Does anybody even remember Blackie Lawless? He was in a band called WASP. Frankly, until I got a copy of this press release, I had never even heard of him. The band name WASP is only vaguely familiar, but then I was never a fan of '80s hair bands.
I was going to run a few excerpts from this defense of Pete Townshend that Lawless had mailed to several hundred journalists, and make a few comments on it... but I think it largely speaks for itself. Dave Barry couldn't do a better satire of a drug-fried rock star posing as... um, a religious intellectual, er, moral compass, uh, media critic... well, judge decide for yourself...
Gathering support for Townshend...Judge not lest ye be judged.... I have watched the events in the last few days surrounding the very public arrest of The Who visionary Pete Townshend. I am angered and appalled at the way the news media has made a circus of their portrayal of this case.
But they can't really be blamed as they are the same ones that were there covering the Crucifixion back in the day. There's nothing to forgive - They "DO" Know What They Do - they just can't help it. I am really pissed off and at the lack of support by artists who owe their very existence to this man. But I am especially aggravated and disappointed at the Public Distancing by the very musicians who are supposedly closest to him.
Elton John "I hope it's not true" ! You gotta be kidding me. LET YE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE. If it's true that A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED or A MAN'S TRUE WEALTH IS MEASURED BY HIS FRIENDS then Pete's gonna have to find some new FRIENDS when the dust settles on this one.
This brings to mind 3 very public DENIALS a couple of thousand years ago which involved another Peter. This time the tables are turned and its Peter that's being DENIED. Denied by "Friends" that are scared to be considered guilty through association and the ramifications that could possibly go along with it. Oddly enough it was the disciple Peter that was sent by God to claim what is now St. Peter's Square in Rome. The same St. Peter's Square where the Vatican sits. The same Vatican which houses the largest collection of Pornography (including Child Pornography) in the World. Possessed by the Vatican according to them to "Aid them in Research" and to "Better familiarize themselves in the ways of the World". I don't think the World could handle any more of their "Familiarization".
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Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
You may remember WASP for their mid-80s metal song "Fuck Like A Beast" with the single graphics featuring Blackie wearing a buzz-saw blade cod-piece. They were used as an example (along with the Mentors to mention another incoherently offensive group) by Tipper Gore's PMRC as examples of the utter depravity of the music industry, specifically the RIAA which was pouring this filth directly into the ears of the nation's youth.
2 - Rob
Those of us who were 80' metalheads still remember WASP. I wasn'r a big fan, but their "Live in the Raw" album is a good one, lots of enenrgy, and guitar solos. I am not stuck in the past, but I prefer energy and guitar solos over the whiny shoe gazing crap on the radio today.
3 - Jim S
I was never a big W.A.S.P. fan either, just the aforementioned Live In The Raw album, but Blackie was on the forefront of the anti-censorship fight against Tipper's PMRC. I remember him being much more articulate and a little less holy-rollerish in his approach to speaking up. He sounds like a rambling preacher without a clue in that press release.
4 - RAJESH MENON
I think blackie who i thought was just an insensitive person has come out bravely to the defense of a person who was cast aside by the so called decent guys in the music industry Im a great fan of WASP and love the 80's metal anyday to the cacophony passing off as music today
5 - HW Saxton
The Mentors were a lot funnier than WASP
ever was. I know that they did not take
themselves too seriously.Now WASP on the
hand I'm not sure of... Although Chris
Holmes provided some gut laugh inducing
lines in Decline Of Western Civilization
Pt.2- The Metal Years.
6 - Jimmy
My my Mr Howard Owens, what an unedgucated “man” you are… if you had any idea of what you a writing about you would now that.
A). WASP is one of the biggest and most influential bands in history (apologies if your close minded Britaney Spears pervert mind has restricted you from getting a real music education).
B). Blackie Lawless has been in politics/fighting politicians longer than you have been able to go pee pee by your self.
So go fuck your self and don't ever try and past comment on a topic you don't have a fucking clue about again!
7 - Howard Owens
Jimmy, very funny comment. Keep it up.
8 - Eric Olsen
Howard, we miss you, man
9 - Howard Owens
Thanks ... you're kind ... congrats on the anniversary.
10 - Eric Olsen
so what are you doing?
11 - Coleen
I am a big fan of Blackie and have followed his career since the begining. I think that his article shows how strong he feels about the wrong doings of the majority. If you listen to the words of his music you will see that there is a whole lot more to this man than just the show. He has stood up for what he believes in all his life and it doesn't surprise me that he had the balls to stand up for a friend. I would love to have a friend like Blackie in my corner. Then I would truely have someone to have my back when I was confronted with unfair acusations or attacks. Too many times in our society today, we pick parts of what we see, hear, or think we know and go with that, instead of finding out the whole story. Or we just go with who ever is yelling the loudest, afraid to make our own stand and say "no that isn't right". Too many times singer/songwriters are taken out of context, the "powers that be" pick pieces out of a song and blame the actions of their youth on these artists instead of putting the blame where it REALLY belongs, on the parents. If a parent is honest with their child and teaches them right from wrong, and what love truely is, then no matter what is said in a song, shown in a movie, or video game that child will do right. I am a widowed mother and have children of my own, and I have every faith in them that they will do right. They will have their ups and downs and make their fair share of mistakes, just as everyone in the world will and has, but I know in the end they will be good people and trust in their own judgements. I wish there was a way that I could let Blackie know that there are some of us out here that do understand his words and believe in them.
