List of W.A.S.P. band members

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Members of W.A.S.P. performing in 2017.

W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in spring 1982, the group originally consisted of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Blackie Lawless (real name Steven Duren), lead guitarist William "Randy" Piper, bassist Rik Fox (real name Richard Suligowski) and drummer Tony Richards. By the time they recorded their debut album, Lawless had taken over on bass and Chris Holmes had joined on lead guitar. Lawless is the only remaining original member of the group, which currently also features lead guitarist Doug Blair (in 1992 and 2001, and since 2006), bassist Mike Duda (since 1995) and drummer Aquiles Priester (since 2017).

History[]

1982–1990[]

W.A.S.P. evolved from the earlier group Circus Circus, which Blackie Lawless and Randy Piper formed in 1979.

W.A.S.P. evolved from Circus Circus shortly after bassist Rik Fox's addition to the band in February 1982.[1] The group's original lineup also included lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Blackie Lawless, lead guitarist Randy Piper and drummer Tony Richards.[2] By "the end of May", Fox had been dismissed from the group and replaced by Richards' former Dante Fox bandmate Don Costa.[1] Around the same time, Piper also left "for a few months".[3] Towards the end of the year, Costa left to join Ozzy Osbourne's touring band,[4] at which point Lawless decided to switch to bass and bring back Piper on guitar.[3] He was also joined by Chris Holmes.[2]

The band released its first single "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)" in April 1984.[5] This was followed in August by their self-titled full-length debut.[6] Shortly after the album's release, Richards was replaced by former Keel drummer Steve Riley.[7] The group released The Last Command in 1985, before Piper left in July 1986.[8] Lawless subsequently switched back to guitar, with Johnny Rod (real name John Tumminello) leaving King Kobra to take over as bassist.[9] Inside the Electric Circus followed in October, before Riley left during the subsequent tour to join L.A. Guns.[10] He was replaced for future shows by a string of temporary substitutes.[11]

By early 1988, W.A.S.P. had started working on its fourth studio album with Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali.[12] By the time The Headless Children was released a year later, Banali had become a full-time member of the band.[13] After a short tour, Holmes stepped back and eventually announced his departure W.A.S.P. shortly after marrying Lita Ford in the summer of 1990; at the same time, the guitarist also claimed that both Rod and Banali had also departed.[14]

1990–2002[]

After the departure of Chris Holmes, Blackie Lawless began recording The Crimson Idol with guitarist Bob Kulick and continuing drummer Frankie Banali.[15] The album was intended to be released under the moniker "Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P.", with the eponymous frontman performing vocals, bass and rhythm guitar.[16] Banali recorded only half the album, before stepping back following his mother's death in November 1990.[17] He was replaced by former Impellitteri drummer Stet Howland in January 1991.[18] Upon the album's completion, a new touring lineup of Lawless, Howland, new guitarist Dan McCade and returning bassist Johnny Rod was announced for May and June shows.[19][20] For a North American tour from July to November, McDade was replaced by Doug Blair.[18]

Lead guitarist Chris Holmes returned to W.A.S.P. in August 1995 after leaving five years earlier. He remained until 2001.
Lead guitarist Chris Holmes returned to W.A.S.P. in August 1995 after leaving five years earlier. He remained until 2001.

In September 1993, Lawless announced that he was disbanding W.A.S.P., with a final single "Sunset and Babylon" (recorded during The Crimson Idol sessions) to be released the following month.[21] Throughout 1994, the frontman worked on a new album intended to be his solo debut.[22] When it was eventually released in June 1995, however, Still Not Black Enough was credited to W.A.S.P.[23] The album was not released outside of Japan and Europe until over a year later, when it was announced that Chris Holmes had returned to the band.[24] When the follow-up Kill Fuck Die was released in April 1997, it was revealed that the guitarist and Lawless had been working together "under a blanket of fierce secrecy" since August 1995.[25][26] The album also featured new bassist Mike Duda and returning drummer Stet Howland.[27]

W.A.S.P.'s lineup remained stable for another four years, spawning one more studio album in Helldorado.[28] During the recording of Unholy Terror, the band started working with drummer Frankie Banali again for certain sessions, as Howland was not available all the time.[29] Shortly after the album's release in April 2001, rumours began to circulate that Holmes had left the band for a second time.[30] His departure was later confirmed by Lawless in June, with Doug Blair temporarily returning to take his place on tour.[31] At the end of July, the group announced former Tuff guitarist Darrell Roberts as Holmes' permanent replacement after months of rumours.[32]

