W.A.S.P. Blackie Lawless VIP Experience Q&A - Where Are The Future Rock Stars?

[@jacobomartinez5346]

Blackie Lawless is an articulate and well-spoken musician.

[@markunsworth2364]

You can see it in his face, despondent, heartbroken that we're in the death throes of what once was. These are really depressing days

[@mjh5437]

Fed up with stoopid questions too.

[@sullysosavage365]

I could listen to a Blackie Lawless podcast for hours, he's just filled with so much knowledge

[@negr-Vasya]

Он мыслит поверхностно, при всем уважении к нему.

[@danielk8149]

Wow a rocker who didn't fry his brain😂👍

[@iuliangeorgescu7588]

ONE OF A KIND🤘

[@ShiftaelV2]

Even as just a fanatical fan of music growing up in the 70's it's heartbreaking

[@radioactivepotato2068]

One of the most underrated vocalists in rock/metal history IMO. I don't think he'll ever get the recognition he deserves. My cool aunt took me to see W.A.S.P on the Crimson Idol tour at the Hammersmith Odeon when I was eleven years old. 😆 I'd seen AC/DC at Wembley a couple months before and the experiences were like night and day. W.A.S.P really put on a show, just crazy energy. My uncle Eric managed to get me up the front for a while on his shoulders, right under Blackie. The man was awe inspiring for a kid that age, huge dude with incredible presence, blood all over his face and dressed to kill zombies. He blew my tiny mind to bits. I remember going home on the tube just stunned and partially deaf. Been a fan ever since.

[@tomtucker1984]

They don't give him the credit cos it's hair metal, which was mostly was shite, but Blackie stood tall. One of the most talented musicians in hard rock/metal history, king of power ballads too.

[@O_homem_que_ri]

I think he is deservedly very well rated. Could be more, but who loves rock and metal loves WASP, of course.

[@rickmartin2168]

I was born in 1959. I agree 💯 percent with Blackie. We were fortunate to be born when we were. We hit the sweet spot. Best of the best that can not be duplicated

[@jamesmacleod671]

I was born in 69 and I am now glad that I grew up during the 70s&80s listening to some great bands and inspirational music during that time. I think a lot of young people are beginning to wake up now to the mainstream crap that is on offer to them whether it is music or film.

[@usmc6911]

So true.The bands,the clubs,the hair and the women. THERE WILL NEVER BE A TIME LIKE THE 80s.

[@ronwilliams1094]

I was born in 1967 and was fortunate enough to have been in bands in the 80’s/early 90’s and Blackie is spot on. Even the grunge bands from the early 90’s had their genesis in the late 80’s. Once Napster hit the internet it spelled the demise of the record industry as we once knew it. There is no mystery to artists any longer. Modern artists HAVE TO utilize social media or be relegated unknown to the masses. We used to complain about A&R people as gatekeeping but now we can see exactly why they were crucial to record companies. Every aspiring musician can make a record in their basement these days and have it sound as good, or better in some cases, than a major label release but it doesn’t equate to quality songs. Gene Simmons said rock is dead and we killed it. He’s not wrong.

[@michaelanthony1342]

Born again Blackie 👍🏻👍🏻🙏 a really smart dude , I could listen to him for hours 🤘

[@toddmahle7541]

He might not be the most famous musician in the world but about 1984 stood in line at a record store in Columbus, Ohio got his autograph with his other band mates. Never will forget it. When I see the WASP video shot in Texas takes me back to yesterday!

[@flyfishincrazy]

The world sucks now and music sucks now. Good thing we got the past. Real rock and roll 🎸 like W.A.S.P. Will never die! Glad i grew up in the 80s!

[@mattm7798]

Haha, the world has always sucked but music is just horrible for the last 20 years(I mean like popular music).

[@estonianrocker666]

@@mattm7798 Pop&rap music nowadays are just twerking&money&bitches etc....boring i say

[@jimbeam4111]

Me too

[@alex1982maple]

Popular music gets better or worse, but there is more available music than ever now, and there is a lot of great music to find. Turn off the radio - that's the bad stuff.

[@XxSEETH3RxX]

It doesn't suck, you're just closed minded and stuck in an era

[@jdsbc98]

What a thoughtful answer. I imagine he could talk on this for hours. Smart guy. He talks about the business side often, I wonder if he was smart with his money back in the day and has lived comfortably since.

[@dannyburch4973]

Yes he's invested in real estate I think he's done well for himself that's what I've heard.

