Tag: W.A.S.P.
3 M3 Rock Festival Announces 2013 Lineup!
GLAM & HEAVY METAL RETURNS TO MERRIWEATHER
I.M.P. PRESENTS 2013 M3 ROCK FESTIVAL
IN ITS 5th YEAR M3 IS THE BIGGEST, BADDEST METAL SHOW
DRAWING FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
OFFICIAL M3 KIX-OFF PARTY & CONCERT FRIDAY, MAY 3 at 5:30pm
2013 M3 ROCK FESTIVAL SATURDAY, MAY 4 at 11am
2-Day and VIP Packages on sale Friday, January 25 10am EST through ticketfly.com
If Available, Single-Day Tickets on-sale in the coming week.
The heavy metal time machine will turn back to the1980s and ‘90s when Bret Michaels Band, Twisted Sister, and W.A.S.P. will be among the 20 bands to take over Merriweather Post Pavilion, playing full sets of their glam rock and heavy metal hits. M3 fans won’t have to choose between bands with overlapping set times, since each band will play one at a time. The festival will take place on two separate stages, each simulcasting the other, giving fans the option to stay in one seat and watch all the bands as they appear on both stages, or fans can move from stage to stage without missing a note.
M3, internationally renown, has attracted fans from six continents, 10 countries and 40 states. Now in its fifth year, I.M.P. Presents M3 Rock Festival starts with The Official M3 Kix-Off Party, which will get things started Friday, May 3rd at 5:30pm. Acts playing Friday night are W.A.S.P., KIX, Danger Danger and Bad Seed Rising. The full-blown 2013 M3 Rock Festival begins Saturday, May 4th at 11am and will include Bret Michaels Band, Twisted Sister, Jackyl, Steel Panther, JSRG, Firehouse, Great White featuring Jack Russell, Kings X, Loudness, Steelheart, Trixter, Love/Hate, Tuff, In The Pink, Korupt, and Streetlight Circus.
Each year VIP and Pavilion seats sell out in minutes. Two-day and VIP packages will go on sale Friday, Jan. 25th at 10am EST through ticketfly.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the 9:30 Club Box Office in Washington, D.C. If available, single-day tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks. For more information, visit http://www.ticketfly.com/ or http://www.m3rockfest.com
VIP ticket holders will have:
• Private VIP Entrance gate
• Official M3 2013 Festival T-shirt
• Official M3 2013 Concert Poster
• Access to floor and front of house seating
• Access to M3 VIP Deck located backstage (access to VIP concessions and VIP restrooms)
• Access to Artist Meet & Greet Lounge.
ABOUT I.M.P.
Formed in 1980, I.M.P. is a Bethesda, Md.-based concert promoter and event production company. In addition to launching the Virgin Festival in the U.S., the principals at I.M.P. own Washington DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, named the Top Club by Billboard Touring Awards and renowned as the premier place to see and hear cutting edge live music of all varieties. I.M.P. also programs and operates Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. Over the last 33 years, I.M.P. and the 9:30 Club have put on nearly 10,000 events, hosting millions of music fans.
0 Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting
2 W.A.S.P.’s The Return To Bablyon 2010 Tour Dates!
Due to the huge success of the ‘Babylon’ album and tour….the band are returning to european shores for another trek. ‘The Return To Babylon’ tour is coming to decimate you all! England, Norway, Scotland, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Spain…and more! No corner unturned! Tickets on sale NOW!
