Chris Holmes recently opened up to the Classic Album Review about the breakup of W.A.S.P.‘s original lineup in the mid-’80s and shared that Blackie Lawless was the reason the band couldn’t stand the test of time. The guitarist said:
“[W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless] should have kept the lineup, with Randy [Piper, guitar] and him and I, because the songs and ideas were great. When he changed it, that’s what ruined the band. What ruined it was the second album. It’s the narcissism — the one guy. ‘It’s going to be just me, me, me.’ Well, great. Just have it be you. But that’s the way it is.”
It seems that for Holmes the original lineup should have kept going and letting Tony Richards go was a big mistake, he added:
“The first album was four guys working their butts off to make the music do what it does and give it the energy. Then] they got rid of Tony [Richards, drums]. That was a big mistake. They could have dealt with his drug problem. They never even tried. They just threw him out.”
The guitarist revealed that after the first album, the wheels had turned, and Lawless wanted to be on the cover of the second album alone. Holmes said:
“It’s the narcissism of one guy. He’s on all the records. That’s what it is. He’s got his own thing; he’s got his W.A.S.P. thing. That’s the problem.”
The guitarist even mentioned Metallica’s success and how it relates to the four guys being a team like the original W.A.S.P. members were; he added:
“We toured with Metallica on the first album. You know why they [Metallica] are so big? Because they stuck together through thick and thin. There’s nobody in that band that thinks they’re better than anybody else; there’s no narcissism. That’s what makes bands. They’re still together today.”
Eventually the guitarist understood that they were no longer a band and created his own path with Mean Man and currently he is gearing up to visit seven venues in the UK this June on the ‘Mean Man’ The 65 Tour.’ This tour will celebrate Chris’ return to the UK and his 65th birthday.
You can watch Chris Holmes’ interview with Classic Album Review below.