[@russell5078084]

@@dannyburch4973 last thing I read said he was worth at least 9 million.

[@chuckbrowning1612]

Blackie is a badass,I seen him The first time in 1985 in Cleve oh with armored saint and Metallica at the variety theater,I just seen him again Nov 12 2022 and he sounds the same I don’t care what people say about him past band members or who ever blackie lawless is one of a kind…god bless you blackie….fan from Cleve oh!!!!!!

[@jogranados2857]

Wow Blackie is so intelligent and interesting I could just listen to everything he says...!!!...💞💞💞

[@guruofdoodoo]

I was ecstatic when I finally got to hear him respond to some of 🦊's claims during the Ron keel interview! Even better 🦊 showed up on a site and whined about it. He and one of his disciples went back and forth with me until 🦊 tripped over his own tongue and got caught in a lie. Then he blocked me so he doesn't have to see my comments anymore 🤣. PRICELESS

[@johnshields6852]

It's not just the music, it was an era, you can't repeat that we're in the past.

[@sirchromiumdowns2015]

An excellent analysis of the current state of rock and heavy metal.

[@graemestansfield6170]

Times have changed and it will never be the same again. Sad times. Long love the rock gods now.

[@Thought.Spoken-Written.]

That voice with an acoustic guitar.... WOW! Also, one of the best songs I ever heard live was Widowmaker back in the day with that amazing bass intro...chilling.

[@LouisWinthorpe622]

Eternal hails and thanks!!! The world is a better place for having had this man in it.

[@petercrimson1979]

These posts are awesome keep them coming thanks. Blackie has good knowledge he has made money from his music. Some artists get ripped off by there labels .

[@jimjamjoeyjoejoe]

Excellent question, glad to hear Blackie talk about it.

[@mr.disney4740]

So true what blackie saying! My band use to practice next door to "W.A.S.P" in the 80's!

[@rickmartin2168]

I will never forget a interview with Blackie on the Hard and Heavy collection from the early 90s. He has his Toilet paper theory. 😆. He said that he can make a roll of Toilet paper last a week. But , you bring women into the house and they go through a 4 pack in one day. He's like what are they doing with it ? Making paper mache Dinosaurs 🦖. 🤣. He's a great guy. Funny and a great performer

[@RS-ol8or]

He’s not kidding. I tried to bust my wife on this exact issue. She just acted coy. Pretty sure she knows I KNOW that I busted her on her little secret society.

[@gummybearkiller1]

Blackie has really come a long way since app the year 2000. He now has come to the point where he sees hes mistakes and mans up to it. Cudos! I have always known he was intelligent and talented and loves all his stuff but when he refused to play certain songs i got sadened. But Blackie just stood up for what he believed in and i totally respect that. The latest Wasp setup is by far the most professional, but hell i miss hard hitting Tony and the kickass performers Chris and Johnny.

[@martinkuliza]

I absolutely agree, as a 49 year old who grew up with W.A.S.P. and all the other bands that came out of L.A. in that time, and looking at the choices we had, We went from Metal to Alternative to Grunge, to Hardcore to Trance of course Metal and Rap were going head to head but when Alternative kicked in and grunge, After that... there were really no more front men, Nick Skitz was not a front man he was a dj, Ricci DJ was the same DJ Bobo wasn't a front man so yeah by the time you get to 2005 everything goes downhill but as blacky said, i personally feel blessed to have been a teen IN THAT TIME FRAME IN THAT WINDOW, and we didn't know it at the time, but hey.... What a cool time to be alive and look what we have to remember from it and yes it's sad.... Our heroe's are dying off pretty quickly we lost Cliff Bon Dime then Vinnie B.B. King Aretha Franklin Malcolm Michael jackson i think the other day we lost one of the girls from Vixen it's really said to think one day all our hero's will be dead, Really sux

[@Seafire-gy2hs]

I could listen to this guy for hours, so interesting. Having "been there," you know he has tons of "war stories" to tell. He seems very approachable, just a regular guy...who's fronted a hellacious metal band for a long time. =)

[@CLIFFLIX]

He gave some great answers! Wow....good insight!

[@usmc6911]

I have met Blackie (Steve) a couple of times.Once at Hammerjacks and then in L.A.He is a super smart and educated person.A all around great guy. He is the type of guy that the people who don't like his music can't win a argument with.Your the best Steve.

[@PrayWithUsNow]

Blackie is so friendly and optimistic

[@tomtucker1984]

People say all hair metal musicians are dumb, listen to Blackie Lawless.

