TESTAMENT's Alex Skolnick - "There Needs To Be A Psychological Study On Blackie Lawless" Of W.A.S.P.
July 8, 2009, 15 years ago
TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick shares his thoughts on Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P. in the latest instalment of his SkolNotes blog. An excerpt reads as follows:
"A few years ago, we played a European festival with the band W.A.S.P. The leather-clad lead singer, Blackie Lawless, who is six foot something and wears platform shoes, came into the back area stonefaced, shades on and nose in the air. Somehow, he managed to enter with the presence of John Wayne in a western film, barging into a saloon, guns blazing. At the same time he was, cold, distant and aloof. It was as if he was all that mattered and the rest of us didn't exist.Blackie is an LA glam rocker who used to get mentioned alongside other icons such as Nikki Sixx of MÖTLEY CRÜE. He was a descendant of shock rocker, ALICE COOPER, pre- MARILYN MANSON. But somehow his music hasn't had the popularity or staying power of those other artists. Maybe that's because it's not very good.
But from his backstage demeanor that day, you'd think he was rock star royalty along the lines of Steven Tyler of AEROSMITH and Roger Daltrey of THE WHO. I've since met both Steven and Roger and couldn't imagine them acting that way if they tried.
Everyone in my band was a little bit bummed out by him and talked about what a 'dick' Blackie was. Normally I'd feel compelled to give someone the benefit of the doubt and defend them on the grounds of being 'misunderstood' or some other bullshit (it's the Libra in me I guess, try to get along with everyone). But in this case I agreed, Blackie's attitude was indefensible.
Nonetheless, I kind of had to hand it to him. He emitted a hell of an aura. It was enough for me to admit holding a secret admiration: not for his behavior, but for him having the balls to pull it off."
To read the rest of Skolnick's blog, click here.
