W.A.S.P. Drummer Tony Richards on Breakup of Classic Lineup: "GREED F#%KED THIS BAND UP"
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Drummer Tony Richards talks about the disbanding of W.A.S.P.'s classic lineup.
This excerpt was taken from the full in bloom interview with
original W.A.S.P. drummer Tony Richards.
You can listen to more excerpts from this interview
@ fullinbloom.com.
Hit the subscribe button and click the bell to
be notified when new interviews & excerpts are uploaded.
Song by FOOL OF FATE
The original lineup was killer
The first album lineup was definitely my favorite.
Absolutely. Steve Reilly acts like he was the first. Incidentally he has the same attitude in LA Guns. He played on neither debut and they both happen to be their respective bands best albums.
As well as everyone else!! But Lawless thinks he is the World!! And when he Ripped his own band mates off! They SPLIT! And so did the Music!
@@robertmirabilio5356 i agree but the original lineup was still killer
That line up was the Best! WASP has never been the same and could never recapture that feel and magic of the original lineup.
Every time Blackie changed a member, the band got worse. I jumped ship when Piper left.
I agree. Original line up was the best. I threw in the towel when Piper left too.
@Kirby Little Sure, by rehashing the riffs from Wild Child for eternity
@Kirby Little agreed. The Crimson Idol is in my top 5 all time favorite albums
@jeff cordova Blackie is one of the greatest singers, lyricists, and songwriters of all time. He's a fuckin icon and he deserves that ego of his. unlike Kiss for example
I seen the tour in 85 wasp opened for KISS. That first tour and first album Fucken rocked.
I remember being bummed when I found out Tony wasn't in the band anymore. I enjoyed their albums after he was out but haven't listened to them since 96
When I lived in LA in 93’/94’ my roommate was great friends with Chris Holmes. I was horrified by a story about Blackie having Chis sign a paper that relinquished all royalties to Blackie. Chris couldn’t read so he trusted him and got screwed. Blackie is a horrible person.
Absolutely!!! True that and Chris is a great and sweet Dude and he told me that story too!! I jammed with him at my buddy Pat's old studio in North Hollywood a couple times and played some bass in a live vid for him, totally great Dude!! Blackie...not cool!!!
@@vg3203 I call bullshit...if this was true 1000 lawyers be pounding down his door
What kind of fool would sign a contract without knowing what it says? If he couldn’t read he would have had someone go over it before signing.
Chris couldn’t read!?!?!?
@@RaiderfanCali Couldn't read legalese, probably.
Growing up at that time, I kinda never saw WASP as a "band" but more a group lead by Blackie.
TV Tropes refers to that as "I Am The Band".
I always thought that Tony brought the quintessential sound and look to the band. I am a lifelong W.A.S.P. fan from age 12 to my current age of 49, but nothing compares to the first album with the original lineup.
Best drummer they ever had, and they had some awesome drummers, wasp lost a lot with tony, and subsequently randy, salute you tony
Get outta here... he was a terrible drummer
Frankie Banali was their best drummer.
Maybe the best fit, but there's no denying Frankie B. Massive talent.
@@davidperez5089 agreed 100%
Blackie's biggest mistake was switching to guitar and getting rid of Randy Piper.
@Kirby Little Is that you Blackie?
@Kirby Little Well, WASP is irrevelant for the most part. Bands like Crue and even RATT still book. Where's WASP? Blackie's fiddling with the backing tracks. The point here is that With Holmes, Piper and Lawless - WASP had a lineup that was definitive. Blackie turned it into his vanity band with rotating members. The cohesion suffered and those 80s bands that are still doing reasonably well have a stable core of members. WASP is KISS without Paul. Tony is right, Blackie damaged the future of the band for control. Now he has a marginal band that can't book for shit in the states. It's on him, Tony is right. He killed the band.
Randy Piper wasn’t fired
@@thestig7603 No but as usual Blackie made it unbearable for the guy.