[@Ahopeinmoon]

We love you Blackie

[@brianplunkett4002]

I’ll admit I was never a big Wasp fan, but I have to give him credit for his accomplishments.

[@johnhenrycook]

Blackie seems very calm and well spoken. I always thought of him as a wild man.

[@tombelanovic7686]

They are NEVER "wild" offstage! It's an act. Like ACTing.

[@greatesttoysevermade3693]

Genuine and thoughtful answers to fan’s questions in these Q&A videos.

[@crazywisdom2]

Blackie is an Amazing and Talented individual. I love to hear him just talk. Him and me, and a cup of coffee.

[@dannyjacobs2280]

If you would have told me when I was listening to WASP in the mid 80's in HS that Blackie would be interviewed almost 40 years later, well articulated and knowledgeable, I wouldn't have believed you. To the point he just made, he's exactly right.

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

Never knew he was such a baseball talent...amazing......always love listening to Blackie....

[@NoName-vx6up]

I believe his uncle played in the majors as well.

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

@@NoName-vx6up Learning new things everyday,I guess.....I knes Crosby from RATT was almost drafted,or at least looked at.........

[@NoName-vx6up]

@stephenmcgraw8871 I just looked it up. Blackie was drafted by the Tigers and his uncle, Ryne, was a pitcher for 7 major league teams. Yes, very interesting.

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

@@NoName-vx6up It`s funny,I grew up wanting to be either a pro baseball player or a rock star and the rock stars wanted to be ball players,the ball players wanted to be rock stars.......guess we`ve all been hatched from the same mold...

[@AdriaanNothnagel]

Hear! Hear! He spoke the truth.

[@rudygracia5573]

Not particularly a WASP fan,but this man is WISE!I've been saying this stuff for years,but my friends just think I'm being negative.No,it's reality.

[@gummybearkiller1]

You just called yourself wise, lol.

[@rudygracia5573]

@@gummybearkiller1 Sorry,I didn't think about it like THAT,I'm just a DORK!🤪Blackie is wise!My views are/were just speculation(and accounts from friends in the biz),HIS are actual experience.

[@caseywilson7768]

He's not wrong, but in addition, musical tastes have changed on a societal level. Rock was the thing when I was growing up. Now it's hip hop. Those guys are the rock stars now. Like the guy said. We're just getting older and wish for things to be as they were when we were young.

[@lesotwell3561]

Blackie is the best at what he does no doubt. He is right though NONE of new bands hold a candle to the ones that came out when WASP did. Yeah my kids all listen to and love WASP, Judas Priest, Sabbath among others.

[@LouisWinthorpe622]

I get you and that's perfectly fine, if that's what you think but the Metal is far from entirely dead. There are dedicated and highly skilled musicians still making great stuff. Mainly for the art because there ain't really much money to be had, although, of course, they'll be hoping there is. Even though the same audiences aren't there, things like the last 2 'In The Woods' albums have been great (Pure and Cease The Day, the new one that's coming out notsomuch probably). Who else? Clutch! They have some daft, hokey, made up stories in their lyrics, the guys are amazing players with a great singer and their brand new album sounds great. If you haven't, already, check them out. Who knows? There album might end up sitting, one day, next to the bands you have said. There are really heavy bands with clean singing called Pallbearer and Howling Giant, you might like, as well.

[@russell5078084]

Try Sabaton. They are still making albums and have been doing it for 20 years.

[@bobthebear1246]

Great, thoughtful answer. I always knew that Blackie Lawless was an intelligent guy behind his balls-out Metaller persona, but I had never seen that before till now. As he himself says in this video, he's just an average guy, and it is really refreshing to see him as just an average guy. I absolutely love this interview.

[@thomasball3658]

Blackie is very knowledgable about the music industry and he lays it on the line.

[@RaspySquares]

Not really a WASP fan, but the YT algo has been feeding me these Blackie videos. I could listen to him talk all day. I guess I need to start listening to some albums.

[@joelcarlotta1732]

Blackie hit on something ive said to people in arguments over the past few years about technology and with people being able to record music and upload it in their own homes can be a good thing for young musicians but my problem was that by not playing in the clubs and bars they weren't really developing some of the other necessary skills plus i have always felt that thise miserable cold rainy nights packing up your gear and setting up and taking down was part of paying your dues. Maybe its because I'm much older now but those crappy clubs and the horrors and hardships that happened were just part of it and we still had fun along the way

[@cooltheengines]

He has great wisdom, and It’s cool that he doesn’t sit there and swear every other word too…much respect!!

