The Crimson Idol

The Crimson Idol
Studio album by W.A.S.P.
Released	June 8, 1992
Recorded	Fort Apache Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA
Genre	Heavy Metal
Length	58:05
Label	Capitol
Producer	Blackie Lawless
W.A.S.P. chronology
The Headless Children (1989) The Crimson Idol (1992) First Blood Last Cuts (1994)

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The Crimson Idol was the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., originally released by Capitol Records in 1992 (1993 in the United States). The album is a concept album, telling the story of the rise and fall of a fictional rock star named Jonathan Steel.

The album took nearly three years to complete, and was originally recorded as a Blackie Lawless solo album, but Lawless bowed to fan pressure and released it under the W.A.S.P. moniker.

The Crimson Idol World Tour unusually took place 15 years after the release of the album to mark its 15th anniversary, starting on October 26, 2007 in the Principal Club Theater, Thessaloniki in Greece. It also marked the first time that the film recorded for The Crimson Idol was ever shown in public. This was played along with the band as they performed their tracks in synch with the film. This show marked the only time that the album has ever been played from start to finish by the band since recording the album. The show also featured "Mephisto Waltz" the seventh track from the 1989 album The Headless Children as the intro to the show before playing the first track of The Crimson Idol, "The Titanic Overture". All shows had a long encore section ranging from 2-6 songs, containing classics and "Take Me Up" from the new 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. He runs away from home after his brother is killed in a car accident, and starts to wander the streets, getting addicted to drugs and alcohol. When he walks past a music store, he sees a guitar and wants to become a rock star, therefore breaking the display window with a bottle of booze and thus his journey into acclaimed excess begins.

He plays the stolen crimson guitar as often as he can, to try to obtain money to record an album. Then he meets a man, "Chainsaw" Charlie, the president of a major record company. He promises to make Jonathan a star, and introduces Jonathan to Alex Rodman, who will become his manager. Jonathan becomes a rock star, but he finds out that life is not as glamorous as it seems. Jonathan has fame and fortune, but not the one thing he always wanted, 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."

Jonathan realizes that he will never be accepted by his parents and decides to commit suicide. During the aforementioned concert, Jonathan removes the strings from his guitar, shapes them into a noose and hangs himself.

List of characters

• Jonathan Aaron Steel
• Jonathan's brother, Michael Steel
• Elizabeth Steel (Jonathan's mother)
• William "Red" Steel (Jonathan's father)
• The Mirror
• Chainsaw Charlie
• Alex Rodman
• The Gypsy
• Doctor Rockter
• The King of Mercy

Track listing

• All songs written, composed, arranged and produced by Blackie Lawless.

1. "The Titanic Overture" – 3:23
2. "The Invisible Boy" – 4:04
3. "Arena of Pleasure" – 4:06
4. "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)" – 7:36
5. "The Gypsy Meets the Boy" – 4:08
6. "Doctor Rockter" – 3:43
7. "I Am One" – 4:27
8. "The Idol" – 8:40
9. "Hold on to My Heart" – 4:14
10. "The Great Misconceptions of Me" – 9:29

1998 CD reissue bonus track

11. The Story of Jonathan (Prologue to the Crimson Idol) - 16:35

1998 CD reissue bonus disc

• All songs written by Blackie Lawless, unless otherwise indicated.

1. "Phantoms in the Mirror" - 4:36
2. "The Eulogy" - 4:16
3. "When the Levee Breaks" (Led Zeppelin) - 7:06
4. "The Idol (Live Acoustic)" (Lawless) – 4:35
5. "Hold on to My Heart (Live Acoustic)" - 4:23
6. "I Am One (Live, Donington 1992)" – 4:58
7. "Wild Child (Live, Donington 1992)" (Lawless/Holmes) – 5:53
8. "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue) (Live, Donington 1992)" – 8:24
9. "I Wanna Be Somebody (Live, Donington 1992)" - 6:14
10. "The Invisible Boy (Live, Donington 1992)" – 4:15
11. "The Real Me (Live, Donington 1992)" (Pete Townshend) – 3:41
12. "The Great Misconceptions of Me (Live, Donington 1992)" – 9:45

Personnel

Band

• Blackie Lawless – vocals, lead guitars, rhythm guitars, bass guitar, keyboards
• Bob Kulick – lead guitar
• Frankie Banali – drums
• Stet Howland – drums

Other credits

• Produced by Blackie Lawless
• Engineered and mixed by Mikey Davis at Fort Apache Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA
• Arranged by Blackie Lawless
• Assistant engineer: Ross Robinson
• Mastering by Ian Cooper
• Design and art direction by Kosh Brooks Design
• Photography by Gene Kirkland

Singles

• "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)"
• "The Idol"
• "I Am One"
• "Hold On To My Heart"

See also

• W.A.S.P.
• Blackie Lawless

References

• http://www.waspontour.com

External links

• http://www.waspnation.com/crimson.html
• W.A.S.P. Arena Of Pleasure Fan Site
• http://www.thecrimsonidol.com/