This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Blackie Lawless used to sing about wanting to be somebody. I never would have guessed he meant Pete Townshend.
The Neon God, the 11th studio disc from Lawless and his latest version of W.A.S.P., is also his most ambitious: A no-fooling rock opera about existence, individuality and destiny, complete with overture, libretto, epic songs and a laughably overwrought (and vaguely familiar) plotline about the rise of a false messiah. If that doesn’t ring enough bells, one tune actually includes the derivative lyrics, “Can you hear me / Can you feel me?” — which pretty much sums up the extent of Blackie’s originality. It’s nice he’s trying — but all in all, Lawless had more credibility when he was sporting a buzzsaw blade on his crotch.
