The Headless Children
Encyclopedia
The Headless Children is the fourth studio album
by American heavy metal
band W.A.S.P., released by Capitol Records
in 1989. It is now the highest selling W.A.S.P. album to date , producing 3 UK Top 40 hit singles, with 'Mean Man' missing the top 20 by one spot (#21). 'The Real Me' (a Who
cover) made it to #23 and 'Forever Free' to #25.
The cover shows a string of historical figures, prominently featuring a picture of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.
This was the last studio album to feature guitarist Chris Holmes
for nearly a decade when he rejoined W.A.S.P. in late 1997 to record Kill Fuck Die
.
"L.O.V.E. Machine" and "Blind in Texas" were recorded live at the 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 man's name was Andy. This is the only recording released wherein W.A.S.P. have an audience member participating in the show onstage.
"The Heretic (The Lost Child)" on the 1998 reissue has been edited to remove a small portion of a guitar riff, due mainly to running time on a CD to allow all the bonus material.
Singles - BPI
(UK)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band W.A.S.P., released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1989. It is now the highest selling W.A.S.P. album to date , producing 3 UK Top 40 hit singles, with 'Mean Man' missing the top 20 by one spot (#21). 'The Real Me' (a Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
cover) made it to #23 and 'Forever Free' to #25.
The cover shows a string of historical figures, prominently featuring a picture of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.
This was the last studio album to feature guitarist Chris Holmes
Chris Holmes (musician)
Chris Holmes is a musician who was born June 23, 1958 in Glendale, California and grew up in La Canada, California...
for nearly a decade when he rejoined W.A.S.P. in late 1997 to record Kill Fuck Die
Kill Fuck Die
Kill.Fuck.Die. was the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released by Castle Records in 1997.It differs from their other releases by being more industrial and aggressive. Guitarist Chris Holmes rejoined the band for this album in a surprise move...
.
Track listing
- All songs written by Blackie Lawless, unless otherwise indicated.
- "The Heretic (The Lost Child)" (Blackie Lawless, Chris Holmes) – 7:22
- "The Real Me" (Pete TownshendPete TownshendPeter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
) – 3:20 - "The Headless Children" – 5:46
- "Thunderhead" (Lawless, Holmes) – 6:49
- "Mean Man" – 4:47
- "The Neutron Bomber" – 4:10
- "Mephisto Waltz" – 1:28
- "Forever Free" – 5:08
- "Maneater" – 4:46
- "Rebel In The F.D.G." – 5:08
1998 CD reissue bonus tracks
- "Locomotive BreathLocomotive Breath"Locomotive Breath" is a song by the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their 1971 album, Aqualung. It is notable for a long bluesy piano introduction and its flute solo by rock flute virtuoso Ian Anderson...
" (Ian AndersonIan Anderson (musician)Ian Scott Anderson, MBE is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the leader and flautist of British rock band Jethro Tull.-Early life:...
) – 2:59 - "For whom the Bell tolls" – 3:47
- "Lake of Fools" – 5:29
- "War Cry" – 5:33
- "L.O.V.E. Machine (Live)" – 4:47
- "Blind in Texas (Live)" – 6:23
"L.O.V.E. Machine" and "Blind in Texas" were recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
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
Blackie Lawless
Blackie Lawless , is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and actor, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band W.A.S.P..In an interview, Blackie claims to have been born in the kitchen of the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood,...
and singing with the band onstage. The man's name was Andy. This is the only recording released wherein W.A.S.P. have an audience member participating in the show onstage.
"The Heretic (The Lost Child)" on the 1998 reissue has been edited to remove a small portion of a guitar riff, due mainly to running time on a CD to allow all the bonus material.
Band
- Blackie LawlessBlackie LawlessBlackie Lawless , is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and actor, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band W.A.S.P..In an interview, Blackie claims to have been born in the kitchen of the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood,...
– lead vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Chris HolmesChris Holmes (musician)Chris Holmes is a musician who was born June 23, 1958 in Glendale, California and grew up in La Canada, California...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Johnny RodJohnny RodJohnny Rod is an American bass guitar player. One of the early bands he was active in was King Kobra, from 1983 to 1986. In 1986 he joined the heavy metal band W.A.S.P.....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Frankie BanaliFrankie BanaliFrankie Banali is an American rock drummer, best known for his work with multi-platinum heavy metal band Quiet Riot. He has been the band's manager during since 1994. He played drums in the heavy metal band W.A.S.P., as well as with Billy Idol...
- drums
Additional personnel
- Ken HensleyKen HensleyKenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Diana Fennel – background vocals
- Lita FordLita FordLita Ford is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.-Early life:...
– background vocals - Mark Humphreys – background vocals
- Jimi Image – background vocals
- Minka KellyMinka KellyMinka Dumont Kelly is an American actress. She starred in the NBC series Friday Night Lights as Lyla Garrity from 2006 to 2009 and has also had roles in The Roommate and the reboot series Charlie's Angels.-Early life:Kelly was born in Los Angeles...
– background vocals - Thomas Nellen – background vocals
- Cathi Paige – background vocals
- Mike Solan – background vocals
- Kevin WallaceKevin WallaceKevin Gerard Wallace was in-house producer with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group for eight years, where he was responsible for Celebration, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 50th Birthday Concert at the Royal Albert Hall starring Glenn Close, Antonio Banderas, Sarah Brightman and Elaine Paige, ...
– background vocals - Melba Wallace – background vocals
- Ron Wallace – background vocals
Album credits
- Produced by Blackie LawlessBlackie LawlessBlackie Lawless , is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and actor, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band W.A.S.P..In an interview, Blackie claims to have been born in the kitchen of the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Hollywood,...
- Engineered and mixed by Mikey Davis
- Assistant engineer: Tom Nellen
- Design and art direction by KoshKosh (art director)Kosh is an English art director, album cover designer, graphic artist, and documentary producer/director. He was born in London, England and rose to prominence in the mid-1960s while designing for the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House...
- Photography by Dick ZimmermanDick ZimmermanRichard "Dick" Zimmerman is a professional magician known for contributing many signature illusions. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, United States.He has also acted as magic consultant for magicians, including David Copperfield....
- Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc, Hollywood, CA
- Additional mastering by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
- Editing engineer: Rhonda Schoen
Chart positions
Album -| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | BPI Top 40 UK | 8 |
| 1989 | The Billboard 200 US | 48 |
Singles - BPI
BPI
BPI may refer to:In business:*Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, a public high school in Maryland, United States*Banca Popolare Italiana, an Italian bank merged into Banco Popolare*Banco Português de Investimento, a Portuguese bank...
(UK)
| Year | Chart | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | BPI Top 40 | Mean Man | 21 |
| 1989 | BPI Top 40 | Real Me | 23 |
| 1989 | BPI Top 40 | Forever Free | 25 |