[@nickrooney6206]

Everything he said is truth

[@gregsefcik6700]

Wow, extremely insightful on many levels.

[@31wozza]

great upload

[@AllOuttaBubblegum123]

Not just front men but decent, big, live rock bands in general. I feel so lucky to have grown up in the era where all this was at its peak. I remember going to gigs back then and they would play for hours and my ears would ring for days after. I see some of the surviving acts nowadays and it's just not the same.

[@森くま-e5f]

私の友達からW.A.S.PのPV見せてもらったんだけど、ブラッキー・ローレスが両腕にノコギリ装着してて衝撃のヴィジュアルでした‼️

[@robertshabarekh610]

He’s exactly right

[@robertshabarekh610]

He nailed it

[@mattm7798]

He's not wrong. The labels could be super evil and yet produce great talent at the same time. In some ways, it's alot easier to produce good sounding music because technology has made it affordable...at the same time, where do you go to make money. No one buys albums anymore and spotify and the like don't pay alot unless you have a massive massive hit.

[@shywhispers1]

I’m doing the meet and greet in SF…….so excited!!!!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

very smart man Blackie is.

[@jismism9515]

Nothing but RESPECK for this man - although I'm not a fan of WASP

[@oregontribal1]

Holy CHITZ, his eyes really are THAT blue?! But that first guy asking him a question, you could see that Blackie is a bit offended.

[@driftloudrecords]

Mr. Lawless told it how it is. Drift Loud Record is the new American farm league in Central Illinois. Straight up grinding, fuckin it up.

[@jerc5298]

The wisdom of Blackie is priceless.

[@joesmith9216]

Look, I accept it and don't even care as the 80's and 90's were my favorite decades for music, there really is not a future for metal bands and I don't care, the classics are actually life long for me, BLOODY KISSES is eternal!

[@Sleepyjoe.]

Wasp was some amazing metal, great music great voice one of the best in my opinion.

[@Ahopeinmoon]

Well said....

[@jesse75]

What he said is articulate and true.

[@tomdodds4815]

WASP is a awesome group man

[@nileswillis7992]

He is absolutely correct.

[@НиколайПечёрин-б8к]

WASP Blackie Lawless Супер

[@NikkiLKNDocherty]

The rock and metal music family should not be subject to violations any more than anyone's birth or chosen family should. I stand with my people and have been a WASP fan since 86. Was hoping to see them live but things here in Lincolnton NC went crazy. I have feelings of kinship in some way with Blackie Lawless of WASP in some way that is difficult to describe.

[@johnatkinson7479]

Blackie is so right on this..I was born in 76 and thru the 80s and early 90s there were thriving music cultures that defined outlook dress etc, the dance and indie (britpop) scene in England staggered on maybe to about 2000ish but then it was all over Smartphones social media and general p.c culture has thinned out the energy that is needed to produce pure cult movements based on music..hope I’m wrong because it would give me great pleasure to see a new music movement that really influenced kids but sadly it’s over

[@andysixxlett2632]

I think MySpace had a powerful and profound impact on music culture, until it got purchased and killed in 2010…. Same thing with Guitar Hero/Rock Bands, kids were actually interested in music and taking the next step and learning an instrument. Until those series got killed too…

[@greggheslin2724]

Great question and great answer here.

[@ianfosbrook8406]

fan since Early 80s... glad to see Blackie still rockin.

[@Study-o2e]

Thank you for all❤!

[@wrath646]

this is a great platform he 's doing.

[@stuartmiller9648]

Great video,love W.A.S.P. does Blackie wear a wig or is it still real? Great that he is still going these days,awesome band!!!!!

[@WASPNationOfficial]

All real.

[@Chris-lz1fs]

Everybody and anybody can be a 'star' now with the internet. You don't even need to have a full band either, technology has solved that problem too. Last year I seen a woman do something on stage I'd never seen before, playing several instruments and using a loop pedal to create her songs. And she was pretty good, she certainly held my attention. Hell, when I was younger, I played guitar in a band in pubs and the local music scene had a lot of home grown bands playing in different places on various nights of the week. There's not much of that happening now. The times they are a changing, as some fella once sang...

[@OlafProt]

He manages to say it, without being really boring about “the good old days”. Because it’s not nostalgia killing music, it’s the fact that there’s no investment in artists and talent like e.g. David Geffen did. So there really isn’t anything new. One other thing, is that, it’s all been done. Even new music is a rehash of old stuff now.