12 - METALDAVE
WELL HOWARD, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE ONE VERY CLOSED MINDED PERSON. WHY DID YOU EVEN START THIS COMMENT PAGE? REALLY? WHY WOULD YOU ATTACK TWO VERY GIFTED SONG WRITERS & PERFORMERS LIKE THIS? YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM. ANYWAY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I READ BLACKIE'S POST RIGHT AFTER IT CAME OUT & TO THIS DAY I HAVE NEVER HAD MORE RESPECT FOR THE MAN. HE IS NOT PERFECT. MAYBE YOU THINK HE WROTE A LITTLE TO MUCH IN 'SCRIPTURE', BUT I CAN SAY THAT IF YOU DID LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC, YOU WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHY A LITTLE MORE. AS HE EVEN STATED IN THIS POST, HE TALKED ABOUT HOW PEOPLE(JOURNALISTS AND THE LIKE) RESEARCH WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO TALK OR WRITE ABOUT. YOU OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T EVEN TRY WITH THIS POST BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHO BLACKIE LAWLESS WAS.
NOT THAT YOU WOULD CARE, BUT THIS MAN HAS GIVEN ME A VERY GOOD REASON TO KEEP ON LIVING IN THIS CRAZY AND FUCKED UP WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN. HIS MUSIC REACHED DEEP INSIDE MY SOUL AND PULLED OUT A VERY GOOD QUALITY THAT WAS HIDING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IF YOU DO SOME RESEARCH, YOU MIGHT JUST FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS.
I COULD KEEP GOING ON ABOUT HOW TO SCHOOL YOU IN THIS THING THAT WE CALL LIFE, BUT REALLY I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. HAVEN'T YOU EVER BEEN TOUCHED BY SOMETHING IN LIFE THAT HAS BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN YOU? I WOULD THINK THAT "SOMETHING" HAS. I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE GOING THROUGH LIFE THAT HASN'T. SO WHY WOULD YOU BASH SOMEONE THAT IS JUST TRYING TO HELP HIS FRIEND & MENTOR, WHEN YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEM? THAT WOULD BE LIKE ME BASHING YOU FOR TAKING PICTURES OF YELLOW FLOWERS(YES-I DO RESEARCH BEFORE I START TALKIN' SHIT-UNLIKE YOU) AND COMING I HERE AND SAYING THAT THESE ARE SOME OF THE LAMEST PICTURES AND WHO EVER TOOK THEM SHOULD BE SHOT! IT IS REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE YOU ARE IN YOUR FORTIES. THIS POST OF YOURS SOUNDS LIKE IT CAME FROM A TEENAGER.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, TRYING TO GET AHEAD IN YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE...
IT WOULD REALLY SUCK TO BE YOU-ALL ALONE...
METALDAVE
"THE SIDE YOU SEE...
IS THE NASTY ME..."
THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO SUPPORTED BLACKIE IN THIS POST.
13 - Dick Gentile
W.A.S.P. is DEF! Long Live Blackie Lawless!
14 - MANIMAL
Well said MetalDave.
I sure as hell remember Mr Lawless and its obvious that Howard is a fucken loser that doesnt know what the fuck he's talking about.
Maybe just stick to taking pictures of yellow flowers you bloody yobbo!
Shuk ME, SUCK Me, eat me RAW Mother Fucker!!!
15 - NIKKI SIXX
I worked with BLACKIE in the early 80s.. HE is a true man at heart but willing to burn every bridge just to get ahead!! errr uh!!! CHRIS HOLMES!!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO YA BABY!!!!!
16 - Bridgitte
Bravo, Blackie Lawless. Well said.
17 - Dario William
Well, personally, I am one of W.A.S.p.,s best fans ever throughout the years, ever since my friend introduced 'em to me. What can I say? The "man's" got brains, thats 4 sure, you ain't talking here about a phony rockstar. Cos everyone has this feeling about us, they think they know what its all about. You're a rockstar, you're a dumbass. There are, I know, there always will be...of course we all get into RnR cos of the girls, can't deny it (but thats a long fuckin' story...an' it goes on and on...)but does this mean we don't give a shit about whats happening in the world? There's gotta be more, so why can't a "rockstar" say something along the way, add some of theirs(perhaps their ideas, perhaps just profound questions)? Throughout the years Mr. Lawless did this, so honestly, I don't see the meaning in 'picking' this way...WASP did records I wouldn't exactly define as political, maybe were not even into social kinda things, but, however, they pone good questions. A lot of us are into these kinda matters, who am I, what am I here (on earth) for? Does God exist?
Ever heard of 'The Neon GOd'? that's like a story, part I and II, Crimson Idle, he is like telling a story, something going on, could be anything, could happen anywhere...another band named Queensryche did something quite like that, with their 'Operation Mindcrime', there's a lot in there. You guys should go there, and discover. Dig in, and don't trust every single line they feed you. especially newspapers, magazines, broadcast media. Dig out the truth and make yer own way through, read about history, and all the lies (or 'half truths') they've told us about WWII and so on. I might be going somewhere else, but I don't think this is opposite Lawless/WASP and Pete Townshend from Who with The Headless Children. Personally, I must admit, I dont think I had that idea, that time (or did I? can't quite say...)at least this is something yet to be discussed. Whether you are in the wrong or youre in the right..
18 - kc
I think that you should probably go back to high school, if this is barely coherent to you. The essay was pointed and well written. The fact that he is in a band that entertains his fans mean nothing here, and the fact that he took the time and his reputation into account to back Townshend, when even his friends wouldn't, says a lot to his character. So step off of you stone casting platform and leave things, that you apparently can't understand anyway, alone.
19 - monica
What do you mean "was" in W.A.S.P. They're still touring the world, Blackie is still the lead singer. Do a little research before writing. He stated his beliefs, everyone has a right to do that. Blackie is and always will be the underdog, everyone says his opinions doesn't matter, mainly because he plays a certain kind of music that does appeal to these people, so he gets shoved to the side.