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Artist
W.A.S.P.
12+ albums
heavy metalhard rockhair metal80smetal
about
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Los Angeles, California, emerging from the early Los Angeles heavy metal scene. The band became known for its shock rock image, lyrical themes, and theatrical live performances. It has reportedly sold over 12 million records worldwide, with its first two albums, “W.A.S.P.” (1984) and “The Last Command” (1985), both certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The band was among the artists targeted in the mid-1980s by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), an organization that advocated for warning labels on music releases deemed explicit. The controversy surrounding the band contributed to increased public attention and media exposure. Some of its best-known songs include “I Wanna Be Somebody”, “L.O.V.E. Machine”, “Wild Child”, “Blind in Texas”, “Forever Free”, “The Headless Children”, “Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)”, and “The Idol”, as well as cover versions such as “I Don’t Need No Doctor” and “The Real Me”. The band’s most recent studio album, “Golgotha”, was released in 2015, and the group has continued working on new material. W.A.S.P. originated after the dissolution of Circus Circus, a Los Angeles-based band that included Blackie Lawless and Randy Piper. The original W.A.S.P. lineup, formed in 1982, consisted of Lawless, Piper, Rik Fox, and Tony Richards. The band became known for its controversial stage performances, including theatrical and provocative imagery.
