Blackie Lawless: ‘Obama Reminded Me Of Hitler’
W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless gained notoriety in the 1980s for throwing raw meat at his suitably rabid fans, and for stage shows featuring semi-naked women on torture racks.
His best-known songs include Fuck Like A Beast, Wild Child and L.O.V.E. Machine. But overtly sexist topics have been on the back-burner for a number of years now, as Blackie increasingly explores a socio-political agenda.
W.A.S.P.’s upcoming new album, Babylon, is themed around biblical visions of the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse – because Blackie reckons “our so-called world leaders are on a mission to march people straight into hell”.
Highlights from an interview with Classic Rock’s Geoff Barton follow…
GB: You wrote the songs on Babylon while the world was experiencing a global financial meltdown.
BL: It’s no secret that I wasn’t Bush fan, neither Bush No.1 nor Bush No.2. In general, I don’t trust politicians. But when this supposed global meltdown was happening a year ago and I saw all these world leaders calling for a one-world government, a one-world system and a one-world currency, I thought to myself: “They gotta be kidding.” I mean, do these guys understand what they’re talking about? I don’t think that they do.
GB: We’ve got a taste that over in the UK already. A lot of our important political decisions are made by bureaucrats in Brussels.
BL: For somebody who’s been an honorary Brit now for 25-plus years, it breaks my heart, honestly, to watch what’s going on over there. I was thinking this morning about The Kinks’ song [Living On A Thin Line] where the lyrics go: ‘All the stories have been told/Of kings and days of old/But there’s no England now.’ And I thought to myself: “Where was the precise moment when it took that turn?” It’s not how it used to be. When did it become so socialised? It’s unrecognisable.
GB: You could say it’s been years of attrition.
BL: It certainly would have been. And that pains me because I’ve always had a real fondness for your place. You look at some of the stuff that comes out of your country now and I grit my teeth.
GB: What sort of stuff makes you grit your teeth?
BL: The whole Lockerbie situation. Freeing that Libyan bomber was a despicable act. Plus, as I say, you look at how it’s been socialised. I was watching a TV programme the other day. It was a British kid here in the US. The interviewer asked him: “What did you come here for?” The kid said: “I wanted to start a small business and I couldn’t do that in the UK.” There’s no help from the government. You can’t get a bank loan. There’s no incentive to get anything done. Those days are gone. I thought to myself: “Is this where America’s going?” It really hurts me to watch your country go that way. The pride factor has gone.
GB: You were a supporter of John McCain during the US presidential election campaign.
BL: By default.
GB: So, how are you finding life under Barack Obama?
BL: I was very, very critical of Obama during the campaign. I wrote a long letter and I sent it out to all the press the night before the election. I pulled no punches with this guy because I had really done quite a bit of research on him while the election was going on.
He’s one of these old-time 60s radicals from way back. He thinks he’s going to change the world and he’s hell-bent on doing that. When he stood there the night of the nomination and he said that he intended on “fundamentally changing” America – a chill ran down my back. Thousands of people were just standing there, wildly applauding, and it reminded me of Hitler standing on the steps of the Reichstag.
I thought: “These people don’t understand what this man is talking about, what his true intentions are, and how he is going to go about doing this.” This man, like I said, is straight out of the 60s school of radicalism where he thinks he’s going to be Robin Hood and rob from the rich to give to the poor.
I subscribe to the theory: if you work, you eat. And if you don’t, you don’t. It’s really no more complicated than that. Do we want to be compassionate? Yes. Do we want to help each other as best we can? Yes. But that doesn’t mean that I bust my hump to create something and somebody comes along and decides that I can’t keep that anymore. That’s not what either one of our countries was really built on.
* Babylon, the new album from W.A.S.P., is released on October 12.
