The source for most of this information is W.A.S.P. Nest and 95 Nasty.
Did You Know:
- Blackie found Chris Holmes while reading the Hustler magazine that had a monthly feature called Beaver Hunt where readers sent in nude pictures of their wives and girlfriends. The pictures were mostly female, but they'd always have one titled "One For The Ladies". Around 1978, while Blackie was living in LA, he was reading an issue and there was a nude picture of Holmes that said "Rock N Roll Animal" and mentioned that he was a guitar player. A friend of Blackie's, who was the drummer for the Motels, was over and Blackie showed him the picture. The drummer recognized Holmes as friend of a friend of his. Blackie felt that Holmes had the look he wanted so he contacted him and after an audition he joined Sister.
- The original line up for W.A.S.P. was Blackie Lawless (Vocals, Guitar), Chris Holmes (Guitar), Tony Richards (Drums) and Rik Fox (Bass Guitar).
- Rik suggested the name WASP after being stunged outside Blackie's house.
- Later after Johnny Rod left W.A.S.P. he started working as a paramedic.
- Blackie is a very good baseball player and he has already played in minor leagues before making the band. He was going to try a baseball career.
- Chris Holmes married Lita Ford but they're now divorced.
- Chris Holmes and Blackie Lawless secretly worked on K.F.D., leaving as little information as possible about the Reunion.
- The reason why K.F.D. became very dark was because Blackie had just found out that the woman he lived with for many years turned out to be gay and Chris had broken up with Lita Ford. The mood reflects on the album.
- Blackie has been shot 3 times and many arenas where W.A.S.P. have played on the Circus Tour received bomb threats.
- W.A.S.P. stands for "We Are Sexual Perverts". In one interview Blackie said (joking) "We Ain't Sure Pal" when he was asked what W.A.S.P. ment.
- Blackie's original name is Stephen Duran. (this one seems to be false, read below the real name that Blackie said on an interview)
- In the song Rebel In The F.D.G., F.D.G. means F**king Decadent Generation.
- What is Blackie talking about at the end of On Your Knees when he says "What the f**k was that?"? According to the Metal Shop interview, they were recording the album in Southern California using very sensitive equipment. In his headphones, Blackie could faintly hear a Mexican radio station and asked "What the f**k was that?" He thought it was funny, so they left it on the end of the recording.
- After filming the video for Scream Until You Like It, Blackie was so thrilled with the little ghoulies that he bought one from the film company.
- After the success of their initial release, the Animal single, the band had originally intended to include the song on their first album and had even re-recorded the song. The record company felt that the song would be too much for American audiences, though, so they refused to allow the song on the album. The band then had to go back into the studio and record a new song, The Flame.
- According to a Japanese interview, Hold On To My Heart was originally written for The Headless Children, but Chris Holmes refused to play it.
- If you own a vinyl copy of the first album, check the band of vinyl near the label. Engraved on it is "We Are Sexual Perverts".
- If you own The Best Of The Best 1984-2000 Vol.1 check out the cover of the CD on the front on the left upper corner, there is a card drawn that says Iron Maiden, Blackie and has an Eddie drawn.
- Blackie Lawless used another artistic name before his current name which was "Blackie Goozeman". This before W.A.S.P. was started.
- Blackie Lawless' real name is Steve Lawless according to an interview he did which can be found on the "Interviews" section of this site - "W.A.S.P. Review at METALUPDATE.com".
- The chainsaw sounds on the song "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)" were done by Blackie Lawless with a Honda chainsaw at the studio that put out so much exhaust in the room that it made all the engineers sick to the point of throwing up and they had to let the room air out for about three hours before they could go back in and that gas smell was in the room for about two weeks afterwards. As Blackie said, "I strongly advise not trying that at home". (Special thanks to the one and only Blackie Lawless for this information)
CHAINSAW CHARLIE 2000-2004
