Blackie Lawless (born Steven Edward Duren; September 4, 1956) is an American songwriter and musician best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist (formerly bassist) for the heavy metal band W.A.S.P.
Early life
Duren was raised in Staten Island, New York City, New York. He had a fundamentalist Baptist upbringing, but has also claimed Jewish ancestry. He has said that he was "very active" in church as a youth and was born again at age eleven but in his late teens strayed from the church and became interested in the occult, but has returned to his Christian faith in recent years. He has Irish, French and Native American ancestry (his mother is reportedly one-quarter Blackfoot). He is the nephew of the late Major League Baseball pitcher, Ryne Duren. He credits his older brother with introducing him to the guitar.
Career
He began his career in music playing with bands such as Black Rabbit and Orfax Rainbow. In 1975, after Johnny Thunders left glam rock band New York Dolls in the middle of a tour of Florida, the band started auditioning for guitarists. Lawless was hired but only stayed for the remainder of the tour.
Bruce Dickinson tells story about Blackie Lawless 1989
Short excerpt from interview with Bruce Dickinson about Blackie Lawless
#blackielawless #wasp #ironmaiden
published: 08 Aug 2022
Blackie Lawless of Wasp Tells a Funny Story About Cliff Burton When He Was Touring With Metallica
I didn't get to record this, but I was sitting next to the person who was. Credit goes to Rob Messina for this great moment!
#heavymetal #metal #thrashmetal #wasp #blackielawless #armoredsaint #metallica #cliffburton #jameshetfield #80smetal #80smusic
published: 06 Dec 2022
10 Things you didn't know about Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P.
10 Things you didn't know about WASP singer Blackie Lawless
Thanks for watching! please subscribe for more.
published: 22 Aug 2017
The Question I Asked Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. I Made Him Cringe.
He did not see this question coming.
published: 28 Nov 2022
The best BLACKIE LAWLESS (W.A.S.P.) interview you'll ever see - MuchMusic Pepsi Power Hour 1989
Erica Ehm was never gun shy with W.A.S.P., yet she helmed the best interview we've ever seen with frontman Blackie Lawless. It's not a shorty either, so grab a beverage.
Blackie was doing press for W.A.S.P.'s "get serious" album The Headless Children. He was invited to co-host the Pepsi Power Hour in 1989. Erica wasn't about to throw softball questions, but it's quite clear that Lawless wins her over. Blackie is remarkably forthright, with a dash of humour. He also picked the tunes for the show, and you'll find out what songs he chose and why.
#metal #heavymetal #wasp #hardrock #VHS #MuchMusic #PepsiPowerHour
published: 07 Mar 2019
Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.) -- The Idol (Acoustic)
published: 11 Feb 2013
WASP's Blackie Lawless gets political in Cleveland Nov 12, 2022
Blackie gets states his views on a political issue in Cleveland during his show on Nov, 12, 2022. #wasp #blackielawless #cleveland #baseball
published: 13 Nov 2022
Blackie Lawless: The Rise and Fall of Shock Rock's Dark Prince
This video traces the larger-than-life journey of Blackie Lawless - the godfather of shock metal who remains one of music's most controversial icons over 40 years since founding W.A.S.P. It covers his humble beginnings as an outcast youth on Staten Island, early bands and adopting his indelible stage persona before moving to Los Angeles. There, Lawless honed his vision for confrontational theatrical rock, assembling the ingredients for W.A.S.P. to detonate onto Reagan's America in the mid-1980s. We explore the group's rise to glam metal notoriety through their origins crafting savage songs like 'Animal' to commercial dominance before a steady fall from grace. Lawless pressed forward nonetheless, through years of feuds, failed religious conversion and line-up changes. His staying power affi...
published: 01 Mar 2024
Blackie Lawless talks about the worst and the best things in his work (14 Apr 2023)
Blackie Lawless spoke with fans right after a W.A.S.P. show in Helsinki, Finland on 14 April 2023. In this clip Lawless talks about the worst and the best things in his work. Recorded by Tuomas Tähti.
published: 05 May 2023
W.A.S.P. - Wild Child
The video for the song Wild Child! It rocks the hell out of ya!
I didn't get to record this, but I was sitting next to the person who was. Credit goes to Rob Messina for this great moment!
#heavymetal #metal #thrashmetal #...