I’d say stick to music because you don’t know jack shit about politics but i always thought your music sucked anyway “blackie”.
your gonna compare obama to hitler? yeah, because the similarities are all over the place. obama is nothing like hitler and these kind of dumbass statements should be force fed back to you with an Accept/Scorpions soundtrack playing in the background.
and whose the guy who he thinks will dig the us out of it’s current mess? one of the worst pilots in US naval history? a guy who sang like a bird to his captors once he crashed (again)? and nothing changed with this guy since then.
your judgement, views, opinion, & MUSIC, suck. always have and always will.
fuckin retard.
yea, i agree with this guy, why do musicians have to get involved in politics?? stick to what you do best, even if in your case blackie, your best is shit
His music sucks, yes, and his sexist lyrics REALLY grate, but he’s not as stupid as he used to appear. The Lockerbie release is going to upset Americans – how could it NOT upset Americans? No, Obama doesn’t appear like a dictator right now, so perhaps he should’ve phrased that better, but he still has more knowledge than 90% of rock stars. (He definitely wants to be Townshend!)
Totally agree with the previous speakers!
Remember that the “current mess” comes from “the land of the free to profit on other peoples work”.
Learn that socialism (not stalinism) is just a cure for lack of conscience and insight in where values are created for “suits” to administrate.
Fuck all politicians and fuck all WASP haters! Obama is no Hitler and McCain is no saviour. Politics is politics. Fuck all of em!
Hey, M.E.
I’m so glad you put down your crayolas, wiped your nose with the back of your hand and tried a keyboard for a while. I just bet that if you work really hard, stay in school, do your homework and eat all your hot lunch (and don’t forget those “special” classes) why, in no time you’ll have figured out how to hit delete after you write something that is totally, miserably useless.
really, you didn’t honestly write Blackie knows nothing about politics, did you? Just from your backwoods writing style I’d wager your political knowledge has come from accidently picking up your dad’s Newsweek instead of his Playboy while sneaking off to the bathroom.
However, when the term “fuckin retard” goes for astute political commentary, well then, your job at CNN will be waiting. PS. As we all know, an apostrophe denotes an omission, like leaving the k off the word “fucking.” So, when you write “fuckin” remember to put that apostrophe at the end…..you fuckin’ tard.
And i’m teasing you with that last line–i don’t call names, but I do make scaldingly worthwhile points. So you go goosestep off to Obamaland now, and I’m gonna grap my Zune (i never much liked IPOD) and crank up a whole lotta WASP.
Ok, Barney, now it’s your turn. Take your best shot, little dude.
He’s mad, bit I love the music.
If America can afford to go to the moon and fight wars abroad, then they can pay for their own health care.
What was that all about a few years ago when there were benefit gigs to pay the medical bills for the singer from Death – In London, England?
I love WASP, but Blackie should stick to concept albums about rock stars that don’t get on with their dad.
See you at the Shepherd Bush Empire in December.
let’s see: Obama is trying to set up his version of “hitler youth”- boy scouts in military gear and with guns training to sniff out terrorists, now they are trying to get the girl scouts involved; Obama’s Chief of staff wants Mandatory military basic training for all; Obama decided, against his word, to keep the Patriot Act; Pentegon is asking for 400,000 troops on thestreets- a violation; FEMA camps being preparted- do a bit of research; and in the UK it’s slowly reminding one of pre-nazi germany; Blackie had one hell of a voice- not many could sing like that! blackie is trying to use his art to put across what he thinks is important and I applaud him for that
Nice how all the comments attack Blackie’s music … Ignorance people, that’s what your all about! Blackie is allowed his opinion just like EVERYONE else
To the dumb fuck’s ,,who said Blackie Lawless
needs to stick to music , You should really go back to the rock OR cave you came out of, You know Nothing about this artist who in my opinion Has always been the under dog, Know’s his politics, He has always been out spoken,on the subject, “YOU SUCK” !!!! STOP BEING SOOO BITTER \”/
Obama’s intentions aren’t to exterminate an entire group of people.
