Artist: W.A.S.P.
Album: THE HEADLESS CHILDREN REISSUE (DIGI)

Release date: 1989/ 2019
EAN/UPS: 0636551711920
Media type: CD

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. It is a true classic -- not an easy thing to find in the '80s L.A. metal scene.

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.

Bonus versions of "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.

TRACKLIST:

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

Bonus tracks:

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

LINE-UP:

Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
Chris Holmes – lead guitar
Johnny Rod – bass guitar, vocals

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