"Well, WASP is irrevelant for the most part. Bands like Crue and even RATT still book. Where's WASP?"..........a lot of these bands from the the 80's that were big (but no longer marketable in the USA) play festivals in europe for one or two months out of the year. and they make way more money than if they headlined clubs or theaters in the USA for 9 months. they could still do shows in the USA (in small venues) but it just aint worth it when you consider how much they can make playing in europe. sometimes they can even sell out arena's in europe where as in the USA they would be playing a club (when in a city with the same population). I think twisted sister only plays europe. W.A.S.P. might have been another one
I liked the first album the best ! The original lineup and they wrote better music when Blackie was the bass player! I could tell by the second album they were going for more of a commercial sound that be reused again and again.
Indeed. The first album is the best. After that Blackie has basically rehashed Wild Child..
Blackie never gave a sh*t, it wasn't an issue of not understanding, he just didn't care. 'Hey, it's my way or you hit the highway"
Imagin Yngwie Malmsteen AND Blackie in the same band......epic fight😄
Or Richie Blackmore
Now you know why the band failed !
The wimpy leader was a loser !
You think this band would of got anywhere without Blackie being the driving force? The rest of the guys were great but they were a bunch of burn outs.
I dont comment much but here goes. I loved W.A.S.P. And saw them front row at the Sunrise Musical Amphitheater. They opened for Quiet Riot. Kids used to go round back of the building cause rock stars came out after their shows to smoke. No smoking inside Sunrise/very classy joint and new building at that time.
I met Chris Holmes and Randy Piper. I smoked my own skunk bud joint with them both. I had 2/3 of the poster that Blackie ripped in half during the show and they both signed it!!! They were Very cool to me and the other kids back there. Randy Piper was so quiet and reserved that I thought he was nervous but I think now it was just his personality. Chris was Chris! He came out with a lit cigar in his mouth after being kicked out by the venues manager. Chris told me a story about when they were in Japan. They had just come back from there. If requested I will tell the story. Its pretty crazy! LoL! This is about a year or so after he shot up his car that broke down om the way to the studio with an AK-47 which is also a true story that ran on MTV News back then. Blackie and New drummer Steven Riley did not come out. I asked Chris why and his answer Shocked the piss out of me! He said that with Blackie this Metal stuff is an act! In retrospect I realize now that it was always a business to Blackie. Thats okay with me cause not everyone does well living rock-n-roll. Chris has has a rough life. This I know. He really Loved Lita and still does but he like Me is very hard to live with! LoL!
As for Tony Richard, I Loved him and they way he murdered those drums. I read in a Kerrang magazine interview with Blackie that he kicked Tony out for Cocaine abuse. Is it true? I have no idea!!!
At the concert I noticed the new drummer and asked my buddy who the hell he was. My friend had no freakin idea. Damn guy looked like an ugly heroine junky and played like shit! I was there! Never try to talk shit and tell me different. Blackie knew we/his fans were out back and he wouldnt come out off the bus! I thought that was shit even then. ALL the other albums Sucked and have No bottom. Listen for yourself. Blackie in tiger stripped air brushed spandex jumper on cover of Inside The Electric Circus looked like a Gayboy to me! Like the Motley Shout at the devil album the first W.A.S.P. album will always be the
BEST!!! Chris Holmes told me that the acronym for the band was meant to be We Are Sexual Perverts. I believe what Chris says cause he was a real cool guy!
I Loved those guys but Blackie really needs to be interviewed for his position on things. He was the leader of the band. It was his baby. What he said stood as law in that band. I didnt necessarily agree with the Richards firing but they lost me as a fan for selling out. That happened the day they kicked out that Super Drummer!
Left handed ambidextrous and will Always be a Thunder God to me! Fuck Blackie sell out bitch and ripped of Chis and Tony! Tell the truth Ho! Dont like it??? Oops not sorry Bitch! Blackie came from The New York Dolls and they Were gayed up mother fuckers! My Dad saw them live and took Me to see Stevie Ray Vaughn with Greg Allman on Pier 9 in New York City. Stevie burned the place down! I was there you cant ever tell me shit!
Ive seen the Best/Randy Rhoads live!!! Fresh faced and wet behind the ears Def Leppard were the openers for Ozzy. Ive seen Ozzy 3 times and 2 out of 3 times he came out with stage fright. He stood there leaning on the mic pole with a deer in the headlights look on his face. He settled in and started running around with that cardboard/tinfoil covered cross of his.