Rock music has always ad a history of using social commenty for its lyrics. As the kid says in the ‘Peace Sells’ video, “this is the news”. We may ask, should music refrain from debating or discussing certain aspects of society? Should we restrict art? I believe the facist Plato had the same ideas.
He was compairing Obama to Hitler in a way that he reguards Hitler as the perpetrator of great political and social change, and so too does Obama wish for change on a great scale. He believes Obama has every intention of changing the constitution of America to achieve this.
I don’t believe Blackie’s plan is to eleviate anyone out of a ‘current mess’, but to sow, thought his music, alternative ways of viewing the current global crisis. Reguardless of whether you agree with them or not it is good for bringing about debate.
I for one think Blackie’s music is amazing and am looking forward to the new release.
Sounds like a desperate cry to be considered relevant or current by saying some stuff so stupid he’ll get a few column inches.
Mission accomplished I’d say, and Blackie was never worried about his own long term image so he can take the hit in order to get his mug on the Classic Rock website.
maybe all of the ppl giving blackie shit, should realize that he has a free mind and will say what he wants. shut the fuck up. plus his music is awesome. can you make music as good as his?? yeah thot so. stfu
Americans dabbling in english politics, you can’t even look after your ill people. At least here the first question the doctor asks isn’t ‘have you got insurance’ You say you have done research? if so, then I would suggest you go and re-study, Obama is no more a Hitler than you are a Robert Plant. Stay out of the UK dipshit, we don’t need you.
nothing wrong with a musician expressing himself….just be glad you weren’t listening to Bono…
I was never a big Blackie Lawless Fan..But he is right in everything he says. This country is the shits. letting terrorists free..People milking this country dry.
It’s all take Take Take Take!
I’m glad I don’t share my opinions, poor Blackie…
What M.E. said. You don’t want to pay your fair share to make this country work, get the fuck out.
W.A.S.P. = We Are Stupid Pricks.
Blackie’s points are at least worth pondering. There definitely needs to be some controls and backlashes against the government simply redistributing wealth from those who work to those who don’t. I think we all want lower healthcare costs, right? Well, fine… then work to lower the costs. Is that Obama’s priority? No, he is focusing on Universal Coverage… “and the cost savings will come later”. Well… just like toll roads that go up and are supposed to be around for say only 20 years… they come around… but never go away. When the cost savings are pushed off, they never come. The solution to healthcare is to make it AFFORDABLE for everyone… not AVAILABLE to everyone. Once it is affordable, you work on making it available, not the other way around. I was looking around for a link to support the statement I paraphrased above but I cant find it now, I read the quote from Obama in the last few weeks. Anyway, I think something needs to be done for Health Care among other things… but with the focus is on assisting the poor at every step, it is going to cloud everything. Step one, fix the problems… THEN get into offering the care to everyone. The other thing I believe is, when you live a life of poverty, you dont get as good of ANYTHING. That is the life you chose. So, yeah, if the government provides you food, shelter, healthcare, etc… it should be at the lower cheaper facilities. Sorry… but you have to give incentives for people to work hard and do well, otherwise, you give incentives for more people to do less. Why work if you can live a relatively decent life and do whatever you want without working? Then the welfare system just becomes an “early retirement program”.
Blackie is breathtakingly ignorant. What an irony that he has the freedom of speech to say what he does, write his lyrics and have them published and have the physical appearance that he has all because of the struggle and sacrifice of the very radicals he despises. Not just in the 1960s but radicals from way back. If he isn’t sure who they might be he’ll find their names at the end of a piece of paper called ‘The Declaration of Independence’…
this is exactly why u2 lost me years ago
What a buffoon.
I feel dumber for having read that interview. These Hitler comparisons have got to stop, it is lunacy to believe that Obama has anything to do with either fascism or 60’s radicalism.
But I suppose you need an IQ of over 60 to understand that.