13.10.2010 Bergen -‘ Kvarteret’ (Norway)
14.10.2010 Oslo – ‘Sentrum Scene’ (Norway)
15.10.2010 Örebro – ‘Conventum Congress’ Club 700 (Sweden)
16.10.2010 Stockholm – ‘Stockholm Rock Out Gamla Tryckeriet’ (Sweden)
17.10.2010 Malmö – ‘Kulturbolaget’ (Sweden)
18.10.2010 Göteborg – ‘Trädgarn’ (Sweden)
20.10.2010 Bremen – ‘Aladin Music Hal’l (Germany)
21.10.2010 Leipzig – ‘Hellraiser’ (Germany)
22.10.2010 Zlin- ‘Masters Of Rock Cafe’ (Czech)
23.10.2010 Burglengenfeld – ‘VA Zentrum’ (Germany)
24.10.2010 Wörgl – ‘Komma’ (Austria)
25.10.2010 Köln – ‘Essigfabrik’ (Germany)
27.10.2010 Sofia – ‘Festivalna Hall’ (Bulgaria)
29.10.2010 Athens – ‘Fuzz Club (Greece)
31.10.2010 Treviso – ‘New Age Club’ (Italy)
01.11.2010 Milan – ‘Live Club’ (Italy)
02.11.2010 Lyon – ‘Ninkasi Kao’ (France)
03.11.2010 Toulouse – ‘Le Bikini’ (France)
04.11.2010 Marseilles – ‘Le Cabaret Aleatoire’ (France)
05.11.2010 Pamplona – ‘Sala Totem’ (Spain)
08.11.2010 Granada – ‘Sala El Tren’ (Spain)
09.11.2010 Madrid – ‘Sala Heineken’ (Spain)
10.11.2010 Barcelona – ‘Razzmatazz 2’ (Spain)
12.11.2010 Memmingen – ‘Kaminwer’k (Germany)
13.11.2010 Uden – ‘De Pul Live’ (Holland)
14.11.2010 Tuttlingen – ‘Stadthalle’ (Germany)
15.11.2010 Zürich – ‘Volkshaus’ (Switzerland)
17.11.2010 Bad Arolsen – ‘Outback’ (Germany)
18.11.2010 Langen – ‘Stadthalle’ (Germany)
19.11.2010 Antwerpen – ‘Trix’ (Belgium)
20.11.2010 Nottingham – ‘Rock City’ (England,UK)
21.11.2010 Glasgow – ‘Garage’ (Scotland,UK)
23.11.2010 *TBA*
24.11.2010 Manchester – ‘Academy 2’ (England,UK)
25.11.2010 Cardiff – ‘Millenium Music Hal’l (Wales,UK)
26.11.2010 Dudley – ‘JBs’ (England,UK)
27.11.2010 Dublin – ‘The Academy’ (Ireland)
28.11.2010 Belfast – ‘Mandela Hall’ (Ireland)
30.11.2010 Hamburg – ‘Markthalle’ (Germany)
01.12.2010 Stuttgart – ‘LKA’ Lonhghorn (Germany)
02.12.2010 Wien – ‘Halle Gasometer’ (Austria) (*Support Blind Petition*)
03.12.2010 Budapest – ‘Diesel’ (Hungary)
04.12.2010 Cracow – ‘Kwadrat’ (Poland)
05.12.2010 Warszaw – ‘Progresja’ (Poland)
07.12.2010 Vilnius – ‘Forum Palace’ (Lithuania)
08.12.2010 Tallinn – ‘Rock Cafe’ (Estonia)
09.12.2010 Helsinki – ‘House Of Culture’ (Finland)
10.12.2010 Tampere – ‘Pakkahuone’ (Finland)
11.12.2010 Oulu – ‘Teatria’ (Finland)
12.12.2010 Moscow – ‘Milk Club’ (Russia)
14.12.2010 St. Petersburg – ‘Kosmonaut Club’ (Russia)
5 Vie’s Verses – How The PMRC Defeated Blackie Lawless
Anyone who remembers WASP from back in the day knows what a rowdy, raunchy, and exceptional metal band they were. These wild boys from the Sunset Strip did everything in excess – pills, booze, women, and cursing; a whole lot of cursing. One of the bands signature songs was called Animal (F*CK Like A Beast). Such language and themes brought the ire of parents who did not like their children hearing that kind of music. This then brought forth the rallying cry of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), fronted by (then Senator) Al Gore’s wife, Tipper.
The PMRC was a group of senators wives formed in 1985 with the intent to make parents aware of albums that contained “explicit content” by putting warning stickers on album covers. The PMRC claimed that the change in rock music was destroying the core of the American family. They recommended that the Recording Industry Association of America come up with a rating system for albums.
