Despite a previous statement, an American band with Brazilian drummer eventually played his full debut album – and showed that they never sounded as well as now
The story of the eponymous debut album of Waspwhose four decades of launch were honored with excellent show this Sunday, 4, in Bangers Open Airin São Paulo, involves controversy and combat to conservatism. Even before the album leaves, the group led by the vocalist (and the low time, today guitarist) Blackie Lawless made available as a single “Animal (F ** K Like a Beast)”. You can withdraw the controversial letter from the title itself: “Animal (f*as a beast)”. Another day in the 1980s, correct?
Wrong. This song, later excluded from the disc to avoid complications with what would come out there, and 14 other pop and rock segments entered the Filthy 15 list, made by Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). The American Committee, founded by four wives of influential figures in national policy – highlighting Tipper Gorewife of the senator and future vice president Al gore – I wanted to increase parents’ control to their children’s access to songs considered subversive. Albums that contained songs with themes supposedly related to sex, violence or drug use would receive a seal with the sayings “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content” – in free translation, “warning to parents: explicit content” – as well as a description of the subject of compositions.
As the guidelines were not clear, it sounded as persecution and attempted censorship. The committee suggested that stores hide covers explicit, TV channels did not see songs and clips considered explicit and recorders “reconsider” the contracts of artists who did “violent” or “sexual” shows. Besides WASP, artists and bands like Prince, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Mötley Crüe, AC/DC and Judas Priestamong others, were targets. Musicians like Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) and Frank Zappa They even participated in a Senate discussion, where they faced a conservative crusade. The PMRC seal was eventually implemented and large retailers refused to sell these albums for some time – who has been gaining a good money, as this only increased interest in those “damn works.”
On the one hand, it surprises that Lawless, formerly the target of the censorship of conservatives, has become a staunch supporter of the current president Donald Trump – To the point of extending flags on support to the politician before the last election, from which it came out victorious. On the other hand, his work and history go against any retrograde ideology. Who was at the show held by Blackie, Doug Blair (guitar), Mike Duda (low) and the Brazilian Achilles Priester (battery) at Bangers Open Air didn’t even have contact with any traditionalist ideal at that time. None of that mattered. Good thing, because it doesn’t match much with rock and heavy metal.
The beginning of the presentation was confused and it was not even because of WASP, who sounded impeccable from beginning to end. It is that, weeks earlier, the band’s official networks stated that the Bangers Open Air setlist would not bring the full debut album, as in the entire current tour, but a selection of hits from the entire career. But when opening with “I Wanna Be Somebody” – Something they never did before this excursion – and amend with “Love Machine” and “The Flame”It was clear that the repertoire would have the 1984 album touched from head to toe and in the original order.
It is impossible to pinch highlights of this stage of the setlist. Wasp’s homonymous album is all outstanding. Too heavy to be labeled as hard rock, but with powerful melodic hooks to the point of piercing the heavy metal bubble. Incredible. If “Bad”, “Daze School”, “Tormentor” And the aforementioned “The Flame” were not played live before the current tour since 1985, classics like “On Your Knees”, “Hellion” And the also mentioned “I Wanna Be Somebody” – fortunately played as the original recording, without wrapping and stretched in duration – and “Love Machine” have always been at the shows. The fans have not been without the hits and still received songs that may never hear in a performance again, as Blackie said: probably will never do another excursion with this theme.
Nor can you separate a highlight between the four musicians. The band, the target of criticism of not so good performances in earlier visits, never sounded as well as now. Blackie Lawlessconstantly accused of playing playback, only seemed to have dubbed the stretch of “The Headless Children” executed already in the second part of the repertoire and the chorus chorus with the backing vocals – in this second case, so normal these days to the point that almost every artist becomes avail of such resource. Doug Blair Most of the time it sounded like Chris Holmesclassic guitarist of the group, either in the execution of the soils or, in particular, in the tone of their instrument. Mike DudaDiscreet, he knows his place in the sound mass – and this also needs to be praised. And what to say about Achilles Priester? The Brazilian, admittedly one of the best heavy metal drummers on the planet, “left” on stage. Plays with precision everything that was recorded by Tony Richards In the 1984 album (which may seem easy, but it is not) and let it go in the complementary step of the set, when he and his colleagues no longer need to perform a disk in full.
Between the full performance of the 1984 album and the already anticipated part of the show, Priester went to the microphone to talk to the audience. The drummer said he had exchanged the opportunity to make a solo for this talk, during which: he declared himself happy to play in Brazil with such a legendary band, defined that occasion as “the most important show of my life,” said praise from other Bangers artists to the organization of the Brazilian event and, amid ovations, left a message of motivation:
“Like all of you who are here, I also had dreams when I was 14, 15 years old. And that’s how I met Wasp, when they were making a tour with Iron Maiden during World Slavery Tour and then SOMEWHERE ON TOUR. So, I’m on this stage playing for all of you here today, with these metal legends, it’s a big dream that comes true. I mean that you are also responsible for this. Thank you very much, Brazil. ”
See this photo on InstagramA publication shared by Igor Miranda (@igormirandasite)
After the ten songs on the 1984 album and Priester’s speech, WASP returned to complete its set with “The Real Me”robust cover of The Who where the drummer goes down his arm, partial executions of the balladaça “Forever Free” and from “The Headless Children” (is with images of World War II on the big screen in the background) and the duo “Wild Child” and “Blind in Texas”hits from the album following the honoree, The Last Command (1985), to end everything in a party mood. There was no way to have another atmosphere. On the night of May 4, 2025, so much was celebrated in the Latin America Memorial: the presence of a Brazilian in such an important band, the existence of an album that needs to be quoted when talking about combating censorship in popular music and… well, the existence of Heavy Metal himself.
Wasp at Bangers Open Air – Setlist
1. I wanna be Somebody
2. Love Machine
3. The Flame
4. Bad
5.
6. Hellion
7. Sleeping (in the fire)
8. On Your Knees
9.
10. The Torture Never Stops
11. The Real (cover of The Who)
12. Forever Free (incomplete)
13. The Headless Children (Excerpt)
14. Wild Child
15. Blind in Texas
See also:
+++ Read more: Kerry King performs overwhelming weight and generates the largest wheels of the Bangers Open Air 2025
+++ Read more: the veteran metal band that sent too well on the 2nd day of Bangers Open Air
+++ Read more: The Gothic and Decoted “nuns” rock band that stole the scene in the bangers
+++ Read more: Glenn Hughes challenges logic and his own age with a show at Bangers Open Air
+++ Read more: Kerry King talks to RS about show in Brazil, solo career, slayer and more
+++ read more: a chat with Heat, a hard rock band that may surprise – again – in the bangers
+++ Read more: Doro Pesch talks to RS about show in Brazil, tribute to Lemmy and memories with Kiss
+++ Follow Rolling Stone Brasil @rollingstonebrasil on Instagram
+++ Follow journalist Igor Miranda @igormirandasite on Instagram
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