I’d agree with the previous point about Blackie sticking “with what he does best”, but there is nothing he does best, so I can’t even suggest that. Actually, based on this interview I’ll say he should stick with making a complete fool out of himself.
I love it when these guys open up about their political beliefs. It reminds me not to buy their next album.
“Obama Reminded Me Of Hitler”
I guess Blackie remembers first hand;-)
Well just when you think someone hits rock bottom….
I ripped him last November for basically turning into a Fox News reporter with the bs he sent out to people and put on myspace. I dont apologize I’m very liberal, come from a Union Household, and hate how wasted money is spent on wars that were a lie.
Guys as gifted, yet humble as Alex Skolnick of Testament laugh at your fake rock persona, yet find it fascinating., which for that alone you should be flattered Blackie.
Blackie cant meet 13 fans who wait outside a tourbus in Harftord, Ct for pics and autographs, when someone as huge as Ronnie James Dio did and was nice and humble as can be to his fans. Dio means much more to the world of Heavy Metal/Hard Rock than you ever will Blackie.
Saying Obama reminds you of Hitler…. Yeah because distributing money is the equivalent of a concentration camp.
I think Blackie likes his coffee, just like that black and bitter. I guess going from he LA Forum to a hole and the wall club hurts your ego, so you feel the need to tell everyone your shit doesnt stink after 20 plus years!
And guess what, I love Wasps music! I used to actually think this guy was intelligent! Blackie is an asshole, plain and simple. Maybe he still “Wants to be somebody!”
Blackie you should be ashamed of yourself, do some research on Fascism and Socialism you douche!
Blackie Lawless has always been concerned with what is happening in our World. How dare you 2 fuckwits write such outrageous dribble!!!! you are both dickheads!
No.I do agree with certain points he raised.
Even tho i am an aussie and we do have alot of u.s.citizens over here.Mostly what was overcome with Barrack Obama being elected was racism.Is what they felt,and what was understood.Those people did prefer McCain but were concerned about his age.Hilary was connected with the past.I did wonder what power was held,as we got it constantly over here.
I was asked “Why was it in the news here,alot”,and my
reply was our governments are very wound in together,what afftects them can affect us aussies.I am concerned with the strong hold of power,and i am glad i have the right to cast my vote.When some one
mucks up here too much they’re out.
Blackie have a talk to Rose Tattoo’s front man.He can tell you a thing or too.
Good on you for your views.I was told when i was a kid (no offence to anyone)a black man can never do anygood.That is what i think was overcome and a certain equality was reached.Time will tell.Thanks
M.E. and barneybubbles are 2 of the stupidest “humans” alive. READ his previous comments. He is well spoken and articulate, unlike you two clowns. Get jobs douche bags. Blackie rocks.
I don’t like the comments that people put on this. They are stupid and obviously haven’t been watching the news (for me it’s FOX that I watch).
Blackie is smart to read up on Obama, because Obama really is like Hitler. When Glenn Beck started to say what Obama really is it made me realize that Blackie is very right, and since I read back in October of last year when he wrote up on Obama on his website that he knows alot about politics. Don’t be an idiot and say he should stick to his music, he has the right to have an opinion on politics as anyone else does. The people above me just piss me off! Some people can be so ignorant and blind to the world.
that’s his opinion. Don’t you agree with him? Ok, so express your personal opinion regarding Obama or are you only be able to insult Blackie ’cause you don’t like his music? That’s your opinion about what’s happened in America? lol
His best IS NOT shit, mr. barneybubbles
Blackie should STFU………..Was W.A.S.P. ever relevant?
Blackie Lawless wrote “I’m Alive” in 87, a song that dealt with religous zealots- More than a decade before Osama Bin Laden paid and sent his minions to bring down the towers. In 2000 he wrote and released Unholy Terror further discussing the evil that men do for their own religious convictions, months before sept 11th.
His views and opinions may not match yours but he is obviously more wealthier and wise than someone whose ending statement is “…your judgement, views, opinion, & MUSIC, suck. always have and always will.
fuckin retard.”