Since 2002[]

Roberts debuted on 2002's Dying for the World, which was followed in 2004 by The Neon God: Part 1 – The Rise and Part 2 – The Demise in 2004, all of which featured Banali on drums alongside Howland.[28] In February 2006, Stet Howland announced that he had left W.A.S.P. the previous month on amicable terms.[33] He was replaced for a run of shows by Patrick Johansson.[34] In April, Larry Howe was announced as Howland's replacement,[35] however a week later the group's management replied that this was not an official appointment.[36] At the same time, it was revealed that Roberts had also left W.A.S.P.[36] A few weeks later, Mike "Spud" Dupke and former touring member Doug Blair were announced as the band's new drummer and lead guitarist, respectively, the latter succeeding the earlier appointment of Mark Zavon.[37]

With Blair and Dupke, W.A.S.P. released Babylon in 2009 and Golgotha in 2015, before the drummer left in July 2015.[38] Johansson returned to fulfil a run of shows,[39] before former Annihilator drummer Randy Black took over in September.[40] By August 2017, Black had been replaced by Aquiles Priester.[41]

Members[]

Current[]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Blackie (WASP) (cropped).JPG
 Blackie Lawless
(Steven Duren)
  • 1982–1993
  • 1994–present
  • lead vocals
  • rhythm guitar (1982, since 1986)
  • bass (1982–86, 1990–95
  • keyboards (1990–92, since 2000)
  • percussion
 all W.A.S.P. releases
Mikedudahelsinki-2015-10-09.jpg
 Mike Duda 1995–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 all W.A.S.P. releases from Kill Fuck Die (1997) onwards
Waspatmoscow01.jpg
 Doug Blair 2006–present (plus touring in 1992 and 2001)
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
 all W.A.S.P. releases from Dominator (2007) onwards
Aquiles Priester Cropped -Aquiles Priester El SALVADOR.jpg
 Aquiles Priester 2017–present drums none to date

Former[]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Tony Richards
(Anthony Orlando) 		1982–1984
  • drums
  • backing vocals
Randy Piper WAS.png
 William "Randy" Piper
  • 1982
  • 1982–1986
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
  • "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)" (1984)
  • W.A.S.P. (1984)
  • Live at the Lyceum, London (1984)
  • The Last Command (1985)
  • Live... Animal (1987) – two tracks
Rik Fox, On Set..jpg
 Rik Fox
(Richard Suligowski) 		1982
  • bass
  • backing vocals
 none
Don Costa bass
Chris_Holmes_2019_HMF_.jpg
 Chris Holmes
  • 1982–1990
  • 1995–2001
  • lead guitar
  • backing vocals
 all W.A.S.P. releases from "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)" (1984) to The Headless Children (1989), and from Kill Fuck Die (1997) to Unholy Terror (2001)
Steve Riley 1984–1987
  • drums
  • backing vocals
 all W.A.S.P. releases from Live at the Lyceum, London (1984) to Live... in the Raw (1987)
Johnny Rod
(John Tumminello)
  • 1986–1990
  • 1992–1993
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Frankiebanalidrums.jpg
 Frankie Banali 1989–1990 (plus session in 1988–89, 1994–95, 2001–04 and 2017; died 2020)
  • drums
  • percussion
Stet Howland
  • 1991–1993
  • 1995–2006
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • The Crimson Idol (1992)
  • all W.A.S.P. releases from Kill Fuck Die (1997) to Unholy Terror (2001)
  • The Neon God: Part 1 – The Rise (2004) – one track only
  • The Neon God: Part 2 – The Demise (2004)
Darrell Roberts 2001–2006
  • lead guitar
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • Dying for the World (2002)
  • The Neon God: Part 1 – The Rise (2004)
  • The Neon God: Part 2 – The Demise (2004)
  • Dominator (2007) – one track only
Mike "Spud" Dupke 2006–2015 drums all W.A.S.P. releases from Dominator (2007) to Reidolized: The Soundtrack to The Crimson Idol (2018)
Randy Black 2009.09.25.jpg
 Randy Black 2015–2017 none

