Randy Piper
Encyclopedia
Randy Piper is an American musician, rock guitarist
, songwriter, and singer best known as the co-founder and original guitarist of the heavy metal band, W.A.S.P.
Previously, as members of Sister
and Circus Circus, Piper and Blackie Lawless
pioneered the outrageous stage spectaculars and notorious off-stage antics that later L.A. bands would emulate to multi-platinum success.
The transition into W.A.S.P. marked the evolution of their sound.. Touring worldwide, W.A.S.P. performed hits such as "I Wanna Be Somebody
" and "L.O.V.E. Machine" from their self-titled W.A.S.P. (album)
, following with "Wild Child" and "Blind in Texas" from the album The Last Command
.
Randy Piper's Animal, Kings Horses, and Where Angels Suffer are other bands Piper lead. In all, he has recorded 5 studio albums, many singles, and appears in 7 music videos and 2 movies. His work was awarded 9 gold records in 5 countries.
, with their band Exciter, rehearsed there. Eventually, Lynch and Brown joined Don Dokken
and went on to record their first Dokken album, Breaking the Chains (Dokken album) in Germany.
Not only musical innovators, W.A.S.P. became well-known for their extravagant and scandalous stage performances. Drawing on Piper's and Lawless' theatrical backgrounds, plus their flair for the shocking, the band incorporated burning signs, mic stands made out of huge chains, and girls dancing in cages. One of the most infamous stage sets featured the illusion of live rats being fed directly into a meat grinder. However, instead of fresh rat meat, band members tossed raw hamburger and chicken livers out to the audience. Although animal rights groups quickly caught wind and objected, the controversy only served to make W.A.S.P. even more popular.
W.A.S.P.'s first single was Animal (Fuck Like A Beast). It was considered so offensive that the band's record label, Capitol, did not want to release it. Instead, the band released it on an independent label, Music for the Nations, in Belgium. The single was then imported to England, where it spent 110 weeks on the charts.
On August 17, 1984, "W.A.S.P." - the self-titled first album - shipped gold right off the press. "W.A.S.P." peaked at Number 74 on Billboard's top 200 album chart in 1984, spending 31 weeks on the charts.
November 9, 1985 saw the release of "The Last Command (album)
" on Capitol Records
, W.A.S.P.'s second album, which again featured guitarist Randy Piper. "The Last Command" peaked at Number 47 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, where it stayed 23 weeks.
W.A.S.P.'s second gold-certified release in a row sold over a million copies, making them one of the most prominent metal bands of the mid-80s. They toured relentlessly with other popular bands such as Kiss (band)
, Iron Maiden
, and Black Sabbath
. Two singles in particular were in demand as part of MTV
s heavy metal rotation - the party anthem "Blind in Texas," as well as "Wild Child," - the story of a free-spirited Harley rider.
In 1988, the CD reissue almost doubled the original length of the album. It featured a cover of "Mississippi Queen," (the early 70's Mountain hit), the original B side "Savage" and 5 songs recorded live at the Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)
in October 1984, including "On Your Knees," "Hellion," "Love Machine," "Animal," and "I Wanna Be Somebody."
Controversy continued to follow the band, actually contributing to their success. W.A.S.P. drew the attention of the Parents Music Resource Center
(PMRC) - an organization opposed lyrics considered sexually explicit or violent. W.A.S.P. was the very first band to have an explicit lyrics advisory sticker, a fact noted by the national press, including Rolling Stone
and People (magazine)
. However, publicity from opposition groups ultimately helped boost album sales.
Eventually, Piper was ready to try some new things musically, and in 1988, he left W.A.S.P. Even though the commercial response declined after his departure, records sales have continued for over 25 years.
In fact, "I Wanna Be Somebody" went on to be ranked number 84 on VH1
s list of Top 100 Hard Rock Songs.
with Randy Piper's Animal
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, songwriter, and singer best known as the co-founder and original guitarist of the heavy metal band, W.A.S.P.
Previously, as members of Sister
Sister (band)
Sister was an American heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Los Angeles. Its members included Blackie Lawless, formerly of the New York Dolls and later of W.A.S.P., and Nikki Sixx, who would later co-create Mötley Crüe. They are notable for being one of the first bands to make usage of the pentagram...
and Circus Circus, Piper and 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,...
pioneered the outrageous stage spectaculars and notorious off-stage antics that later L.A. bands would emulate to multi-platinum success.
