The Headless Children

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The Headless Children
The Headless Children cover
Studio album by W.A.S.P.
Released April 15, 1989
Recorded Late 1988 - Early 1989
Genre Heavy Metal, Glam Metal, Hard Rock
Length 44:48
Label Capitol Records
Producer Blackie Lawless
Professional reviews
W.A.S.P. chronology
Live...In the Raw
(November 27, 1987)		 The Headless Children
(April 15, 1989)		 The Crimson Idol
(June 8, 1992)

The Headless Children was the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released by Capitol Records in 1989.

The album demonstrated the band maturing from its glam-metal roots into a heavier sound with more serious subject matter. The cover shows a string of historical figures, prominently featuring a picture of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.

The album's first song, The Heretic (The Lost Child), sets the tone with meaty yet catchy guitars coupled with intelligent lyrics. The song does not epitomize W.A.S.P. yet it stands the test of time better than any of their other tracks.

The album was the last studio album to feature guitarist Chris Holmes in nearly a decade until he rejoined W.A.S.P. in late 1997 to record Kill Fuck Die.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "The Heretic (The Lost Child)" (Blackie Lawless, Chris Holmes) – 7:22
  2. "The Real Me" (Pete Townshend - cover of The Who) – 3:20
  3. "The Headless Children" (Lawless) – 5:46
  4. "Thunderhead" (Lawless, Holmes) – 6:49
  5. "Mean Man" (Lawless) – 4:47
  6. "The Neutron Bomber" (Lawless) – 4:10
  7. "Mephisto Waltz" (Lawless) – 1:28
  8. "Forever Free" (Lawless) – 5:08
  9. "Maneater" (Lawless) – 4:46
  10. "Rebel in the F.D.G." (Lawless) – 5:08

[edit] Bonus tracks

The album was re-releasead by Zomba Records in 1998, and offered the following bonus tracks:

  1. "Locomotive Breath" (Ian Anderson - cover of Jethro Tull) – 2:59
  2. "For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Lawless) – 3:47
  3. "Lake Of Fools" (Lawless) – 5:32
  4. "War Cry" (Lawless) – 5:33
  5. "L.O.V.E. Machine" (Lawless) – 4:47
  6. "Blind In Texas" (Lawless) – 6:23

"L.O.V.E. Machine" and "Blind in Texas" were recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 1989). Although not rare for a W.A.S.P. show, Blind In Texas features an audience member plucked out of the crowd by Blackie Lawless and singing with the band onstage, the mans name was Andy. This is the only recording released where W.A.S.P. have an audience member participating in the show onstage.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Band

[edit] Additional personnel

  • Frankie Banali – drums, percussion
  • Ken Hensley – keyboards
  • Diana Fennel – background vocals
  • Lita Ford – background vocals
  • Mark Humphreys – background vocals
  • Jimi Image – background vocals
  • Minka Kelly – background vocals
  • Thomas Nellen – background vocals
  • Cathi Paige – background vocals
  • Mike Solan – background vocals
  • Kevin Wallace – background vocals
  • Melba Wallace – background vocals
  • Ron Wallace – background vocals

[edit] Album credits

  • Produced by Blackie Lawless
  • Engineered and mixed by Mikey Davis
  • Assistant engineer: Tom Nellen
  • Design and art direction by Kosh
  • Photography by Dick Zimmerman
  • Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc , Hollywood, CA
  • Additional mastering by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
  • Editing engineer: Rhonda Schoen

[edit] Singles

  • "The Real Me"
  • "Mean Man"
  • "Forever Free"

[edit] Chart positions

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1989 The Billboard 200 48

[edit] See also

v • d • e
W.A.S.P.
Blackie Lawless • Doug Blair • Mike Duda • Mike Dupke
Glenn Soderling • Stet Howland • Tony Richards • Johnny Rod • Frankie Banali • Chris Holmes • Randy Piper • Steve Riley • Darrell Roberts • Don Costa • Rik Fox
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
First Blood Last Cuts • The Best of the Best: 1984-2000, Vol. 1
Videography
Live at the Lyceum • The Sting: Live at the Key Club L.A. • In the Raw
Languages