Backup[]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Chad Nelson 1987 (touring) drums Nelson was briefly the initial touring replacement for Steve Riley.[citation needed]
Glenn Soderling Soderling took over from Nelson as the second touring drummer after Riley's departure.[42]
Kelly Martella 1987–1988 (touring) Martella was the third touring drummer after Riley left, until early 1988.[citation needed]
Bob Kulick 2017.png
 Bob Kulick
  • 1990–1992
  • 1994–1995 (both session) (died 2020)
 lead guitar After Chris Holmes left, Kulick performed on The Crimson Idol and Still Not Black Enough.[28]
Philip Wolfe 1992 (touring) keyboards Wolfe performed keyboards on the touring cycle for The Crimson Idol during 1992.[43]
Dan McDade lead guitar McDade played guitar on W.A.S.P.'s European tour in May/June 1992 after The Crimson Idol.[20]
Patrick Johansson of Spelled Moon.jpg
 Patrick Johansson
  • 2006
  • 2015 (both touring)
 drums Johansson filled in after the departure of Stet Howland in 2006 and Mike Dupke in 2015.[34][39]
Brian-Tichy.jpg
 Brian Tichy 2018 (touring) Tichy filled in for Aquiles Priester, who was temporarily unavailable, for shows in 2018.[44]

Timeline[]

Lineups[]

Period Members Releases
Spring – summer 1982 none
Summer – late 1982
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Don Costa – bass
  • Tony Richards – drums, backing vocals
Late 1982 – September 1984
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, bass
  • Randy Piper – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Holmes – guitar, backing vocals
  • Tony Richards – drums, backing vocals
September 1984 – July 1986
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, bass
  • Randy Piper – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Holmes – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Riley – drums, backing vocals
  • Live at the Lyceum, London (1984)
  • The Last Command (1985)
  • Live... Animal (1987) – two tracks
July 1986 – spring 1987
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Steve Riley – drums, backing vocals
Spring 1987
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Chad Nelson – drums (touring)
 none
Spring – summer 1987
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Glenn Soderling – drums (touring)
Summer 1987 – early 1988
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Kelly Martella – drums (touring)
Early 1988 – April 1989
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Frankie Banali – drums, percussion (session)
April 1989 – June 1990
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Frankie Banali – drums, percussion
 none
June – November 1990
  • Blackie Lawless – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
  • Bob Kulick – lead guitar (session)
  • Frankie Banali – drums, percussion
January 1991 – early 1992
  • Blackie Lawless – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
  • Bob Kulick – lead guitar (session)
  • Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
April – June 1992
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Dan McDade – lead guitar (touring)
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
 none
July – November 1992
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Doug Blair – lead guitar (touring)
  • Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals
  • Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
Band inactive November 1992 (officially disbanded September 1993) – 1994
1994–1995
  • Blackie Lawless – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards
  • Bob Kulick – lead guitar (session)
  • Frankie Banali – drums, percussion (session)
August 1995 – June 2001
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Chris Holmes – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
  • Frankie Banali – drums (session, from 2001)
June – July 2001
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Doug Blair – lead guitar (touring)
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
  • Frankie Banali – drums (session)
 none
July 2001 – January 2006
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Darrell Roberts – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
  • Frankie Banali – drums (session)
February – March 2006
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Darrell Roberts – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Patrick Johansson – drums (touring)
May 2006 – July 2015
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Doug Blair – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Mike Dupke – drums
  • Dominator (2007) – remaining tracks
  • Babylon (2009)
  • Golgotha (2015)
  • Reidolized: The Soundtrack to The
    Crimson Idol     (2018)
July – August 2015
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Doug Blair – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Patrick Johansson – drums (touring)
 none
September 2015 – August 2017
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Doug Blair – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Randy Black – drums
August 2017 – present
  • Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Doug Blair – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Mike Duda – bass, backing vocals
  • Aquiles Priester – drums
 none to date

References[]

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  31. ^ "Archive News Jun 13, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. June 13, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  32. ^ "Archive News Jul 30, 2001 - update 2". Blabbermouth.net. July 30, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
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  37. ^ "W.A.S.P. Welcome Back Guitarist Doug Blair". Blabbermouth.net. May 17, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
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  39. ^ Jump up to: a b "W.A.S.P. Recruits Yngwie Malmsteen Drummer Patrick Johansson". Blabbermouth.net. July 19, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  40. ^ "Video: W.A.S.P. Performs Title Track Of New Album 'Golgotha' In Leeds". Blabbermouth.net. September 15, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  41. ^ "W.A.S.P. Recruits Drummer Aquiles Priester For Upcoming Tour". Blabbermouth.net. August 22, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  42. ^ Johnson, Howard (August 1987). "Stinging Stuff". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  43. ^ Reynolds, Dave (October 24, 1992). "None More Blackie". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  44. ^ "W.A.S.P. Recruits Drummer Brian Tichy For European Summer Festivals (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. June 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2021.

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