Blackie fought the PMRC with venom and refused to back down. At concerts, before playing Animal, he would curse the PMRC and call out Tipper Gore specifically. He would talk about freedom of speech and how WASP had a right to record and perform any songs that they wanted without being censored. He talked about the uptight Washington wives and what a joke they were. Then the band would cut into Animal.
This went on for years. As recently as 2007, Blackie was still cutting down the PMRC and Tipper Gore. Blackie was still fighting the fight and still singing Animal, to the delight of many WASP fans. Then a strange thing happened. Blackie found religion. He started to censor his own lyrics and the band completely stopped playing Animal.
Most notably the lyrics to Chainsaw Charlie were changed (in the live format) from “I’m a cocksucking asshole, yes that’s what they call me” to “I guess I’m a rock star, because that’s what they call me.” What? That doesn’t even make sense, Blackie. Charlie wasn’t the rock star, he was the record executive.
Lawless even went as far as saying he wasn’t proud of the songs he released in the past, specifically Animal. He didn’t find it right for 13-year-old kids to be singing that song. He said that the band would never play it live again.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a man’s religious beliefs, but doesn’t that make Blackie a total hypocrite? Here is the man who vehemently fought the PMRC and played his song with passion, only to years later remove it completely. Isn’t that what the PMRC wanted to do in 1985? Doesn’t this mean that in the end, the PMRC really won the battle?
The biggest disappointment in all of this though, is the knowledge that we will never hear Animal live again. I suppose we’ll never hear another Blackie rant on the PMRC again either, but perhaps that’s for the best. Tipper has other battles to fight these days, mainly her soon to be ex-husband, Al. Maybe Blackie will say a prayer for them.
4 New Video – W.A.S.P. – Babylons Burning
2 W.A.S.P. – Babylon (2009)
It has been two and half years since W.A.S.P.’s kick ass album, Dominator. I truly enjoyed the last disc, so I was anxiously awaiting to see what the band could offer on their latest opus, Babylon.
I was immediately disappointed to find that there are two cover songs on this CD, Deep Purple’s “Burn” and Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land”. W.A.S.P. is no stranger when it comes to cover tunes. They have done plenty in their career. I guess I was hoping for more original material this time around.
Lucky for me, the new W.A.S.P. material is very kick ass stuff. Blackie’s vocals haven’t changed much over the years. He sounds great on Babylon. In fact, the classic W.A.S.P. sound is still in tact with thanks to Doug Blair. He seems to have carried on, where he left off with Dominator. I believe his playing is even better on this album.
As soon as I heard “Crazy”, I knew that Babylon was going to be another solid release. This song quickly establishes that W.A.S.P. is still firing on all cylinders. This is a great way to start of this CD.
“Live to Die Another Day” is easily my favorite song on Babylon. Blackie Lawless sings his ass off, and the music is great too. Check it out in the sample below!
The galloping guitars of “Babylon’s Burning” immediately brings Iron Maiden to mind. This is another stadium anthem type of rocker, that could easily become another W.A.S.P. classic.
“Burn” is one of these songs that to me, does not need to be covered. It is such an awesome tune, I doubt too many bands could truly do it justice. Much to my surprise, W.A.S.P. knocked it out of the park. They did nothing to make it their own, but hearing Blackie’s voice on this tune was kind of cool. This is a faithful replica of the Deep Purple classic.
The band slows the pace down with the tune “Into the Fire”. This is a mid-tempo number that absolutely rips. Blair’s guitar solos on this tune are awesome! What a song!
It has been a long time since I have heard the Chuck Berry tune “Promised Land”, and I must admit that the W.A.S.P. version didn’t do much for me. I guess some songs work better as metal tunes than others, and although it isn’t bad, it just doesn’t live up to the original.
Overall, I am very pleased with Babylon. Blackie Lawless and company has cranked out another great CD. Long time W.A.S.P. fans will want to pick this one up! Babylon will be released October 27th, 2009. You can grab a copy of the CD, at this link.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Crazy
2. Live To Die Another Day
3. Babylon’s Burning
4. Burn
5. Into The Fire
6. Thunder Red
7. Seas Of Fire
8. Godless Run
9. Promised Land
W.A.S.P. is:
Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitars
Doug Blair – lead & rhythm guitars
Mike Duda – bass
Mike Dupke – drums
0 W.A.S.P release single ‘Crazy’
GLOBAL MUSIC are pleased to announce the release of CRAZY, the first single from the new W.A.S.P album, BABYLON. The single will be available for download from September 28th 2009.