The transition into W.A.S.P. marked the evolution of their sound.. Touring worldwide, W.A.S.P. performed hits such as "I Wanna Be Somebody
I Wanna Be Somebody
"I Wanna Be Somebody" is the first single from heavy metal band W.A.S.P.'s debut album W.A.S.P..It was ranked at #84 in VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.-Track listing:7" single-Charts:...
" and "L.O.V.E. Machine" from their self-titled W.A.S.P. (album)
W.A.S.P. (album)
W.A.S.P. is the debut eponymous album by W.A.S.P., released August 17, 1984 . The album has been known under three different names. The spine of the vinyl release has Winged Assassins printed on it...
, following with "Wild Child" and "Blind in Texas" from the album The Last Command
The Last Command (album)
The Last Command is the second album by heavy metal band W.A.S.P. on November 9, 1985. The album was produced by Spencer Proffer, who also produced Metal Health by Quiet Riot....
.
Randy Piper's Animal, Kings Horses, and Where Angels Suffer are other bands Piper lead. In all, he has recorded 5 studio albums, many singles, and appears in 7 music videos and 2 movies. His work was awarded 9 gold records in 5 countries.
Early life
Piper comes from a family that loves music. He is the only grandson of Minnie Stevens Piper, who created the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation in 1950, a non-profit corporation to support educational opportunities for financially limited students His sister even named her daughter "Presley" in honor of Elvis Presley. That special love for Elvis Presley played pivotal role in Piper's childhood. Not only did he grow up listening to the records, anticipating each new release, and watching every movie Presley was in, Piper was capitivated by Presley's glamorous life. Inspired by his hero, Piper began playing acoustic guitar by age 10.Wheatstone Bridge Records
While still in high school, Piper opened a music store in Long Beach, California. “Wheatstone Bridge” wasn't just a discount record store, it was an experience. The vibe was relaxed and artistic, with psychedelic tapestries covering the walls and ceilings - incense burning - and Piper himself spinning records. Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, ZZ Top, Grand Funk Railroad, The Doors, Leslie West Mountain, Fog Hat, Ten Years After, The Who, Bob Dylan, Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, James Taylor, America, Robin Trower, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Johnny Winter were all featured in the store. Subsequently, Piper attended many their live concerts.Magnum Opus Studios
By 1978, Piper took his love of music a step further, with his new rehearsal and recording space, Magnum Opus Studios, in Buena Park, California. "Magnum Opus" was an industrial warehouse converted into rehearsal rooms, recording studios, and video sets. A special permit allowed his business to operate from 6:00 PM through 6:00 AM. For two and half years, George Lynch and Mick BrownMick Brown
Mick Brown, a.k.a. "Wild" Mick Brown is a drummer who has played in the bands Dokken, Lynch Mob, and Xciter. He is a co-founder of Dokken and is known by many Dokken fans as "Wild" Mick Brown. Mick played drums for Ted Nugent on his 2006 "Unleash the Beast Global ScorchTour", and also on his 2007...
, with their band Exciter, rehearsed there. Eventually, Lynch and Brown joined Don Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
and went on to record their first Dokken album, Breaking the Chains (Dokken album) in Germany.
Sister (Band)
In 1978, Piper met Blackie Lawless at the Starwood Night Club in Hollywood, California. A collaboration was born, as they began recording many songs on a Teac 3340 reel to reel at Piper's Magnum Opus Studio. When Lawless brought in Joey Palemo and Jimi Image, the band Sister was reborn. The new line-up included Blackie Lawless on lead vocals and guitar, Randy Piper on guitar and vocals, Joey Palemo on bass, and Jimi Image on drums.Circus Circus (Band)
During the days of Sister, inspiration struck in the form of the circus. After attending several performances by Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, Lawless wanted to change the name of the band to Circus Circus. Along with the new name came new branding, as they moved away from pentagrams and occult symbols towards a more colorful, theatrical appearance. Stage shows now included elaborate, circus-themed sets, with band members jumping off elephant stands and Lawless' antics, such as knife-throwing and setting himself on fire. The first videos for Circus Circus were produced at Piper's Magnum Opus Studio.W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. took L.A. by swarm. They easily set and broke attendance records at the iconic Troubadour club. They were gaining an increasingly devoted fan base as they added more outrageous stunts to the live shows.Not only musical innovators, W.A.S.P. became well-known for their extravagant and scandalous stage performances. Drawing on Piper's and Lawless' theatrical backgrounds, plus their flair for the shocking, the band incorporated burning signs, mic stands made out of huge chains, and girls dancing in cages. One of the most infamous stage sets featured the illusion of live rats being fed directly into a meat grinder. However, instead of fresh rat meat, band members tossed raw hamburger and chicken livers out to the audience. Although animal rights groups quickly caught wind and objected, the controversy only served to make W.A.S.P. even more popular.
