Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Tony Richards, the original drummer of American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., has died at the age of 69. The band confirmed his passing in a statement shared by frontman Blackie Lawless. A cause of death has not been publicly announced.
Richards was a founding member of W.A.S.P. and played with the group from 1982 to 1984, appearing on their influential self-titled debut album, released in 1984. His energetic playing helped define the raw sound of the band’s earliest recordings.
The entire W.A.S.P. Camp are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our original drummer, Tony Richards. When the Band was first started we were 4 extremely strong personalities. Tony was absolutely equal to any of the others that were in the Band. His personality was infectious. He looked fantastic in photos. But his ability to play made him really who he was. To watch him play riveted you no matter where you were in the room. When he was gone from the Band we were wounded in a way that we never really quite recovered from. He was equally a part of that first album and when that record is heard to this day his personal stamp will forever be a part of the totality of that recording.
He will forever be missed. We in the W.A.S.P. Camp would like to wish his family our deepest condolences.
Before joining W.A.S.P., Richards was active in the Los Angeles hard rock scene and performed with musicians associated with the early history of Great White. He later became part of W.A.S.P.‘s breakthrough lineup alongside Lawless, guitarist Chris Holmes and bassist Randy Piper.
The band’s 1984 debut featured early staples including “I Wanna Be Somebody”, “L.O.V.E. Machine” and “Sleeping (In The Fire)”. Richards’ performances on those recordings remain an important part of the group’s legacy.
Richards was replaced by Steve Riley after his departure, but his place in the history of W.A.S.P. was firmly established through the debut album and the band’s formative years. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and former bandmates.