Front-man, Blackie Lawless, commented on the track: “Although like it may sound like a man talking to a woman, ‘Crazy’ is about a performer talking to an audience; the dangers of idol worship and elevating Musicians and Politicians to a level that’s dangerous!”
The full album, BABYLON, is available in the UK & Europe from October 12th and in Germany from October 16th 2009.
Blackie and his crew will also be hitting the road for a full European tour to celebrate the release.
The scheduled UK shows are as follows:
27 Nov JBs, Dudley, UK
28 Nov Rock City, Nottingham, UK
29 Nov Club Academy, Manchester, UK
30 Nov O2 Academy, Leeds, UK
01 Dec The Waterfront, Norwich, UK
02 Dec Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK
03 Dec The Vice, Swansea, South Wales
04 Dec The Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland
05 Dec Hard Rock Hell Festival III, Prestatyn, North Wales
06 Dec The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
3 W.A.S.P.’s New Album “Babylon” Due Out October 12th
W.A.S.P.’s new studio album “Babylon” will be released on Global Music (via Demolition Records) on October 12th. Themed around biblical visions of “The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse,” the CD is described in a press release as “a metal masterpiece that will make fans both old and new craving for more.”
The track listing for “Babylon” is as follows:
1. Crazy
2. Live To Die Another Day
3. Babylon’s Burning
4. Burn
5. Into The Fire
6. Thunder Red
7. Seas Of Fire
8. Godless Run
9. Promised Land
W.A.S.P. will be touring extensively throughout Europe this autumn/winter in support of the new album. W.A.S.P.’s last album, “Dominator,” was released in both digipack and LP formats on October 1st, 2007 via Demolition Records. The digipack features a special 3D cover.
4 Video Showdown #13 – Hard Rock Cover Song Edition
3 Randy Piper’s Animal – Virus (Release Year – 2008)
Randy Piper’s Animal is back with their follow up disc, to 2006’s “Violent New Breed”. I really enjoyed their last disc, and still listen to it often. Needless to say, I have been looking forward to hearing the new CD “Virus”.
Pretty much from the first notes of “Cardiac Arrest” I knew that I was going to like this disc a lot. This high speed heavy rocker gets “Virus” firing on all cylinders immediately.
Much like “Violent New Breed”, singer Rich Lewis continues to sound like a Blackie Lawless clone, and this is a very good thing.
While some of the songs on “Virus” have a very W.A.S.P. like feel to them, there are also some surprising numbers that have a more modern feel.
The song “Don’t Wanna Die” could easily be a hit on modern rock radio in 2008. This song has a lot different feel from anything Randy Piper’s Animal has done before. If anything, this is a really cool effort by the band to stay relevant in today’s music scene.
“Crying Eagle” fools you with its slow intro. Without warning the song takes off with its cool machine gun rhythm. It flows naturally into “Unnatural High” which has an almost progressive Dream Theater sound to it.
Remember The Cranberries song “Zombie”? Randy Piper’s Animal covers it here, and quite frankly I like this metalized version of the song much better.
If there is anything negative about this CD, it would be the total play time, which falls short of 39 minutes. It only leaves me wanting to hear more music by Randy Piper’s Animal. As a whole, I enjoyed this CD quite a bit, so much in fact that I wouldn’t be surprised to see it make my Top 10 hard rock/metal CD’s of 2008.
Randy Piper plays his ass off on this disc, and as a result this disc shines. Rich Lewis sounds even better than on ‘Virus” than he did on “Violent New Breed”. Chris Laney not only does a superb job as the second axeman for Randy Piper’s Animal, he also handled the production on this disc. If Laney ever decides to hang up his guitar, he the skill to make it as a producer. Virus has top quality sound and production!