I guess you signed your name with those last 2 words.
The months are proving him more and more right.
Blackie Lawless is not new to this kind of outbursts, I remember reading some of his rants prior to Obama’s election.
I respect everybody’s opinion, save when it is offensive: comparing Obama to Hitler is potently offensive!
Obama is young, brave and, for once, not originally Irish or Scottish or German or British!
YOU’VE ELECTED G. W. BUSH FOR 2 TIMES!
ANYONE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A GODSEND!
Blackie, talk music not politics!
everyone is allowed to express their opinion, and actually, wasp is far superior to accept / scorpions.
I like the part where he said that he sent a letter to the press! Whooooowheeeeeee! That is funny.
I thought the U.K. had become a shit place to live until this knobhead opened his thick gob. The only thing that keeps me from going to the U.S. is arseholes like him ! I fear there’s lots more of ‘em.
Actually, he’s spot on in regards to his comments. The guy got election based on Bush hatred and the false assumption that he’d be a “new” politician who would bypass partisanship and instead represent the will of the people, not a Marxist agenda. Just look at all of the America haters he surrounds with; You are the company you keep, Birds of a feather…, Etc., Etc.
Blackie’s entitled to his opinion as is everyone else. And he’s got a point about what’s happening over here although the US is pretty fucking far from a great place to live too (though they do have more rock radio). At least he cares.
More importantly though it get’s on my nerves that so called fans of rock music are adopting the “WASP are shit” “no, they’re not they’re better than blah, blah” attitude. Surely we should be supporting all rock music rather than resorting to petty name calling. And for the record, WASP rule!
People who throw around the Obama/Hitler comparison so loosely should spend the rest of their lives getting the crap beat out of them by Holocaust survivors.
Yo, Ariel, they finally get sick of your shit at Eschaton? Moron.
[...] is Blackie Lawless talking about Barack Obama in Classic Rock magazine (via Blabbermouth): “He’s one of these old-time 60s radicals from way back. He thinks he’s [...]
blackie did not compare obamah to hitler.read it properly you dick
NOTE: Blackie is and will always be a racist. Ask anyone who knows him….
lol! This is hilarious!! All I can say is that I’m glad old Blackie is as controversial as his younger self! Welcome back you son of a bitch – you’ve been missed!
BLACKIE IN 2012 !!!
(AND I’M NOT TALKIN’ ABOUT OBAMA)
haha I have to say that most of your comments are so damn funny that I cant breath… Just beacuse Blackie can say what ever he feels about his music and his political thougts you must treat him like garbage… Yes I am a W.A.S.P. fan and of course Blackie fan… do you know why? beacuse he does his music his way and dosent listen to people when they say how she should write lyrics and so on…. and about his political thougts… come an can´t we anymore say exactly how we see politics? some thinks its all right and some thinks it stinks…. what so wrong with that? America have done so much wrong stuff in the past of course a person like Blackie reacts about it… and I don´t think that he even care what you a******* thinks about him….
W.A.S.P the best band this world ever have seen…
Been a w.a.s.p. fan for donkeys years now and Blackie has always had his political views and opinions. Whats to say he’s not right? He has been in the past. Fuckin’ watch out America if he is!!!! And for all you twats on here berating his music, why don’t you fuck off and listen to your nickleback cd’s? You obviously have no taste.
Blackie is correct in alot of his fears/thinking. It’s a scary world now. We had it easy w/Bush & he knows it. We are allready getting screwed over & there is no end in site. But, we don’t have to worry about Obama, America takes care of it’s own. If he doesn’t work out, he will be removed from office one way or another…
PEACE
MD
A lot of people won’t agree with Blackie. But I think that he has always been expectional in a way or other… and is that on this one too.
Obama is hero for many. Im really glad that the president of US is afro-american person (it really is revolutionary), and Bush junior isn’t anymore doing his stuff. I just really need to see what he will do as the most influental person on the world before I consider him as hero to admire.
