Blackie Lawless felt that the Jonathan Steel story was sort of never finished with ‘The Crimson Idol’

Blackie Lawless felt that the Jonathan Steel story was sort of never finished with ‘The Crimson Idol’

W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless recently did a rare press conference before his band’s show in Moscow, Russia on November 30, 2017. Lawless quickly dismissed any notion of a reunion with classic era or original W.A.S.P. band members and talked in depth about The Crimson Idol and the upcoming Reidolized – The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol, which will be released in early 2018.

In regard to a possible reunion with classic era or original W.A.S.P. band members such as guitarist Chris Holmes, Lawless stated” “People get divorced for certain reasons and there’s times where the kids want the parents to get back together but sometimes it never happens. This is one of those. Sorry.”

In terms of why W.A.S.P. re-recorded the tracks from The Crimson Idol for the release of Reidolized – The Soundtrack to The Crimson Idol, Lawless stated point blank: “We re-recorded it because it was a contractual obligation to do for this soundtrack to the film. Contractually, we had to do that.” In terms of how the albums differ, Lawless advised: “It sounds more like a movie soundtrack, really to be honest with you. When we were doing it, the first thing I did is that I went into the studio and listened to the old [inaudible] tapes. It was pretty intimidating. The first thing I thought was ‘How do I do this again?’ So, when we re-recorded it, we did five test mixes before we found the sound and it wasn’t me. I wish that I could tell you that it was all a part of a big idea that we had but it was more of an accident than anything because Logan [inaudible] is the guy that was mixing it and when he came up with what sounded like a movie soundtrack, I said, ‘That’s it. That’s the direction we’ll go.'”

It was noted that there will be four additional songs on Reidolized – The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol that were recorded 25 years ago but didn’t make it onto The Crimson Idol. On whether these four songs add to the Jonathan Steel story, Lawless stated: “I think that it just completes the story. There’s a song on the last album Golgotha called “Miss You” and at that time, we put it on the album because I had really come to the conclusion whether we wanted to do this 25th year anniversary or not. If we would have known, I would have waited to put it on the record. “Miss You” was the very first song that was written for The Crimson Idol but that and a couple of other songs never made it because at the time, we were two years into recording the album and EMI was putting pressure on us saying ‘We have to have something now.’ So I gave them the closest thing to a completed story I could give them, something that could still make sense. And but to me, it was sort of never finished. Now it’s finished and I can close that book now.”

Lawless was also asked whether there was any connection between Jonathan in The Crimson Idol and Jesse in The Neon God to which he replied: “… You’re the first person that’s ever asked… you’re the first person that’s ever asked that question and that’s really really good because originally, I was debating who to name the character in The Crimson Idol [inaudilble]. It was going to be Jonathan or Jesse so I had one of two choices but no one has ever asked me that question [Blackie gives short round of applause to female reporter].”

First part of W.A.S.P.‘s press conference in Moscow, Russia on November 30, 2017:

Blackie Lawless – 2017 – W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview) – 1

Blackie Lawless (2017)W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview)TASS.

Second part of W.A.S.P.‘s press conference in Moscow, Russia on November 30, 2017:

Blackie Lawless – 2017 – W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview) – 2

Blackie Lawless (2017)second part.W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview)TASS.

Third part of W.A.S.P.‘s press conference in Moscow, Russia on November 30, 2017:

Blackie Lawless – 2017 – W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview) – 3

Blackie Lawless (2017)third part.W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview)TASS.

Fourth part of W.A.S.P.‘s press conference in Moscow, Russia on November 30, 2017:

Blackie Lawless – 2017 – W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview) – 4

Blackie Lawless (2017)fourth part.W.A.S.P. – Press Conference, Moscow (Interview)TASS.