If you have enjoyed any music by W.A.S.P. or Randy Piper’s Animal in the past, pick this up. You won’t be disappointed.
Highly Recommended Listening!
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Cardiac Arrest
2. Can’t Stop
3. Don’t Wanna Die
4. Crying Eagle
5. Unnatural High
6. Judgement Day
7. Who’s Next
8. Zombie
9. Shoot To
10. L.U.S.T.
Randy Piper’s Animal is:
Rich Lewis – Vocals
Randy Piper – Guitars
Chris Laney – Guitars
Nalle “Grizzly” Pahlsson – Bass
Johan Koleberg – Drums
0 Video – W.A.S.P. – I Don’t Need No Doctor
In 1986, W.A.S.P. released their cover of the Ray Charles song, I Don’t Need No Doctor. They used an arrangement on the song that was quite similar to the version released by Humble Pie in 1971.
Check out the W.A.S.P version below.
Here is the Humble Pie version:
Click below to hear the original version by the legendary, Ray Charles.
13 Video Showdown #7 W.A.S.P. vs. JORN
While flipping through some CD’s in collection, I noticed a couple of covers that were kind of similar. The similar covers inspired this week’s video showdown.
The week pits W.A.S.P.’s Wild Child against the mighty voice of JORN Lande, and his video Living With Wolves!
W.A.S.P’s – Wild Child
JORN’s – Living With Wolves
Which video do you prefer? Comment and let us know who you think should win Video Showdown # 7!
13 W.A.S.P. Announces U.S and Canada Tour Dates
The following dates have been released as part of W.A.S.P.’s 2008 Crimson Idol Tour !
Fri 02/08/08 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
Sat 02/09/08 San Antonio, TX Tiffany Billiards
Sun 02/10/08 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
Tue 02/12/08 Louisville, KY EXPO 13
Wed 02/13/08 Charlotte, NC
Thu 02/14/08 Huntington, WV Monkey Bar
Fri 02/15/08 West Springfield, VA Jaxx
Sat 02/16/08 West Springfield, VA Jaxx
Sun 02/17/08 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre / Underground
Wed 02/20/08 Farmingdale, NY The Crazy Donkey
Fri 02/22/08 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
Sat 02/23/08 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
Sun 02/24/08 New York, NY Fillmore New York At Irving Plaza
Tue 02/26/08 Quebec, QC Imperial Du Quebec
Thu 02/28/08 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
Fri 02/29/08 Detroit, MI Harpo’s Concert Theatre
Sat 03/01/08 Flint, MI Machine Shop
Sun 03/02/08 Mokena, IL Pearl Room
Wed 03/05/08 Salt Lake City, UT Club Vegas
Thu 03/06/08 Las Vegas, NV Canyon Club
Fri 03/07/08 San Juan Capistrano, CA The Coach House
Sat 03/08/08 West Hollywood, CA Key Club
4 W.A.S.P. – Dominator (Release Year – 2007)
W.A.S.P returns in 2007 with their 13th Studio disc, and first since 2004’s The Neon God, Pt 2: The Demise.
Out of all of the bands playin in the Rocklahoma Music Festival in 2007, W.A.S.P. is one of the few bands that has new music to play for the fans. (Warrant, Quiet Riot, and Bang Tango are the others.)
The current W.A.S.P. lineup of Blackie Lawless on vocals and rhythm guitar, Doug Blair on lead guitar, Mike Duda on bass, and Mike Dupke on drums, has a new disc to be proud of.
Dominator starts off with two great heavy tracks Mercy and Long, Long Way to Go. Blackie seems to sing in a little lower register on Mercy, and I like it a lot. This is a great new song.
The rhythm section takes over on Long, Long Way to Go. This fast and heavy drum beats of Mike Dupke really drives this track. Doug Blair cuts loose and provides some great solos, and Blackie sounds great as always!
Take Me Up is a varying tempo number that Blackie Lawless shines on. Great!!
The chugging guitars of Burning Man is very cool. Doug Blair’s outstanding guitar work makes this track shine. This is another excellent track on Dominator.
