W.A.S.P. Frontman BLACKIE LAWLESS On Late Drummer FRANKIE BANALI - "Our Bond Went Way Back; The Planets Had To Align For That To Happen" (Video)
December 12, 2022, a year ago
During his VIP Q&A in San Francisco, CA on December 9th, W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless answered questions posed by the fans in attendance. When he was asked about the passing of drummer Frankie Banali, who recorded and played with W.A.S.P. between 1989 - 2018, Lawless offered the following:
"It's difficult. Frankie was the first guy I ever met the first night I was in Hollywood. Our bond went way back, and the chances of people having success at that time were pretty slim. So, for two guys that met on that first night to have a lifelong relationship - an exceptional relationship with a guy who was exceptionally talented - the planets had to align for that to happen."
Frankie Banali, who is best known as a member of Quiet Riot, recorded eight albums with W.A.S.P.: The Headless Children (1989), The Crimson Idol (1992), Still Not Black Enough (1995), Unholy Terror (2001), Dying for the World (2002), The Neon God: Part 1 - The Rise (2004), The Neon God: Part 2 – The Demise (2004) and Re-Idolized (Soundtrack to the Crimson Idol) (2018). In October 2019, Banali revealed he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in April of that year. He died from the disease on August 20th, 2020, at age 68.