It was awesome! Randy did his solo in the middle of Suicide Soloution. He was unmatched only Stevie Ray Vaughn could compete with him. Vanhalen was repeditive in his finger tap playing I saw them 3 times too. NO stage fright for David Lee and No stage fright for Motley Crue. Pro' from birth and born on stage!!! Def Lep were coked up drunk and came out with stage fright! They settled in and rocked Sunrise with their bottles of booze!!! Clink Clink Clink! Yes Rock Stars they were and Always will remain!!!
Japan story requested.
Tony Richards was the best drummer in w.a.s.p. period
Agreed.
Frankie Banali's (RIP) drumming on 'The Headless Children' album was really good. I can't deny that. Tony Richards drumming on the debut W.A.S.P. album just had such a great sound. The drums on 'Love Machine' alone were half the reason I got into W.A.S.P. in the first place! The guitars came second for me and I'm a guitar player! Tony's playing style also suited the music better. Songs like 'Savage' and 'The Torture Never Stops' were monsterous sounding and it was mostly because of Tony's playing. The layers of rythym guitars also complemented his playing and made it sound even bigger and better. All of the other drummers that followed Tony with the exception of Frankie, just couldn't play Tony's parts correctly. It's funny watching Stephen Riley and Stet in some of the live videos on here trying. lol Watching those two play old W.A.S.P. songs was almost as funny and painful as watching Chuck Behler try and play Gar Samuelson's parts on Megadeth songs live! Chuck couldn't play with the swagger that Gar had, if a gun was put to his head. lol The same could be said about Blackie trying to fill Randy Pipers shoes on guitar. That was very comical. It just never sounded right again. Blackie said in interviews that he played most of the studio stuff that Randy got credits for, on the records. Blackie said it over and over in magazine interviews when I was a kid "Randy wasn't such a good studio player at recording his parts. He was always a better live player. I played a lot of the guitar parts in the studio and then Randy played them pretty well live." lol Pretty well? Randy killed it playing solos live! After seeing Blackie play some of those songs live, I'm calling bullshit! Blackie is horrible as a guitar player. If Blackie was/is such a great guitar player as he always claimed, why did Chris Holmes always play 95% of Randy's leads live? lol Randy was fucking beast live. Tony Richards from what I've seen was really good live too. I really wish there were more live shows with Tony playing. I've got the FULL 'Live at the London Lyceum' show on VHS, but Riley had already replaced Tony, by that time.
First album great.and I'm black.that play heavy metal..still love these guys.
The Headless children was by far the best wasp album.. up to the Headless Headless children wasp were fkn awsome
After that they went downhill big time
@Jerry Thomas .
Not for me. It was much weaker song writing not as great of guitar playing.. and nowhere near as strong as the Headless children. In my humble opinion.
I agree.... After Headless Children - W.A.S.P. were no better than OK, The Crimson Idol was OK-nothing more..... Just so far removed from the music that made me love W.A.S.P.
Been a huge Wasp fan from the beginning and Blackie in particular. I have seen every line up live and really enjoyed Tony's performance. Things happen and I honestly feel WASP would have died a long time ago had Blackie not treated it like a business. The classic line up was great, but the band advanced and some of the members didn't. The one member I miss the most was Darrell. I saw Darrell 3 times and damn, he was awesome.
Tony Richards was right but I think there problems started with their second album because the image was all blackie lawless instead of everyone that was in the band.
With Nikki sixx and Blackie being very close during the upcoming of both of their bands, I wonder if Blackie felt that he needed to be the captain much like Nikki but just took it too far. Both are highly competitive and very intelligent people and have huge egos/ control issues but Nikki seemed to know when to hit the brake pedal with the members.
But Nikki fired Vince? That was a disaster.
Motley Crue did not have nearly the same turnout of band members as WASP.
WASP was firing people left n right... to satisfy Blackie's whims..
Crue did fire Vince... but had just cause to do so at the time.
Even Vince acknowledged they had reasons to do it.
Still... look when that happened.
How many years was he in the band before that took place?
Blackie was firing talented core members early on.
At least with Motley.... Ya don't need a book to name all their members 😂 I love both bands-But W.A.S.P have gone so downhill since The Headless Children 😢
@@all-england-r-we5071 True, but Blackie does have a great work ethic. He has put out a lot of albums over the last 30 years. Motley crue, not very many. I like the music so more albums is better to me than 2 or 3 big selling albums. Kind of like Rush. They put out new music all the way to the end of their career.