Heaven’s Hung in Black is a lengthy (over 7 minutes) powerful track that needs to be listened to multiple times to truly discover how great it is. It starts as a slow brooding number but breaks into something much heavier. Blackie’s voice is amazing and Doug Blair’s guitar noodling is superb.
Heaven’s Blessed cranks up the tempo once more, and is another great heavy tune on Dominator.
Teacher feels like a potential Rock Radio hit. I can see this one getting added to the playlists at some of the hard rock stations and XM radio’s Boneyard.
The revisit of Heaven’s Hung in Black (Reprise) was not really needed on this disc, and seems like a wasted track. If you need a shorter version of the song above, this one is the way to go, but you will miss out on Blair’s guitar work on the longer version.
Deal with the Devil is a heavy, upbeat rocker and a great album closer.
Dominator is another solid effort by W.A.S.P. and another great disc worth picking up in 2007. Currently, it seems the distribution of this disc has not brought into most U.S. retailers (unless you import it.)
You can buy this disc at normal retail prices through CDInzane.com and Impulse Music.com.
Rocklahoma fans have some great new W.A.S.P. tunes to look forward to on the last night of the festival!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Mercy
2. Long, Long Way to Go
3. Take Me Up
4. Burning Man
5. Heaven’s Hung in Black
6. Heaven’s Blessed
7. Teacher
8. Heaven’s Hung in Black (Reprise)
9. Deal with the Devil
W.A.S.P. is
Blackie Lawless – vocals, rhythm guitar
Doug Blair – lead guitar
Mike Duda – bass
Mike Dupke – drums
7 Randy Piper’s Animal – Violent New Breed (Release Year – 2006)
Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper, and Zan Clan guitarist Chris Laney connects for a very W.A.S.P. like CD in Randy Piper’s Animal’s “Violent New Breed”.
Vocalist Rich Lewis could be a Blackie Lawless clone vocally.
Chris Laney also lent his producing talents, so this is one great sounding disc, from beginning to end.
The track “Violent New Breed” will grab you immediately. This is one kick-ass, hard rocking tune.
The heavy pace continues on “Morning After”. I can hear some Zan Clan like backup vocals on this one. This track is very cool!
“Hey You” cranks it up again. This song reminds me of a KISS song, both sonically and lyrically.
“Eye of the Storm” may be my favorite song on this disc. This is a well written song and the guitars are absolutely killer.
The tempo slows way down on “Turn and Walk Away”. This power ballad really delivers. Rich Lewis delivers an excellent vocal on this track, and Randy Piper’s guitar shines greatly. This song screams radio hit!
Lyrically, “Animal In Me” could have used a little more work. The music is good, but it is my least favorite track on this disc.
“Hellchild” sounds like a W.A.S.P. anthem. The keyboards on this track kind of give it that screechy horror type of feel, but are strangely annoying at the same time. The rest of the song is very good though, and would translate well live.
“Salt” is another excellent, heavy track with Zan Clan like backing vocals. This track sounds as if could have been at home in the late 80’s. It is very cool!
“In The Mirror” is a low to mid tempo number that seems to get better with each listen. The guitar work here is superb.
Just the title of “B.O.O.M.” seems to carry the W.A.S.P. spirit. The keyboards return in a minor fashion on this track, and I think they should have left them out. It would have sounded better. Aside from that, this is a cool hard driving track and it ends “Violent New Breed” in good fashion.
There is more to like on this disc than I expected. Chris Laney’s addition to this group takes it over the top. Many of these songs would translate well live. For W.A.S.P. fans, picking this disc up is a no-brainer. For all other Hard Rock, and metal fans, you ought to stop by the band’s myspace page (www.myspace.com/randypipersanimal) and give some of these tracks a listen. I think this is a great disc, and well worth the price of admission!
Rating: Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Violent New Breed
- Morning After
- Hey You
- Eye of the Storm
- Turn and Walk Away
- Animal in Me
- Hellchild
- Salt
- In The Mirror
- B.O.O.M
Randy Piper’s Animal is:
Randy Piper – Guitar
Rich Lewis – Vocals
Chris Laney – Guitar
Jackie Livengood – Bass
Johan Koleberg – Drums
Hard Rock Hideout 