The Headless Children

The Headless Children
Studio album by W.A.S.P.
Released	April 15, 1989[citation needed]
Recorded	Late 1988 - Early 1989
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	44:48
Label	Capitol
Producer	Blackie Lawless
W.A.S.P. chronology
Live...In the Raw (1987) The Headless Children (1989) The Crimson Idol (1992)

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The Headless Children is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released by Capitol Records in 1989. It is now the highest selling W.A.S.P. album to date^{[citation needed]}, producing 3 UK Top 40 hit singles, with 'Mean Man' missing the top 20 by one spot (#21). 'The Real Me' (a Who cover) made it to #23 and 'Forever Free' to #25.

The cover shows a string of historical figures, prominently featuring a picture of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald.

This was the last studio album to feature guitarist Chris Holmes for nearly a decade when he rejoined W.A.S.P. in late 1997 to record Kill Fuck Die.

Track listing

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

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

1998 CD reissue bonus tracks

11. "Locomotive Breath" (Ian Anderson) – 2:59
12. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" – 3:47
13. "Lake of Fools" – 5:29
14. "War Cry" – 5:33
15. "L.O.V.E. Machine (Live)" – 4:47
16. "Blind in Texas (Live)" – 6:23

"L.O.V.E. Machine" and "Blind in Texas" were recorded live at the 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 man's name was Andy. This is the only recording released wherein W.A.S.P. have an audience member participating in the show onstage.

"The Heretic (The Lost Child)" on the 1998 reissue has been edited to remove a small portion of a guitar riff, due mainly to running time on a CD to allow all the bonus material.

Personnel

Band

• Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, guitar
• Chris Holmes – guitar
• Johnny Rod – bass guitar, vocals
• Frankie Banali - drums

Additional personnel

• 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

Album credits

• Produced by Blackie Lawless
• Engineered and mixed by Mikey Davis
• Assistant engineer: Tom Nellen
• Design and art direction by Kosh
• Photography by Dick Zimmerman
• Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc, Hollywood, CA
• Additional mastering by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
• Editing engineer: Rhonda Schoen

Singles

• "The Real Me"
• "Mean Man"
• "Forever Free"

Chart positions

Album -

Year	Chart	Position
1989	BPI Top 40 UK	8
1989	The Billboard 200 United States	48

Singles - BPI (UK)

Year	Chart	Name	Position
1989	BPI Top 40	Mean Man	21
1989	BPI Top 40	Real Me	23
1989	BPI Top 40	Forever Free	25

See also

• W.A.S.P.