In a recent interview with Cassius Morris, W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless addressed his views on the documentary *Mean Man: The Story Of Chris Holmes*. The film, which explores the life and career of former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, premiered in January 2021. Lawless, who was asked if he had seen the film, made it clear he has no interest in it.
Lawless criticized the documentary, suggesting it may not be based on truth. “I have no desire to see anything that has to do with that,” he said. “It may be his truth, but your truth doesn’t necessarily make it fact. When somebody’s spewing a bunch of hate because they can’t create on their own… If the guy had genuine creativity, he wouldn’t care about what I do.” He further explained, “If it’s not based on truth, why would I want to be part of that?”
Lawless also discussed why he didn’t participate in the film. “I don’t recall being invited, but if I would have been, I wouldn’t have done it,” he stated. “I wouldn’t be interested in participating in something not based on truth.”
On the topic of a possible reunion with W.A.S.P.’s original lineup—Lawless, Holmes, Randy Piper, and Tony Richards—Lawless was resolute. He described his current band members—Mike Duda, Doug Blair, and Aquiles Priester—as exceptional musicians, better than he is, and emphasized that reuniting with the original lineup would feel like a step backward. “The guys in my band now are world-class musicians,” he said. “Why would I want to go back to something that would be taking a step backwards?”
Lawless elaborated on how the evolution of W.A.S.P.’s sound and musicianship necessitated changes in the lineup. He noted that by the time of albums like *The Headless Children* and *The Crimson Idol*, the musical demands required a level of skill that the original lineup could not consistently meet. “It’s almost impossible to duplicate in an original situation,” he said.
Addressing the perception that W.A.S.P. is essentially his solo project, Lawless defended his band’s contributions. “No man’s an island,” he stated. “I’ve gone to great lengths to make sure that the world knows who the guys in the band are.” He stressed that, while he is the primary songwriter, the contributions of his bandmates are crucial to the band’s success.
Holmes, who originally joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and returned for a period in the late ’90s, has not been part of the band since 2001. He previously mentioned that he did not personally approach Lawless about participating in the documentary but was told by the filmmakers that Lawless did not have the time.
