The Headless Children

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

The Headless Children was the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released by Capitol Records in 1989.

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

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.

Track listing

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

Side One

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

Side Two

1. "Mean Man" – 4:47
2. "The Neutron Bomber" – 4:10
3. "Mephisto Waltz" – 1:28
4. "Forever Free" – 5:08
5. "Maneater" – 4:46
6. "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" – 5:32
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 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.

Personnel

Band

• 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

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 - Billboard (North America)

See also

• W.A.S.P.