W.A.S.P. 32 years ago today it all started...

32 Years ago today the album that started it all 'W.A.S.P.' was released....
The album originally exploded onto the scene without the intended leading track 'Animal (F*ck Like A Beast)' due to the record label objecting to it appearing on the album. Capitol would only be willing to release it as a single in Europe if it was contained within a black sleeve with a sticker warning of offensive lyrical content. 'Animal' was later reinstated as the leading track when the album was re-released 1997.

Animal F**k Like A Beast
1. I Wanna Be Somebody
2. L.O.V.E. Machine
3. The Flame
4. B.A.D.
5. School Daze
6. Hellion
7. Sleeping (In the Fire)
8. On Your Knees
9. Tormentor
10. The Torture Never Stops
Promotional Video Clips: 'I Wanna Be Somebody' & 'L.O.V.E. Machine'
Singles:‘I Wanna Be Somebody’ ‘L.O.V.E. Machine’ ‘Animal(F*ck Like A Beast)’ & ‘School Daze’

I totally missed WASP the first time around.  At the time this album came out I was heavily into alternative, cowpunk and punk music.  In fact I never even heard a single song by WASP until "Babylon" came out.  That's when I dug into the back catalog to find what I'd been missing

Oh hells yes. One of the Ten Albums I Want Buried With Me When I Die.

The first W.A.S.P. disc belongs in the Metal Debut Album Hall Of Fame as far as I'm concerned. They've never topped it.

What's amazing to me is that Blackie sounds exactly the same on Golgotha as he did on this album.

The only other singer I can think of who's voice has held up so well for the same amount of time is Steve Whiteman of Kix.   That guy too sounds just like he did 30 years ago.

I remember buying the debut, without hearing a single note and bought based on the notoriety at the time. Thankfully the music proved to be good and it was not all just image.

A few months later I saw the notorious 'Animal.." on vinyl, grabbed it and it was white vinyl. I remember it was such a big deal that song had the word f**k in it. Now adays, that song would not even raise an eyebrow.

One of those bands I never liked at all...

i only really listen to this album and Crimson Idol from WASP. they're both phenomenal metal albums though.

I was pretty early into the WASP thing. Capitol wouldn't release the single so Music For Nations did and I bought it. By the time the album dropped it was a case of waiting outside the record shop to buy it on the day of release. Sleeping in the Fire is a top 20 metal track for me.

Yeah. This one is a classic. I think I own two versions on disc and still have my cassette. I almost picked it up on vinyl a few weeks back but it was a bit pricey for an okay copy. "I Wanna Be Somebody" and "L.O.V.E Machine" are awesome and easy sing along anthems, but "Tormentor" and "Sleeping" are the deep faves for me. I wish I still had my "Live Animal" cassette from back in the day.

Great record. I've been listening to some WASP this week.

I remember when a city metal head stopped by my place with this cassette.
He had to let me hear it. He thought it was a killer band.
I was surprised at how much he wanted me to hear this.
Of course, I pretended to think it was " OK"...being cool....
"Sleeping " - I thought was demonic....Torture....on knees....Bad....???
I was 19 or 20....etc....
but then a few weeks later - I saw the videos that were coming out -
on late night TV....Night Flight....I think the show was called....
That was it. We bonded. It was a band 5 of us agreed with.
Never saw them live.

Loved this album from the get go. The radio actually played a couple of tracks off it. I saw them live on this tour opening for KISS on their Animalize tour. Great show ! A couple of days later I bought the W.A.S.P. debut on vinyl at Radio Shack.

I was still a few years out before I'd have my own musical awakening, however I do remember being over my friend Erik's house and he played 'Animal' on his boom box that his older sister taped off a late night radio show. "Metal Shop" or something like that.

Wow. Time does fly fast. I remember borrowing a w.a.s.p cassette from my friend in university back in 1993 and being blown away. Glad they are still around making good metal.

"Metal Shop" and "Night Flight" there's 2 names I haven't heard in a while.

32 years...damn! One of my all-time favorites. I bought the album on cassette when it came out and fell in love with it, caught them opening for Maiden on the Powerslave tour which was pretty awesome to see as I was 11 around that time. Good times...

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I was still a few years out before I'd have my own musical awakening, however I do remember being over my friend Erik's house and he played 'Animal' on his boom box that his older sister taped off a late night radio show. "Metal Shop" or something like that.

My brother and I used to listen to Metal Shop every weekend! The Only Show With Teeth!! Bringing back some great musical memories.

But back to this album. It is a classic from start to finish!! I saw the video for L.O.V.E. Machine on Night Flight and I was hooked!! A desert island album for sure!

Yes this is a classic still have all my cassettes. Listen to Blackie and the boys pretty regularly!!!! Live In The .....Raw is one of my favorites!!!!!