Blackie has seen America. He’s allowed to have his opinions
While I don’t necessarily agree with every word of what Lawless says, he is dead on in his assessment. Obama is this centurie’s version of Hitler. He will bring about the collapse of the America our forefathers built, and our young soldiers died to protect.
We can expect to see America become a socialist nation, and a third world country torn apart by it’s second civil war within the next decade, thanks to his plan for a new America. He has already done more to harm this country than that idiot Bush managed in 8 years.
Here’s a quote from another big-mouth rockstar I’m sure you hate. Gene Simmons of KISS had this to say of Obama: “Means well, lacks experience. And that’s dangerous. I voted for President Obama, but his health care plan is a complete disaster. When I was growing up, it was ‘Make Love, Not War,’ and that’s great, but what if the other side wants to make war?”
Simmons said that before Obama’s latest Poland/Russia fiasco. The man needs to be impeached as a traitor. Some of you have no clue what you’re talking about, but for now you have the right to comment freely. In Obama’s future vision for America, it will no longer be free.
Why is it that every other left wing, flaming, liberal in Hollywood can voice his opinion and the liberal masses have nothing but positive remarks? Because this guy is expressing a conservative view he’s blasted for being a ignorant. Let the man express his opinion and if you don’t like it fine, but just because you don’t agree with him doesn’t make him ignorant or retarded.
Plus he has more money than God and probably doesn’t give to rat turds what you think!!
Nice personal attacks on Blackie just because they do not agree with him. I think everyone should keep talking about politics until they understand what is going on. I like hearing what Blackie has to say. He is smart and thoughtful unlike your typical actor/musician that just spout liberal bullshit (and kiss their small biceps.) Where is the incentive to work if most of your money is taken from you by some sort of TAX? I don’t just sit on my ass and collect a check from the govt, which is btw money from people who WORK! Govt should not be your daddy or god or religion! Go buy some CFLs bc that is your only choice now and watch some more brainwashing TV. Can’t wait for the shitty healthcare either.
FREE = SHIT! Look how the people on welfare live, hello! If you don’t want to talk about it, you have your head in the sand. We do not need most politicians. What do they do? Sit around thinking up stupid fucking shit for people to do, pay more taxes, regulate what you eat, regulate your lightbulbs, regulate your car, regulate what you do, pay more taxes, pay more taxes, pay more fees, pay pay pay! ENOUGH!
Wow! Reading these comments reminds me of precisely why Great Britain ain’t so Great anymore. Are you all Socialists or what? You’re certainly quite naive – most of you. One of the definitions of ‘fascism’ is corporate control over government – look it up. Exactly what is the act of government handing over $trillions of taxpayer money to private banks if not fascism? And the Obama/Hitler comparisons – Hitler was hailed as a world saviour before people realised what he was up to. Sound familiar? Still don’t get it? Search Google video for “The Obama Deception” and educate yourself.
Blackie has once again proven himself wise beyond his peers and the new album is outstanding.
The only retard is this ME creature bellow, no man you and your liberal rants suck not Blackie who has remained true to himself and his music no matter the trends
Go and droll to your Maroon Five cd and your Obama poster idiot
I am in support of Blackie – he is right. I wasted my vote on OBAMA, I am a 34 yr old rocking black man in the US. I hate to see this awsome country go communist. I TAKE MY VOTE BACK. ANYMORE BUT OBAMA.
blackie ur the man, Obama can suck my dick
He can “suck me, eat me raw”
All the American presidents are assholes. Obama is not an exception. I hope they’ll all burn in hell! They can do whatever they want in their country, but leave the rest of the world alone!
ME and barneyrubbles- you are both ignorant fuckwits. Open your eyes and see what is REALLY going on in the world. How typical of you “sheep” to attack Blackie just because he challenges your brainwashed politically correct mindset.