re not into the drug culture you’re like the last guy to hear what’s going on. By the time something gets to television it’s usually old news anyway. But, I was seeing this thing called crack and thinking ‘What in the world is this?’ I was starting to see the rise of gang warfare in Los Angeles like I’d never seen before. You had drugs and money, and one was fuelling the other until things were out of control. That was the whole idea of the song ‘The Heretic’; it was literally based on fear. It was asking the question ‘Where are we going?’”

Go to this location for the complete story.

Almost six years have passed since the world saw a new studio album from W.A.S.P. On October 2nd, the wait ends, as Blackie Lawless and co. will release their new album, and Napalm Records debut, Golgotha. Check out Part 1 of The Making Of Golgotha here.

Blackie Lawless on Golgotha: “There are times in any band’s career that somehow all things mesh together. Their experiences, influences, and personal timing bring them into a common space. This has happened with this record. Four years in the making has provided direction, but even greater reflection. Golgotha, where Christ was crucified – Hebrew for “the place of the skull”.”

Golgotha is available for pre-order from the Napalm Records webstore in North America here and Europe here.

Golgotha tracklisting:

“Scream”
“Last Runaway”
“Shotgun”
“Miss You”
“Fallen Under”
“Slaves Of The New World Order”
“Eyes Of My Maker”
“Hero Of The World”
“Golgotha”

Golgotha will continue down the path that 2007’s Dominator and 2009’s Babylon started on, both in production style and theme. Years in the making, Golgotha will undoubtedly lead the listeners on the emotionally epic undertaking that W.A.S.P. has become acclaimed for.

To view their complete tour schedule, visit this location.