Released 1992 (1992) Artist W.A.S.P. Producer Blackie Lawless Genre Heavy metal | Length 57:47 Release date 8 June 1992 Label Parlophone | |
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Recorded Fort Apache Recording Studio in Hollywood The Crimson Idol
(1992) First Blood Last Cuts
(1993) Similar WASP albums, Heavy metal albums | ||
The Crimson Idol is the fifth studio album by heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released internationally in 1992 through Capitol Records and on May 24, 1993 in the United States; a remastered edition was reissued in 1998, containing a bonus disc of B-sides and live material from 1992. The album charted within the top 40 in five countries. It is a concept album, telling the story of the rise and fall of a fictional rock star named Jonathan Steel.
Contents
Overview
Taking nearly three years to complete, The Crimson Idol was originally recorded as a Blackie Lawless solo album, but bandleader Lawless bowed to fan pressure and released it under the W.A.S.P. name. Unusually, the album's tour—named The Crimson Idol Tour—took place fifteen years after its release to mark its fifteenth anniversary, commencing on October 26, 2007 at the Principal Club Theater in Thessaloniki, Greece.
A film recorded for the album was also shown in public for the first time, which was played along with the band as they performed their tracks to it in synch. The show marked the only time that the album has ever been played from start to finish by the band since its recording. "Mephisto Waltz", the seventh track from The Headless Children (1989), served as the show's opener, followed by "The Titanic Overture", the first track from The Crimson Idol. All shows had a long encore section ranging from 2–6 songs, containing W.A.S.P. classics as well as "Take Me Up" from their 2007 album Dominator.
The story
The story of The Crimson Idol revolves around a teenager named Jonathan. He is the son of William and Elizabeth Steel, and brother of Michael Steel. Michael is the favored son of his parents, but Jonathan is a complete failure in their eyes. After Michael is killed in a car accident by a drunk driver, Jonathan runs away from home and starts to wander the streets, becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. While walking past a music store, he sees a guitar and desires to become a rock star. He breaks the display window with a bottle of booze, thus beginning his journey into acclaimed excess.
Jonathan plays the stolen crimson-colored guitar as often as he can in order to obtain money to record an album. He then meets a man named "Chainsaw" Charlie, the president of a major record label. Charlie promises to make Jonathan a star, and introduces him to Alex Rodman, who will become his manager. Jonathan goes on to achieve his ambition of becoming a rock star, but finds out that life is not as glamorous as it seems. Despite now having fame and fortune, he still longs for the one thing he always wanted, that being the love and acceptance of his parents.
One night before a concert, Jonathan calls his parents in an attempt to reconcile their differences and heal the emotional wounds between them. According to the story, "less than fifty words were spoken"; the last four of which being "we have no son". Realizing that he will never be accepted by his parents, Jonathan decides to commit suicide. During the aforementioned concert, he removes the strings from his guitar, shapes them into a noose and hangs himself.
List of characters
Critical reception
Greg Prato at AllMusic gave The Crimson Idol three stars out of five, calling it "essentially a Blackie Lawless solo album" and noting "The Invisible Boy", "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)" and "I Am One" as highlights.
Track listing
All tracks written by Blackie Lawless.
Personnel
Songs
1The Titanic Overture3:31
2The Invisible Boy5:13
3Arena of Pleasure4:59