W.A.S.P. - Blacker Than Ever
Metal Lords Release a Best of For Their Fans
Interviewed by Keith McDonald
W.A.S.P.,
one of the legendary bands to come out of the 80’s scene recently
released Best of The Best Volume 1 via Snapper Music. With 13 albums to
their credit, W.A.S.P. has sold millions of albums spawning an army of
loyal fans around the world. They’re known for their electrifying live
shows and raw, aggressive music, so the time seemed right to
unleash this beast. I had the chance to speak with founding member
Blackie Lawless who filled me in on what’s been going on and what lies
ahead for the band.
For
why they decided to release a Best of compilation Blackie luckily
replies "why not. You have to take into consideration that
there’s going to be two parts to it. Basically the label said put
together what you think" would be a greatest hits package. "I
came up with 35 tracks. What we decided to do was to do it in two parts.
Manufacturing and the cost to fans is cost prohibitive to do another
double record right now. I wanna do a traditional best of set"
adding to the disc "what you would expect but also something that
represents milestones in our career". He continues that "Show
No Mercy was put on for a reason, not just because it was a B-side of
the Animal single that was never put on an album. That record
represented our beginning, our very early days, what was now considered
to be speed metal. We haven’t had anything like this in a while.
Capitol had done a (Best of) about eight years ago but it’s been out
of print for three or four years now". Blackie notes that fans have
been clamoring for a hits package. "You try to satisfy that want
that’s out there" and that Volume 2 "will be out in a
year". They covered the Elton John hit Saturday Night’s Alright
For Fighting because "we thought it was a great track" and
that you want to "do it different and better and put your stamp on
it. Give it a shot and see what happens". The new label, Snapper
Music "has our historical catalog, the catalog that’s been in
stores for a couple years. When the studio albums were re-released"
The Greatest Hits via Capitol "was never re-released. This (Best of
The Best) is updated. There was a void in the marketplace. So that’s
the reason this record is on their label. What we’ll be doing in North
America from now on won’t be with that because they’re not really
set up as a label here."
As for their dealings with their old label CMC Blackie
points out that "my management bought them out" referring to
Sanctuary Music. "The reason everybody went (to CMC) was for their
BMG distribution, but the whole thing was in whole disarray"
referring to CMC’s problems with their 80’s bands like Dokken,
Twisted Sister and Judas Priest. "It was horrible. I’m not going
to say anything one way or another as to what’s going to happen
because they have infrastructure that needs to go in place and things
like that. I have reason to want to be there" and that "I’m
not contractually obligated to stay there" while "I’m
looking at what the options are before I make a decision". It
doesn’t bother Blackie that his management is also his record label
now. "I’m at a point where I pretty much manage myself" even
though "it isn’t like I never talk to anybody there. I have other
interests related with them" but that "for a long time I’ve
handled my own affairs".
Becoming one of the better hard rock bands to come from
the 80’s, Blackie explains that "it’s finding the right
chemistry of people. You do what comes natural to you, develop yourself
as a performer and songwriter. Once you find something that gels and you
give it a chance to develop it will take it’s own course".
Touring is a key ingredient in success. It seems to be harder for newer
bands. "I know it’s more expense now to tour than it ever
was" and that "bands don’t have the support from the labels.
Bands from the 70’s and 80’s made their bones touring and did it for
years on end. I spoke to a band that was out for nine weeks and that was
the most they’d been out for one stretch" while Blackie did
"that for three years. I don’t know if they don’t want to or
relationships between bands and labels has changed. The major labels
look at bands as more expendable". W.A.S.P didn’t always have an
easy ride.
As for the grunge nightmare, "I didn’t worry
about what was happening. We were lucky enough to come out when we did
and were able to establish a fanbase….thank god. I was doing records
that were more self-reflective and spending long periods of time working
on them - years". Compared to where "our second record was
done in seven weeks top to bottom and we were back on the road. Still
Not Black Enough and Crimson Idol took years to make" as they
"were not done overnight. I remember when a single was released off
Crimson Idol, in 1993, Hold Onto My Heart, and it was the biggest hit I
had in America. I looked at the charts and the only bands I recognized
were Motley Crue and Sammy Hagar. Everything else was bands I never
heard of" and that "it was a very bizarre feeling. A select
few of us survived that ice age" mainly because "of the
quality of the music. It wasn’t a hard time, it was just different.
The worst time was right before our commercial peak" the release of
Inside The Electric Circus, "all the PMRC with their death threats
and being shot at. It turned into an insane asylum. We had done a record
and a tour record and a tour" and that "it wasn’t fun
anymore. I feel Electric Circus was a weak record because of that. The
touring schedule and label pressures" was too much. "I
developed the Beatles attitude of we got into the music business to make
records, not for live gigs. I said I’m going into the studio, I
don’t care how long it takes and I’m going to make the best record I
can. Headless took over a year to make" as they "never dreamed
of doing anything like that. That’s all part of riding that
rollercoaster and starting to think for yourself. Labels tell you to
make records and hit the road" which Blackie does not follow to
anymore.
With their established fanbase WASP is in the unique
position of not worrying about the pitfalls of the music industry.
"Ever since we signed with Capitol we always had right of refusal
for material that went out which is unheard of for bands to get
something like that. Nobody ever came into the studio and pestered us
and tell me what to do. They didn’t know what we were doing so they
basically left us alone" mainly because "they couldn’t
figure it out. When it comes to making records I’ve been living in a
bubble, unbelievably lucky". Their best tour was "us and
Metallica playing clubs" back in ’85. "Both bands were
upstarts, getting a grip on what was going on and were in
competition" which "was really healthy". As for future
tours "we just finished up two months in North America. We’re
looking to put a package together for July and August" which
isn’t finalized. Commenting on the resurgence of hard rock and heavy
metal Blackie notes that "the climate out there is remarkably
better than it was a year ago, extremely healthy. I’m not going to say
it’s what it was in the 80’s because the 80’s was a phenomenon
that we may never see again, almost an unnatural phenomenon".
Recently "we saw radio stations coming out of the woodwork to help
us that didn’t help us when we were selling millions of records. We
just did a thing for VH1 called Top 40 Bad Asses of All Time" and
that he "was number 18. They’re always doing new stuff like that
all the time". But WASP will not rest. A new studio album will be
ready "probably next year. We have 40% of it done but if we go out
on tour we’ll never have it ready in time. We just did a webcast of a
live show that gives blood, bombs and mayhem. More bombastic bang for
your buck" which is exactly what you would expect from a live WASP
concert. Blackie sums it up by saying it’s just "another day at
the office."
The Internet has helped get WASP music to the masses,
but that "the majority of their mail order" for merchandise
"comes through the mail. It may add on or enhance things but
nothing is ever going to replace retail". The future for WASP
"is the (tour) package we’re talking about and then we finish the
next studio record. I look at it a year and a half to two years down the
road. If you get further than that you get ahead of yourself. There are
too many variables involved. You can’t predict any further than that,
not accurately". Blackie and WASP will continue to bring their
music to their fans hitting the road and then bringing a new studio and
another ‘Best of’ disc. You can check out their website at
waspnation.com.
©2000 Metal Rules!!