WASP News

Recently Sleaze Roxx spoke with Michael Sweet about the new album and Stryper's upcoming tour, here are some excerpts of the interview related to W.A.S.P. & Blackie Lawless:

Sleaze Roxx: One of the things that I saw regularly in Hit Parader Magazine back in the day was stories on Stryper vs. W.A.S.P. What did you make of those articles? That publication in particular entered the tabloid arena with not just you, but several bands.

Michael Sweet: They were definitely about stirring the pot. People liked to stir the pot of the controversial band wagon. I remember the rumors and talk of 'Heaven & Hell" tours with W.A.S.P. or with Motley Crue. None of those ever happened, but the funny thing is that, to this day, I have people coming up to me saying, 'I saw you in '89 with Motley Crue' or 'I saw you with W.A.S.P.' -- neither of those tours ever happened.

Sleaze Roxx: It's interesting that Blackie Lawless has become more spiritual throughout the years. I spoke to him about a year ago and he uses biblical references in his music and has stopped playing one of his signature and most controversial songs, "Animal", in recent years. Some of his fans are giving him a hard time for pulling that song out of the set-list and it hasn't been played in years.

Michael Sweet: It's amazing how people can be sometimes. I think it's great that the guy found God. Blackie chooses not to do the song because he feels convicted by doing the song. That's a stand-up guy -- that's honorable. You don't slap someone on the wrists because he's honorable. It's amazing how people are, just because he's not doing that controversial song that made him famous the guy is now a jerk? I don't understand it. A true fan wouldn't do that, a true fan would respect and honor it. I support it and applaud it.

for the complete interview click here.