@@all-england-r-we5071 downhill since The headless children?!They still make great albums
The videos were good.
this was Blackie's "band" from the get go. he basically had hired guns right out of the gate. Its nothing new when these "bands" lose members and break up. its a business.
I can't understand what he's saying. All I hear is muffled static and feedback.
And karma worked against Blackie Lawless when he replaced Tony Richards for Steve Riley since Steve Riley ended up leaving the band in the most irresponsible manner(by joining L.A. Guns without even reminding W.A.S.P. members that he's leaving the band - I remember Blackie Lawless saying that he realized that Steve Riley left W.A.S.P. when he first saw a picture of L.A. Guns with Steve Riley as a new band in a magazine). W.A.S.P. after Live...In The Raw and before Headless Children really struggled trying to find a new drummer. I don't think they would've went through all that if they kept Tony Richards. Tony's drumming definitely sounded better than Steve Riley's.
Those videos are not corny the fucking awesome I don’t understand why everybody thinks you’re so corny corny their fucking classic and cool as shit will never be videos any better than 80s mid early 80s music videos mid 80s I should say 84 8586
First record, in my top 10 easily. The Last Command,when I saw Kiss w/WASP(The Last Commando tour, back of my jersey was Rambo w/Blackie's head on him), was jusk OK compared to WASP S.T.. anyway, I still listen to that LP! Thanks Tony! I wish things were different w/Chris, Randy and yourself. I also wish you were with them on that Kiss tour, talk about a 1, 2 punch lineup. The East had Black N' Blue. Edit: thanks so much Tony as you were the quintessential WASP drummer, Steve Riley did an album & was off to LA Guns. Hang loose from Oceanside, California.
Any chance of the full interview being posted to listen to in its entirety? Cheers
That's the plan....unfortunately, not in the near future. I will be taking the clips down soon, so listen to them while you can. I did that interview about 15 years ago and it was transferred from cassette. It is not part of the podcast...just a bonus.
I just want to know who that artist is at the end...Fool of Fate? so cool!
Yes, Fool of Fate.
I love wasp I love the original lineup I was fortunate or maybe unfortunate to work with Blackie in the 2000s early 2000 that's for another time and another venue I fucking love the first wasp record the best Tony Richards kicked ass on the drums! The debut wasp record will always be number one in my book. but like most people post on this particular video... as the members departed so did my fuckin interest!!! and now it's the Blackie Lawless show........ i got one more thing to say....
Fuck the "Blackie Lawless show" im done.... actually I've been done for a while
Fuck Being Tricked Into Of The Interview Tony Made It Very Clear Very Very Technical Drummer This Plus A Band Ain't Just One Person
Best line up would have been Blackie only vocals with Piper and Holmes playing guitar and Johnny Rod on bass. Frankie Banali drums. That line up would have took over!
first 3 wasp albums were great but would of been better if blackie kept playing bass
Wasp was just way too heavy for the glam metal crowd but at the same time just not heavy enough for the Thrasher's and power metal scene. No identity whatsoever, that's why they were stuck in mediocre land. I can see why Tony looks back with regrets.
I always thought Blackie could have been one of the best thrash singers in history.
Good point. Love your channel keep up the great work.
@@willd4731 I appreciate that. Thank you.
@@fullinbloom Such a great voice! And yeah, it was all about that first album. Tony was a monster.
Bill Z Jr That’s a nice spot musically right along with bands like Armored Saint. If that was the style that was more prevalent, the 80’s music scene wouldn’t be considered to be such a joke.
So it was lie when Blackie said Tony was not a decent live drummer? Did Tony demand more money or any money?
He's right the fringes and feathers and the dancing were just too stupid.
Egos where huge in the 80s on the strip 🤣😁
All 4 of Blackie Lawless' fans disliked this video.
I surprise that Blackie want throw that many numbers. It lick that even now, Every time buy a album there a new number in the band. I surprise that Chris Homes lasted in to the sting the concert i seen with him on stage. Then Chris was fired.
See,,I remember when this happened,the officialreport was that Tony Richards was an addict,that was what was told to all of us,,apparently we as fans were lied to.
