Happy birthday, Blackie Lawless - Classic Rock Stars Birthdays

Blackie Lawless, Tons Of Rock 2014, Day 2 (Halden, Norway)

Happy birthday, Blackie Lawless...
Born Steven Edward Duren on September 4, 1956 in Staten Island, New York, US, Blackie Lawless is a songwriter, singer and musician mostly known as the vocalist and rhythm guitarist (formerly bassist) of the band W.A.S.P..
When he was a teenager he was in a street gang called the Duckies with Ace Frehley.
In 1975, he joined the New York Dolls to replace Johnny Thunders, who had left the band during a tour, for the remainder of the tour.
After that, he went to California with Arthur Kane. At this moment, Blackie's stage name was "Naughty Blackie Nogood".
In 1976, Arthur Kane returned to New York but Blackie stayed in Los Angeles and founded the band Sister (lineup: Blackie Lawless (vocals, rhythm guitar), Lizzie Grey (guitar), Nikki Sixx (bass)).
In 1979, he formed the band Circus Circus with Randy Piper.
After Circus Circus' failure, in 1981, Blackie joined Lizzie Grey and Nikki Sixx's band London. Yet, when he joined, Nikki Sixx had already left to form Mötley Crüe.
One year later, Blackie founded W.A.S.P. with Randy Piper (lineup: Blackie Lawless (lead vocals, bass), Randy Piper (guitar, backing vocals), Chris Holmes (guitar), Tony Richards (drums, backing vocals)).
The band released its debut album, W.A.S.P., on August 17 1984. Yet, its first single, Animal (Fuck Like A Beast), didn't feature on the album in the US to prevent it from being banned from major chain stores.
In 1992, W.A.S.P. released the concept album The Crimson Idol. The album was originally meant to be Blackie's debut solo album and it was seen as the critics as W.A.S.P.'s best album so far.
Blackie is the only remaining original member of W.A.S.P. after several lineup changes (current lineup: Blackie Lawless (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, keyboards), Doug Blair (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mike Duda (bass, backing vocals), Mike Dupke (drums)).
His influences include Alice Cooper, The Beatles, Black Sabbath and Kiss.
In 2012, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, W.A.S.P. made the 30 Years of Thunder World Tour 2012.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Blackie Lawless!

Blackie Lawless, Sundsvall, Sweden (2012)

Blackie Lawless, Doug Blair, Mike Dupke, Mike Duda - W.A.S.P. Sundsvall, Sweden (2012)

Happy birthday, Blackie Lawless...
Born Steven Edward Duren on September 4, 1956 in Staten Island, New York, US, Blackie Lawless is a songwriter, singer and musician mostly known as the vocalist and rhythm guitarist (formerly bassist) of the band W.A.S.P..
When he was a teenager he was in a street gang called the Duckies with Ace Frehley.
In 1975, he joined the New York Dolls to replace Johnny Thunders, who had left the band during a tour, for the remainder of the tour.
After that, he went to California with Arthur Kane. At this moment, Blackie's stage name was "Naughty Blackie Nogood".
In 1976, Arthur Kane returned to New York but Blackie stayed in Los Angeles and founded the band Sister (lineup: Blackie Lawless (vocals, rhythm guitar), Lizzie Grey (guitar), Nikki Sixx (bass)).
In 1979, he formed the band Circus Circus with Randy Piper.
After Circus Circus' failure, in 1981, Blackie joined Lizzie Grey and Nikki Sixx's band London. Yet, when he joined, Nikki Sixx had already left to form Mötley Crüe.
One year later, Blackie founded W.A.S.P. with Randy Piper (lineup: Blackie Lawless (lead vocals, bass), Randy Piper (guitar, backing vocals), Chris Holmes (guitar), Tony Richards (drums, backing vocals)).
The band released its debut album, W.A.S.P., on August 17 1984. Yet, its first single, Animal (Fuck Like A Beast), didn't feature on the album in the US to prevent it from being banned from major chain stores.
In 1992, W.A.S.P. released the concept album The Crimson Idol. The album was originally meant to be Blackie's debut solo album and it was seen as the critics as W.A.S.P.'s best album so far.
Blackie is the only remaining original member of W.A.S.P. after several lineup changes (current lineup: Blackie Lawless (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, keyboards), Doug Blair (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mike Duda (bass, backing vocals), Mike Dupke (drums)).
His influences include Alice Cooper, The Beatles, Black Sabbath and Kiss.
In 2012, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, W.A.S.P. made the 30 Years of Thunder World Tour 2012.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Blackie Lawless!