W.A.S.P. continues to be one of the most unique bands in heavy metal history. In fact, the verdict is still out as to what the hell they’re even supposed to be labeled as. Too heavy for glam yet too outrageous for the traditional metal scene, the band was unfit for any specific genre and it’s easy to see in their diverse discography. Everything from mellow hard rock to melodic heavy metal, W.A.S.P. was an unstoppable musical force that became notorious for their horror themed live performances.
By 1992, bandleader Blackie Lawless was determined on shifting the direction of their message from party anthems to more serious and personal topics. The Crimson Idol is often seen as the end of the band’s classic era. But, the more appropriate way to describe it is the beginning of Blackie’s mature commentary. Not to say we haven’t heard any common sense from the band since their inception, The Headless Children features some of the first signs of lyrical wisdom in their career.
But it was The Crimson Idol where Blackie dedicated an entire concept album to a hypothetical worst case scenario in the music business as a warning to anyone dreaming of being a rock star. It’s arguably one of the greatest storytelling in the genre and the ending is a major reason why.
The Great Misconceptions Of Me is a 9 minute epic that brings our beloved protagonist, Jonathan, to his fatal end. After going through his troubled childhood and musical ambition, we learn that none of it was enough to keep him happy. Once it’s revealed that all he wanted was the approval of his parents, it’s already past the point of no return when his mother tells him over the phone, “We have no son.” In a twisted turn of events, Jonathan is sentences himself to death by hanging himself with his own guitar strings live on stage.
That is the plot of the closing track.
It’s instantly intriguing before you even hear a single note but once you do, it becomes obvious why The Crimson Idol is worshiped as one of the band’s best releases.
Opening with a solemn intro carried by the melody of Blackie’s voice. He captures the sad and lonely state of Jonathan perfectly with his slow delivery.
He addresses multiple people throughout the track from his mother to the world as a whole. After meeting some of the wildest characters from Chainsaw Charlie to The King Of Mercy, Jonathan’s true beliefs are exposed in the pre-chorus, “I don’t wanna be the crimson idol of a million.” Meaning, he has outlived the lifestyle of stardom. This is made even more clear when the song begins to escalate around the two minute mark, proving that the beginning was meant to have a contrast separate from the rest of the song. The main chorus also emphasizes Blackie’s underrated vocals as he belts out, “There is no love, to shelter me.” Easily the most melodic moment of the entire song, the range of Blackie’s voice highlights the impact of Jonathan’s low point.
The main riff kicks in around the 2:30 mark after the acoustic segments. The rhythm section really shines at this point, because former KISS axeman Bob Kulick is performing a galloping riff which escalates the tension of the musicianship as well as the storytelling. This is where the song is fully developed into the “signature W.A.S.P. sound” complete with a perfect blend of heavy metal and catchy vocals. Despite the elaborate concept and production behind the album, The Great Conceptions Of Me features the same fist-pumping, headbanging moments that die-hard fans appreciated in the records that preceded this one. For anyone who wants to argue that this was the band’s “departure” from what came before, it simply isn’t true considering the hooks and riffs found all over this song.
The best example of harmony on this track is found at 4:30 when the drum pattern changes to match the bridge of the vocals. Each hit of the drum is punctuated by the lyrics that accompany it. In this case, Blackie is admitting that he is The Invisible Boy, a track from the beginning of the record, which means he is the same sad boy from his childhood. This reveals how Jonathan was never The Idol that he had wished to be and everything he did was just running away from the approval of his parents. The line, “Red, crimson red!” is a reference to his father’s nickname which means the only “Idol” that Jonathan really worshiped was his father and not the rebellious persona of being a musician.
Every time I look back on this song, I’m always surprised how deep it actually is. The Crimson Idol is the ultimate movie soundtrack that never was. A masterpiece in the band’s career and easily one of the best in their discography. It’s great to dissect this track piece by piece, because there’s plenty of subtle hints and moral lessons that average listeners are going to miss if they don’t read the lyrics.
Overall, The Great Misconceptions Of Me is the perfect finale to a brilliant story. You can see why it took Blackie Lawless more time to solidify his vision and do it justice. The Crimson Idol continues to be a leading candidate for best concept album ever made. Everything from the talented musicianship to the impressive plot, and especially the closing track makes it an incredible standout.
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