[@jascatt3341]

Great insight! Very smart!

[@u812notme]

Love this man

[@WASPwarrior1982]

Great q & a.👍😃 💖 🤘

[@Endo-uu8mo]

nice profilename 🤘♠️🦅☠️✌️

[@WASPwarrior1982]

@@Endo-uu8mo TY!😍🤩 💖 🤘

[@MichaelHenderson-c6d]

Very smart cool dude

[@jefffoster6343]

Great answer!

[@chickenbeek]

i've actually given great though to that question for quite a few years/decades. basically same thought about it and conclusion.

[@RichardinSiam]

Interesting his body language looks like he was not happy being there, then he starts talking you can tell he is happy to talk shop not rock. They all age for sure. He seems a lot more down to earth in this interview and was clearly paying attention.

[@jameswelch7403]

THERE WILL NEVER BE BANDS LIKE W.A.S.P.,JUDAS PRIEST,IRON MAIDEN, AND ALL WELL MOST BANDS FROM THE 80S AND 90S MUSIC TODAY SUCKS .I DONT GET IT THE MUSIC IS HORRIBLE TAYLOR SMIFT KATY PERRY AND SO ON .ALL THE GOOD BANDS ARE FADING AWAY IT BREAKS MY HEART. OLD SCHOOL MUSIC IS TIMELESS AND WILL STILL BE REMEMBERED WHEN ALL THE SINGERS TODAY ARE FORGOTTEN THANK YOU MR.LAWLESS FOR SOME OF THE BEST MUSIC EVER I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINBE 1985 I WAS 5 YEARS OLD WHEN I FIRST HEARD WASP IM 44 NOW AND STILL A FAN METAL WILL NEVER DIE BE EXELELANT TO EACH OTHER I HOPE I SPELLED THAT RIGHT

[@fleshlessfilms]

awesome

[@candacewalker7632]

Truth

[@reggtop]

STEVIE DURAN STATEN ISLAND IN THE HOUSE! WASP ONE OF THE GREATEST FORCES IN METAL. CHRIS HOLMES AND BLACKIE THEY NAILED IT.

[@XxSEETH3RxX]

Rock isn't dead it's ignored by mainstream.

[@TheLurker_666]

Bands to check out Ancient days Early moods Deathchant Peth It’s still there.

[@brianplunkett4002]

Good stuff.

[@wickedcurve]

Blackie is 💯 correct!

[@stuarthossack5351]

Check out Wayward Saints if you fancy a bit of Lawless living on,vocally. Voices like that don't come around too much.

[@darrellsisco9571]

All the great music has been written already

[@t.j.fuller9531]

This guy has never been on my music radar UNTIL I just listened to his musical wisdom just now / that was brilliant and absolutely well delivered I will go back and listen to WASP with less critical intentions … for real

[@jimbeam4111]

Exactly

[@spindal3]

I saw and met you her in MN When I was 11yrs old. Kiss Animalize Tour. I have the Pic to prove it when you came to the Wax in A Black van. LOL

[@connorfreeman1990]

There were 666 likes/thumbs up. I had to add one more so it wouldn't look so sinister. Profound clip, btw, thanks BL

[@glennoc8585]

Bands like the cure and many punk rock bands that formed in the mud to late 70s are still going. GnR are going strong with kids at shows and they found fame in 86.

[@nileswillis7992]

They broke out in 87, not 86. Poison was 86.

[@jesse75]

Thank goodness I learned how to play metal in the hay day. Maybe I'm 65. But I can pick up my V and play through my 50 watt Marshall and forget about the rest of the junk music. My kids know all that great music from before.

[@SISTER76]

I will love you forever Forever Forever🦁

[@TheMadArab138]

The Foo Fighters were catapulted by the fact that Grohl had been the drummer of Nirvana.

[@leonardoperez2029]

WISE THINKING

[@midnightcrimson122]

I would not listen to my parent music, but today kids are listening to their parents music, Boommmm, I like that answer. Is a fact. Nothing from the 90 and up, is an iconing music

[@kentduggan8626]

Wasp was man enough to tour with the mighty DORO PESCH in the 80s and take an ass whipping though most male artists had to much pride, all hail the Queen 👑 and hats off to Wasp, Priest and DIO for taking it like Men

[@VelenteVelente]

Doro is not queen of the rock and yes sophia strauss genius classic music true queen of rock,heavy metal,power metal , gothic and hard rock bravo sophia strauss you and Blackie Lawless just forever wasp forever and ever ❤❤❤❤❤😊😊