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BLACKIE FOR PRESIDENT !
BY BENEDETTA FERRARO
Government elections are taking place everywhere these days, and it's certainly difficult not to be affected, even if only marginally. But what amazes me is that I've interviewed a significant number of artists who talk about politics, demonstrating that the level of interest in the subject has grown significantly in the music world as well. I agree that some musicians have always tried to raise their audiences' awareness of issues like disarmament, environmental protection, AIDS, and so on, as in the case of Bob Dylan, Sting, and Paul Simon, but I was truly surprised to approach the undisputed leader of the WASPs, Blackie Lawless, and talk with him about the many problems American society is experiencing, after about twelve years of Republican rule...
"Reality speaks of unemployment, hunger, crime, and drugs. These aspects are all closely connected to each other when a head of state destroys the economy of a country: I am referring to Reagan and his presidency. He destroyed what were the hopes of a nation; he is a true evil because, by robbing people of their dreams, he then deprived them of their ambitions and their ideals... And people without ideals take refuge in drugs, and to obtain drugs they turn to crime. This explains why Reagan is the poster child of human perfidy."
Blackie, how did you develop this interest in politics?
"I've always been an honest person. Those who know me well know that for me honesty is the basis of everything. False people disgust me; if someone tells me something that isn't true, it's over, I lose trust and I never want to see that person again... This honesty makes me feel a bit like a crusader on a mission: at thirty-five I've seen a lot of things, they even tried to kill me a couple of times and I assure you it was anything but a pleasant experience. My wish now would be to lend a hand to all those who haven't had the same luck as me and help them rebuild their lives, giving them hope!"
He stares at me and then adds, "Any minute I expect the Pope to walk into this room and give us all his blessing!" We burst out laughing: it's true, this is Blackie Lawless from the '90s, a very eloquent man who feels the time has come to prove that the rock scene isn't populated solely by men with brains in their pants. I ask him how he'd like to change the current state of affairs...
"Unfortunately, in politics, if you're honest, sooner or later you end up like a martyr. Despite this, there's a desperate need for change, and as far as I'm concerned, I feel like I could, in my own small way, do something, since I've been gifted with the ability to know and communicate! On the other hand, I know that entering the world of politics could lead to self-destruction. Look at all the scandals they've brought out about Bill Clinton (the Democratic candidate); that guy could be the perfect politician, but now public opinion has been overwhelmed by all those stories about Clinton's alleged affair with his secretary. But do we really think it's that important, in order to govern a country, who you sleep with? As for me, I've always done everything out in the open: I could be the perfect candidate!" And who would vote for you?
"Those who buy my records today will be the ones who tomorrow, with their vote, could change the future of the world! But first of all we must try to change people's attitude; the average American citizen is fat and lazy, he believes that everything is owed to him...
Because he comes from a very economically developed country, but he doesn't understand the real state of things! You see, if Americans traveled the world and asked people what other people think of this supremacy, then they would realize that they are not superior but that, in reality, they only live immersed in this shitty cultural arrogance... Other nations have a very low opinion of the United States, and they are right!
Blackie, you're not going to tell me that during these three years of absence from the scene, all your attention has been directed exclusively to politics!
"No, you're welcome! If people don't hear from you for a while, they automatically think you've moved to a rehab center or that you're having a good time. In my case, however, it was different: I built a recording studio just outside Los Angeles and completed the album that I'm promoting right now, which is called 'The Crimson Idol'."
Why did you feel the need to have your own recording studio?
"I want to tell you something that might clarify the reason for this choice. At the door of the-
There's a plaque in the studio that says, 'This is a place where creativity reigns.' From this, you should understand how stupid it is to pay a lot of money every hour for the use of a studio and expect to come out with great ideas. I have a mania for working too much! I need to live in the studio, and I want to do so without watching the clock too much and without spending a lot of money.
So the new LP is coming out soon; tell me a little about this long-awaited return of WASP...
"'The Crimson Idol' is a kind of rock opera: it tells the story of a fictional character, Jonathan Steel, with whom many people, including me, could identify. Jonathan tries to escape into music, learns to play the guitar, forms a band and one day becomes famous and rich... He returns to his parents, hoping they will welcome him with open arms in the 'prodigal son' style, but nothing! There will be no reaction from them. The underlying theme is a kind of parable aimed at opening the eyes of all those who intend to pursue the path of show business, and the moral could be: 'Be careful what you wish for because one day it all could come true!' It's a bit like saying: yes, we all go to the beach to swim and have fun, but if there are sharks in the sea, well, I'd like someone to save my life!"
Ok, but explain to me the lineup situation for WASP, now that guitarist Chris Holmes is no longer part of it!
"Chris left and our relationship ended pretty badly! However, it was the natural solution to a situation that had dragged on for a long time. Since he got married, he had completely lost interest in the band. I, on the other hand, had confidently expected a certain contribution from him, but it never arrived, so I decided not to pursue it further: he chose his interests, I favored mine, he preferred his private life, I chose my band."
And what about his performance in the film "The Decline of Western Civilization"? Were you sorry to see him in that state? Drunk, in the pool, he looked completely ridiculous...
"Yes, that scene was very embarrassing; you see, no matter what I say, it will never hurt him as much as that sequence did; that scene gave a complete idea of the state Chris is in.
I have to say that after this long chat with Blackie Lawless, I came away with a completely different opinion than the one I had formed from watching him in promotional videos or reading the interviews he gave a few years ago. I hate to use the term "maturing," but in this case, something like that must have happened to Blackie. He's been around for years, starting out with the legendary New York Dolls, and now he's still the charismatic leader of one of the most famous metal bands, which, despite the ups and downs, he's managed to keep alive and well. Blackie is an artist who, at thirty-five, considers himself lucky to have an audience that loves and listens to him, and this makes him feel a certain responsibility that goes beyond the artistic product... I find this extremely fascinating, and I feel like saying: Blackie is welcome in this environment, where sex, drugs, and parties seem to be the most important things.