It's sad. The more control Blackie exerted over the band, the worse the music got. One of my favorite bands in the 80's, by the 90's I barely even knew they were still a band. It always seemed kind of phony with Blackie, like he constantly chased an image more than just put out good music. Sort of like Sharon Osbourne insisting on spandex and costumes because 'bands are supposed to look like the audience'.
How can I hear the full interview?? Cant find it?
If you follow WASPS career it’s easy to see Blackie is talented, but not too bright.
WTF does that mean? It IS blackies band....PERIOD......sister circus circus all blackies band and all those guys going into it KNEW it.....not a coincidence none of anybody who left any of blackies band did SHIT without him that was bigger then WASP...so sick of hearing people still whining almost 40 yrs later.....BLACKIE WAS AND IS W.A.S.P
Actually Blackie kept everything afloat. Chris was doomed because of his problems but people blame Blackie for firing him? Johnny Rod was much better in the front 3 than Randy Piper ever could have been.
@@johnconnell4503 Agree. What has Chris or Johnny, or Randy done after wasp? Yet Wasp has put out many pretty good albums since then. None great but every album has a few bad ass songs. I just wish Johnny Rod lasted a few more albums because on stage he was a freakshow.
Blackie rehashes Wild Child to this day. Who wrote the riffs to that one? Chris
@@Stigmatix666 but Blackie gets the royalties because it's HIS business entity. and I do mean business. that is tough shit but how it goes. these people weren't in "bands" they were locked in legal obligations, being hired guns and $igning wonky contracts.
Why dont you three get a good singer and/or bassist and continue with some unfinished business. I think it would work. The Originals or The W.A.S.P. i dont know what promted Tony & Chris's departure departure nor do I know why Randy P. left. But, the best revenge is success. Its 2021, time for you guys to get back the career that never should've left you! Fortunately, without a taskmaster like Lawless taking up the spotlight. Jonny is a g8 singer whom can play bass & sing. Piper & Holmes are a gr8 guitar duo. Nothing is better then success and you guys can do it. The easy part is picking a dream WASP lineup. The hard part of it is pulling it off. Good luck if u decide to go this route.
I like you man and your right but they would have call it something new and might not even legally be able to play W.A.S.P. tunes. Blackie is tough with his lawyers.
Not to mention im 51 and they're All older than me. I cant play a full set night after night/can they???
A studio band maybe but it is an interesting prospect. Someone needs to get Tony a really good left handed drum set. This guy can Thunder! I miss the Hellion/B.A.D. sound. I still play those songs. Blew their wad on the first record. All the rest sucked. I also like an interview I saw recently with Rick Fox. He named the freakin band/wrote most of Wildchild and some others and Blackie kicked him out. Blackie makes me grin from ear to ear. A real rockstar killing bastard! Just ask him he'll tell you. Black as pitch his heart! How can I not love him???
Will always have a Rock Gods whiskey voice. As the flames roar through my head in Hell the Hellion song will be cranked up to 10!!!
Tony's drug use got him kicked out.
👍
When to Blackie head . You get it ...
Same scenario when Dave Holland left of. Judas priest scot Travis does not have the same rhythm
Hmmmmm! DH was in the band during their most productive period, 79-89. Travis came in in 91 for Painkiller. JP don't talk about DH anymore - jus' saying. I missed Clive Burr (RIP) when he left Iron Maiden. His drumming was unmistakable, and his signature, like Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, they both [Burr & ward] had their names written all over their drumming!
Dave Holland also spent 8 years in prison for sexual assault on a child he was giving drum lessons to. That's why JP don't mention DH.
@@budgiemcleod4443 ok what about bill wyman with Mandy Smith she was 13 he never got charged .Dave holland was not with. Child he was older than mandy Smith some. Say he was innocent guess we will never no now. He's dead
@@jasperedwards3341 Yep...Bill Wyman was a creep too. McKenzie Phillips also said that she has sex with Mick Jagger when she was 10. I've seen photos of Mick hanging out with the Epstein bunch.
What i dont understand is most rockstars die young and I can't understand how the rolling stones are still alive with the amount of drugs they took
Dam shame, the original lineup was the best.
