W.A.S.P – The Crimson Idol - The Metal Channel

I’ve often wondered if this character could be based on Blackie himself. I remember hearing rumors that he was a former law student, who dropped out of school to pursue a career as a rock star.

Concert stubs are more than just a way to remember, they’re a snap shot of where you were on a specific date and day.

The recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne put me in touch with a lot of friends reminiscing about concerts past and it got me thinking about obscure venues we’ve seen concerts at in Chicago. The examples are many, like King Diamond (Conspiracy) at the Gateway Theater, Entombed (Clandestine) at Medusa’s Nightclub or even Death (Leprosy) and Dark Angel (Leave Scars) at The Cubby Bear Lounge. Just a couple years ago it was Deicide (Legion anniversary tour) & Kataklsym (Serenity in Fire – anniversary) at The Bottom Lounge.

I must admit, recalling the ambiance of The Bottom Lounge triggered something in my brain. It got me thinking about an obscure venue I once visited downtown called The Avalon Niteclub. Formally, the home of Quiet Knight (A folk-rock) and Tuts (Rock and Punk) venues, the establishment had a rich history supporting the music scene. Bands like The Cro-Mags, Savatage and White Zombie all played there. It opened in 1987 and unfortunately closed in 1995. The only band I ever saw there was W.A.S.P on The Crimson Idol tour. I recently looked up the concert date and saw it was 8/30/1992! Almost 35 years ago this very month, the coincidence was just too great to ignore so I decided to write about it.

W.A.S.P. is a heavy metal band formed back in 1982. Emerging from America’s heavy metal scene, they arrived at the same time as many NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) greats such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Def Leppard.

Many would argue that Wasp’s popularity peaked that decade. Nevertheless, the band continues to record and tour. I believe that makes them one of the most enduring heavy metal bands the U.S. has today.

W.A.S.P. gained notoriety for their shock rock images, graphically sexual lyrics and lewd live performances. This scandalous portrayal made them a prominent target of the Parents Music Resource Center or (PMRC), an organization which pushed for warning labels on recorded music. The band faced intense scrutiny for their single “Animal (F**k Like a Beast)”. Many believe this unjust ‘targeting’ made commercial support of WASP taboo, an unjust label which ultimately had a negative impact on the band’s overall career.

The Crimson Idol is like W.A.S.P’s version of Queensryche‘s Operation Mindcrime. A concept album that was originally conceived as bassist/vocalist Blackie Lawless’s first solo effort. W.A.S.P as a band had essentially broken up in 1990 when guitarist Chris Holmes married metal icon Lita Ford and decided to give suburban live a try.

The Crimson Idol is rock opera about a musician searching for the ultimate vindication. What’s the reason behind his egregious lifestyle? Will he ever gain approval from his parents? I’ve often wondered if this character could be based on Blackie himself. I remember hearing rumors that he was a former law student, who dropped out of school to pursue a career as a rock star. It’s difficult to imagine his parents were pleased. We could speculate, even when Blackie found himself on MTV, the parental unit still didn’t approve.

W.A.S.P released two music videos for The Crimson Idol: “The Idol” and “Hold Onto My Heart”. Of these two offerings I think “The Idol” are Wasp at their best. A performance offering, with some theatrical clips woven in, this ballad is designed to hit home. Everyone has faced the loneliness of themselves. Only we know what’s really behind the mirror, the reflects we cast is just a mask used to hide the true feelings. Perception is not always reality, sometimes the affection or even acknowledgement of those we love is the cure for all ills.

The story of The Crimson Idol amazingly lives on past the original 1992 effort. Two releases the 1998 remastered edition (with bonus disc) and Reidolized: The Soundtrack to The Crimson Idol (2018) have kept the story of Jonathan Steel alive.

It’s just a rock opera, so why the longevity? I’ll tell you why…The Crimson Idol is epic. This is Blackie’s brightest moment but also his darkest. Like a jigsaw puzzle with each piece neatly fitting to together, this is a concept saturated with intensity and imperfection, much like life itself.

Very few records can actually get a listener to feel emotion through melody but The Crimson Idol strikes the impassioned cords on so many levels. The morality it teaches is muti-generational: don’t wish selfishly, there’s always a consequence and don’t change who you are, stay true to yourself and you won’t regret.