W.A.S.P.'s first single was Animal (Fuck Like A Beast). It was considered so offensive that the band's record label, Capitol, did not want to release it. Instead, the band released it on an independent label, Music for the Nations, in Belgium. The single was then imported to England, where it spent 110 weeks on the charts.
On August 17, 1984, "W.A.S.P." - the self-titled first album - shipped gold right off the press. "W.A.S.P." peaked at Number 74 on Billboard's top 200 album chart in 1984, spending 31 weeks on the charts.
November 9, 1985 saw the release of "The Last Command (album)
The Last Command (album)
The Last Command is the second album by heavy metal band W.A.S.P. on November 9, 1985. The album was produced by Spencer Proffer, who also produced Metal Health by Quiet Riot....
" on 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...
, W.A.S.P.'s second album, which again featured guitarist Randy Piper. "The Last Command" peaked at Number 47 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, where it stayed 23 weeks.
W.A.S.P.'s second gold-certified release in a row sold over a million copies, making them one of the most prominent metal bands of the mid-80s. They toured relentlessly with other popular bands such as Kiss (band)
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. Two singles in particular were in demand as part of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
s heavy metal rotation - the party anthem "Blind in Texas," as well as "Wild Child," - the story of a free-spirited Harley rider.
In 1988, the CD reissue almost doubled the original length of the album. It featured a cover of "Mississippi Queen," (the early 70's Mountain hit), the original B side "Savage" and 5 songs recorded live at the Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)
Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)
-History:Built in 1897 following a traditional proscenium arch design, the Lyceum is the only surviving theatre outside of London designed by the famous theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague and the last example of an Edwardian auditorium in Sheffield...
in October 1984, including "On Your Knees," "Hellion," "Love Machine," "Animal," and "I Wanna Be Somebody."
Controversy continued to follow the band, actually contributing to their success. W.A.S.P. drew the attention of the Parents Music Resource Center
Parents Music Resource Center
The Parents Music Resource Center was an American committee formed in 1985 with the goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to be violent, have drug use or be sexual.The committee was founded by four women: Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice...
(PMRC) - an organization opposed lyrics considered sexually explicit or violent. W.A.S.P. was the very first band to have an explicit lyrics advisory sticker, a fact noted by the national press, including Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and People (magazine)
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
. However, publicity from opposition groups ultimately helped boost album sales.
Eventually, Piper was ready to try some new things musically, and in 1988, he left W.A.S.P. Even though the commercial response declined after his departure, records sales have continued for over 25 years.
In fact, "I Wanna Be Somebody" went on to be ranked number 84 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
s list of Top 100 Hard Rock Songs.
HISTORY
- SisterSister (band)Sister was an American heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Los Angeles. Its members included Blackie Lawless, formerly of the New York Dolls and later of W.A.S.P., and Nikki Sixx, who would later co-create Mötley Crüe. They are notable for being one of the first bands to make usage of the pentagram...
, - Circus Circus
- W.A.S.P.W.A.S.P.W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Quiet Riot and others. The band's popularity peaked in the 1980s, yet they continue to record and tour, making them one of the most enduring of the West Coast heavy...
- Animal
Discography
with W.A.S.P.W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. They emerged from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Quiet Riot and others. The band's popularity peaked in the 1980s, yet they continue to record and tour, making them one of the most enduring of the West Coast heavy...
- W.A.S.P.W.A.S.P. (album)W.A.S.P. is the debut eponymous album by W.A.S.P., released August 17, 1984 . The album has been known under three different names. The spine of the vinyl release has Winged Assassins printed on it...
(August 17, 1984) - The Last CommandThe Last Command (album)The Last Command is the second album by heavy metal band W.A.S.P. on November 9, 1985. The album was produced by Spencer Proffer, who also produced Metal Health by Quiet Riot....
(November 9, 1985)
with Randy Piper's Animal
- 900 Lb Steam (2002)
- Violent New Breed (2006)
- Virus (2008)