I didn't get to record this, but I was sitting next to the person who was. Credit goes to Rob Messina for this great moment!
#heavymetal #metal #thrashmetal #wasp #blackielawless #armoredsaint #metallica #cliffburton #jameshetfield #80smetal #80smusic
I didn't get to record this, but I was sitting next to the person who was. Credit goes to Rob Messina for this great moment!
#heavymetal #metal #thrashmetal #wasp #blackielawless #armoredsaint #metallica #cliffburton #jameshetfield #80smetal #80smusic
Erica Ehm was never gun shy with W.A.S.P., yet she helmed the best interview we've ever seen with frontman Blackie Lawless. It's not a shorty either, so grab a...
Erica Ehm was never gun shy with W.A.S.P., yet she helmed the best interview we've ever seen with frontman Blackie Lawless. It's not a shorty either, so grab a beverage.
Blackie was doing press for W.A.S.P.'s "get serious" album The Headless Children. He was invited to co-host the Pepsi Power Hour in 1989. Erica wasn't about to throw softball questions, but it's quite clear that Lawless wins her over. Blackie is remarkably forthright, with a dash of humour. He also picked the tunes for the show, and you'll find out what songs he chose and why.
#metal #heavymetal #wasp #hardrock #VHS #MuchMusic #PepsiPowerHour
Erica Ehm was never gun shy with W.A.S.P., yet she helmed the best interview we've ever seen with frontman Blackie Lawless. It's not a shorty either, so grab a beverage.
Blackie was doing press for W.A.S.P.'s "get serious" album The Headless Children. He was invited to co-host the Pepsi Power Hour in 1989. Erica wasn't about to throw softball questions, but it's quite clear that Lawless wins her over. Blackie is remarkably forthright, with a dash of humour. He also picked the tunes for the show, and you'll find out what songs he chose and why.
#metal #heavymetal #wasp #hardrock #VHS #MuchMusic #PepsiPowerHour
This video traces the larger-than-life journey of Blackie Lawless - the godfather of shock metal who remains one of music's most controversial icons over 40 yea...
This video traces the larger-than-life journey of Blackie Lawless - the godfather of shock metal who remains one of music's most controversial icons over 40 years since founding W.A.S.P. It covers his humble beginnings as an outcast youth on Staten Island, early bands and adopting his indelible stage persona before moving to Los Angeles. There, Lawless honed his vision for confrontational theatrical rock, assembling the ingredients for W.A.S.P. to detonate onto Reagan's America in the mid-1980s. We explore the group's rise to glam metal notoriety through their origins crafting savage songs like 'Animal' to commercial dominance before a steady fall from grace. Lawless pressed forward nonetheless, through years of feuds, failed religious conversion and line-up changes. His staying power affirms that simple outrage remains eternally appealing when set to cacophonous guitars.
#blackielawless #wasp #w.a.s.p. #metal #music #ai #biography #secretautobiographies
This video traces the larger-than-life journey of Blackie Lawless - the godfather of shock metal who remains one of music's most controversial icons over 40 years since founding W.A.S.P. It covers his humble beginnings as an outcast youth on Staten Island, early bands and adopting his indelible stage persona before moving to Los Angeles. There, Lawless honed his vision for confrontational theatrical rock, assembling the ingredients for W.A.S.P. to detonate onto Reagan's America in the mid-1980s. We explore the group's rise to glam metal notoriety through their origins crafting savage songs like 'Animal' to commercial dominance before a steady fall from grace. Lawless pressed forward nonetheless, through years of feuds, failed religious conversion and line-up changes. His staying power affirms that simple outrage remains eternally appealing when set to cacophonous guitars.
#blackielawless #wasp #w.a.s.p. #metal #music #ai #biography #secretautobiographies
Blackie Lawless spoke with fans right after a W.A.S.P. show in Helsinki, Finland on 14 April 2023. In this clip Lawless talks about the worst and the best thing...
Blackie Lawless spoke with fans right after a W.A.S.P. show in Helsinki, Finland on 14 April 2023. In this clip Lawless talks about the worst and the best things in his work. Recorded by Tuomas Tähti.
Blackie Lawless spoke with fans right after a W.A.S.P. show in Helsinki, Finland on 14 April 2023. In this clip Lawless talks about the worst and the best things in his work. Recorded by Tuomas Tähti.
I didn't get to record this, but I was sitting next to the person who was. Credit goes to Rob Messina for this great moment!
