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In a recent interview with Eonmusic, W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless mentioned that new music is currently “on hold,” but his autobiography is set to be released soon. These comments came ahead of the shock rockers’ 40th-anniversary “Album ONE Alive” tour, scheduled to hit Europe in June.
During this in-depth discussion, the mastermind behind W.A.S.P. shared insights on how grunge and Napster transformed the music scene, reflecting on how the controversial 1997 album “Kill Fuck Die” (also stylized as “Kill.Fuck.Die.” and abbreviated to “KFD”) marked one of the most creative phases of his career. He also described the follow-up album “Helldorado” as a necessary recovery from the darkness of its predecessor.
When discussing the shift in the music industry and its impact on the commercial success of “The Crimson Idol” (1992), Lawless stated: “Well, timing is everything, right? I remember from the moment I began recording that album to when I had done the promotional work and literally two world tours to support it. When I returned home in early ’93, I picked up Billboard magazine and looked at the Hot 100 singles. There I was with ‘Hold On To Your Heart’, alongside a song from Sammy Hagar and one from MÖTLEY [CRÜE]. Yet, I didn’t recognize any of the other 97 artists. It stunned me, as it seemed there was a significant shift in the industry during the time I was recording that album.”
Reflecting on “KFD” and his ambition to “out-[Marilyn] Manson Manson“, he said: “Throughout my career, I believe that’s my most inventive record. The imagery from that album is remarkable. I can now discuss it with the perspective that time has granted me, viewing it as if it were created by someone else. The lyrical imagery really is incredible; it truly stands out as the most creative work I’ve ever been involved in.”
When interviewer Eamon O’Neill from Eonmusic pointed out that some viewed the subsequent “Helldorado” (1999) as an “overcorrection” and asked about the dilemma of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” Blackie replied: “You’re right in that regard. You create records that express who you are at that moment, and if they’re seen as overcorrections, that’s fine. But ‘KFD’ was a deeply dark record, and if that’s what it takes for that kind of artistry, I wouldn’t want to revisit that space. Spending a year creating it was a dark experience, and ‘Helldorado’ was a rebellion against that darkness. It was our way of saying, ‘We’re out. Time to celebrate.’ That’s truly what ‘Helldorado’ represents—a celebration of reclaiming freedom and life.
On the prospect of new W.A.S.P. music, Blackie shared, “We had been working on new material a couple of years ago during COVID, but after the European tour, my back injury halted everything. It became one setback after another, pushing recording far down the priority list as we resumed touring. There are concepts brewing, though, and when you’ll actually hear them, I can’t say.”
He then updated on his long-anticipated autobiography, saying: “I’m also working on a book, and it’s about halfway done. I’m aiming to release it sometime next year.”
Back in October 2022, Lawless discussed the process of writing his autobiography with Rockin’ Metal Revival. “When I first sat down to write, it came pouring out. It was an intriguing journey, given that I’d never done this before. You often think of the most notable events first. But I found it to be a process of self-discovery. For any significant event in your life—those signposts guiding your path—you write about it, but getting to the core requires real self-examination. Asking yourself, ‘What led me here? And what follows that?’ is essential. Doing so yields profound revelations.”
“It reminds me of stories I’ve heard about therapists advising individuals who have experienced significant loss to write a letter,” he continued. “Engaging in this process felt quite similar to that. While I’ve been fortunate enough never to be in such a position, it created a letter to myself, revealing various facets of my life—the good, the bad, the ugly. It’s an enlightening experience, as the person I am now differs remarkably from who I was during some of those foolish times, or during intense events in my life. The journey from point A to B shapes you, and looking back brings insights—’Wow, look how I’ve evolved.’
“In writing lyrics or any form of text, I strive for multi-dimensionality. When listeners hear them today, I want them to find something different five years later because they will have evolved as people,” Lawless added. “That’s the goal.”
Lawless previously spoke about his autobiography in May 2022 during an interview with Meltdown from Detroit’s WRIF radio station. He noted, “It’s taking longer than I anticipated, but it’s been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. It’s a tremendous amount of work because there’s so much to recall, especially given the lifestyle we’ve chosen. It’s quite different from the routine of the average person.”
“I often remark that due to the fast-paced nature of our schedule—always on the go—it feels like I’ve lived multiple lifetimes,” he elaborated. “The intensity packed into our 24 hours is not the same as someone in a routine, which can feel overwhelming at times.”
“The first step was interviewing everyone I could think of, asking, ‘What do you remember about this?'” Blackie revealed. “From there, I turned inward, digging deeper into my memories. The more I explored, the more memories resurfaced that I had forgotten. Amid the chaos of daily life, we tend to remember only the most intense moments, yet lesser experiences may hold equal significance, but vanish from memory. For instance, I still recall the time when tempers flared on a flight and a crew member ended up in an overhead bin—true story.”
When asked what he learned about himself through this reflective writing process, Blackie remarked: “In the book’s preface, I describe it as a journey of both realization and reflection. Ultimately, I can say it has been much more positive than negative, akin to writing a script for a film. You forget many things over time, but what this process allows is to connect the threads of your life—discovering connections that once evaded you. There have been numerous instances where I thought, ‘Why didn’t I see this before?’ Some personal revelations may not resonate universally, yet I’m hopeful that readers find pieces of their own story mirrored in mine.”
Regarding the simultaneous release of his book and a new W.A.S.P. album, Lawless shared: “That was the original plan, but the book’s progress is taking much longer than anticipated. We’re focusing on getting the records right, and I want to ensure the book is equally well-crafted.”
W.A.S.P. kicked off the North American leg of the “Album ONE Alive” tour on October 26, 2024, at Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California. This extensive 39-city tour will take them across North America, including stops in Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; and others, wrapping up on December 14, 2024, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
Alongside bassist Mike Duda and lead guitarist Doug Blair, who’ve been with the band for 30 and 19 years respectively, W.A.S.P. is accompanied by the talented drummer Aquiles Priester.
Due to Lawless‘ serious back injuries incurred during the European leg of the 40th-anniversary tour, the band sadly had to cancel their planned 2023 U.S. tour.
The extensive European leg of W.A.S.P.‘s 40th-anniversary world tour concluded on May 18, 2023, in Sofia, Bulgaria, at Universidada Sports Hall.
W.A.S.P. successfully wrapped up their first U.S. tour in a decade with a sold-out show on December 11, 2022, at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, marking their 18th sold-out performance of the tour that began in late October 2022. This tour featured the return of the iconic song “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)”, which hadn’t been performed live in over 15 years.
W.A.S.P. last released “ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol)” in February 2018, a new version of the classic 1992 album “The Crimson Idol”, re-recorded for the accompanying movie to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original LP’s release. The re-recorded version includes four tracks that were absent from the original.
The most recent studio album featuring all-new original material from W.A.S.P. was “Golgotha”, released in 2015.
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