Blackie getting flak for dancing. The gall. He danced. Who dances to music? Real men don't dance to music. They don't go to clubs where lots of good looking women are hanging out and dancing. Sure, you might meet a hot chick, but what about your reputation? Everyone knows it's just not manly to dance. It's not macho like doing drugs intravenously is!
Seriously though, Tony says "greed f*cked this band up." Tony's greed for heroin f*cked Tony up. W.A.S.P. went on to do far more substantial music, like The Crimson Idol. Too bad that still, still, Tony can't own up to the fact that he made the choice to pick up that needle. Phil Anselmo was an addict too but he took self-accountability for his problem and look how well he's doing now! But it takes the overcomer, it takes the willingness to give that substance you're addicted to the bird finger and say: "Uh Uh, I've got gigs to play"!
Don't worry folks the devil has ready got a special room for Lawless he will pay his debts in hell bad Blackie you should have treated the boys like that and there was a lot of boys you should have had a heart but I guess the devil will take your soul
It to Blackie head pretty fast he tried to rule the 80s scene he Ego got to big to fast. I'm a rock star l run shit . Haha thanks how it was back then . It was full on ...👍😛
They don’t paint Blackie in a positive light
Sorry, but this audio is horrible.
Being in a band is like having three girlfriends. It's also like having three business partners. Sometimes it's just one, sometimes it's both. But, people being butt hurt decades later is a little juvenile.
@@philfrank5601 You maybe correct in that assessment.
I've always said being in a band is like having many GFs... but you don't get to sleep with them to soothe things out ha ha.
@Gregory Wayne Martin
Disagree with ya man.
He lost money when he got fired and also he didn't resurface (or at least as well).
If you poured your effforts into a band and then the band leader tosses you out because he think he can make a dime more because you wouldn't sign over royalties...
You'd be pissed for years too I bet.
Especially, when ya think back to how things could have gone differently (for the band as well).
Blackie doesn't fire him.. or switch to guitar... or do stupid ass corny videos (like they did)...
They might have had a lot more respect, been regarded more, and .... (drum roll)... maybe even made more $$$ anyways.
Blackie isn't the only band leader to fuck over his band mates. Ozzy did it (rather.. Sharon did it)...
Black Sabbath did it to Ozzy (who obviously kept the process going in his own band).
David Coverdale... now... I consider him the KING of fucking over band mates (especially talented ones).
Whitesnake actually went downhill after Vai and Vandenburg were tossed aside.
So Coverdale at least got his karma due.
Sharon did the lowest thing I have ever heard of tho... just to avoid paying royalties.
That was having new band members re-record parts (bass and drums) for their first two albums.
That is the lowest of lows of pure scummy things to do for a buck.
So yeah.. people, years later, DO have right to be pissed off about being fucked over by the bands they were in.
Especially if they did work their asses off.
Ya know... I always felt George Lynch was more talented than Jake E. Lee (from Ozzy). But Sharon, decided on Jake... simply because he had "the look" at the time.
Looks over talent.
Hate that crap.
@@d0nKsTaH Interesting points. However, I think my statement holds water too.
I disagree the love machine video was fuckingawesome
Blackie being blackie killed that band .they were cool in the troubadour days ,then came the trick sissie outfits he wore 😂😂😂 that’s when wasp became lame .so I moved on .Chris a true rock star.
U gotta understand Blackie point of view . Dude was a heroin addict n u can’t have him being dope sick on the road n not being able to perform .
He’s just still mad that he was just the drummer. Easily replaced in 99.9% of bands.
Wouldn't you be? Your first album, world tour and you get fired by the a controling ego maniac?
Blackie should have 86’d his own ass. ☮️
Barely herd anything
blAKIE THE KING HAHJA
It’s blackie!
“Greed” everyone claims to like capitalism, they just want to be the only one having any money.
Blackie is WASP..................
It's a business all due respect Tony was a junkie.
blackie (steeve) is going to have to pay the price of the one man show. the wasp band was destroy by him. the fans continue to love wasp because the voice is him. but the real wasp , is first album, ..blackie hidden behind religion all the cowards are doing this..forming a band wasp inc would be good..all member bo not lawless..yep wasp real wasp inc .... blackie is ugly now he has to pay the price of betraying everyone in wasp
Wasp is the worst band I've ever seen in concert, thank God they were just the opening band or I would've wanted my money back