#heavymetal #metal #thrashmetal #wasp #blackielawless #armoredsaint #metallica #cliffburton #jameshetfield #80smetal #80smusic
Erica Ehm was never gun shy with W.A.S.P., yet she helmed the best interview we've ever seen with frontman Blackie Lawless. It's not a shorty either, so grab a beverage.
Blackie was doing press for W.A.S.P.'s "get serious" album The Headless Children. He was invited to co-host the Pepsi Power Hour in 1989. Erica wasn't about to throw softball questions, but it's quite clear that Lawless wins her over. Blackie is remarkably forthright, with a dash of humour. He also picked the tunes for the show, and you'll find out what songs he chose and why.
#metal #heavymetal #wasp #hardrock #VHS #MuchMusic #PepsiPowerHour
This video traces the larger-than-life journey of Blackie Lawless - the godfather of shock metal who remains one of music's most controversial icons over 40 years since founding W.A.S.P. It covers his humble beginnings as an outcast youth on Staten Island, early bands and adopting his indelible stage persona before moving to Los Angeles. There, Lawless honed his vision for confrontational theatrical rock, assembling the ingredients for W.A.S.P. to detonate onto Reagan's America in the mid-1980s. We explore the group's rise to glam metal notoriety through their origins crafting savage songs like 'Animal' to commercial dominance before a steady fall from grace. Lawless pressed forward nonetheless, through years of feuds, failed religious conversion and line-up changes. His staying power affirms that simple outrage remains eternally appealing when set to cacophonous guitars.
#blackielawless #wasp #w.a.s.p. #metal #music #ai #biography #secretautobiographies
Blackie Lawless spoke with fans right after a W.A.S.P. show in Helsinki, Finland on 14 April 2023. In this clip Lawless talks about the worst and the best things in his work. Recorded by Tuomas Tähti.
Blackie Lawless (born Steven Edward Duren; September 4, 1956) is an American songwriter and musician best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist (formerly bassist) for the heavy metal band W.A.S.P.
Early life
Duren was raised in Staten Island, New York City, New York. He had a fundamentalist Baptist upbringing, but has also claimed Jewish ancestry. He has said that he was "very active" in church as a youth and was born again at age eleven but in his late teens strayed from the church and became interested in the occult, but has returned to his Christian faith in recent years. He has Irish, French and Native American ancestry (his mother is reportedly one-quarter Blackfoot). He is the nephew of the late Major League Baseball pitcher, Ryne Duren. He credits his older brother with introducing him to the guitar.
Career
He began his career in music playing with bands such as Black Rabbit and Orfax Rainbow. In 1975, after Johnny Thunders left glam rock band New York Dolls in the middle of a tour of Florida, the band started auditioning for guitarists. Lawless was hired but only stayed for the remainder of the tour.
A scream unlocks the cage The roar's rock the stage Hunger of animals are calling Thrive upon the rage Paw prints on the page The roam's going wild, walls are falling Lights shine illumination bright Reveal all the madness here tonight Welcome, I bid you welcome, to life Inside the electric circus Hang on, hang on for your life The animals are all insane - God help us Electricity to burn Amplifiers churn Three ring madhouse calls the action It's life upon the road Insane asylum grows Night after night, the main attraction A strange world that you might wanna know When it comes alive - crank up the showWelcome, I bid you welcome, to life Inside the electric circus Hang on, hang on for your life The animals are all insane - God help us Welcome, I bid you welcome, to life Inside the electric circus Hang on, hang on for your life The animals are all insane - God help us Welcome, I bid you welcome, to life Inside the electric circus Hang on, hang on for your life The animals are all insane - God help us
Led by frontman BlackieLawless the band's live show pushed the limits at the time ... By the time I was born, W.A.S.P, led by the gradual moral awakening of Blackie Lawless, had already moved on from trying to shock the world.
Halloween Party @ The Green Room 10/31 ... 31 at 9 p.m ... Dr ... Fresch ... Staking out a polarizing image, W.A.S.P.—especially in the person of lead vocalist and guitarist BlackieLawless—has successfully tapped into the rebellion of teenage rock fans.
debuted its video for “I Wanna Be Somebody” on MTV in the early ‘80s, the first question that many people asked was, “Uh, what’s up with the lead singer?” A fair question, since BlackieLawless...