Primal in appeal, something about the defiant exhilaration of shouting “fuck” out loud is gloriously cathartic, inherently rebellious against societal mediocrity and repression. The same can be just as readily said of W.A.S.P., a band that has been a mouthful of spit in the proverbial face of complacency since its inception. Profane, and yet thought-provoking in appeal, W.A.S.P. perfectly captures the sound of raging ferocity, with a lyrical intensity that reflects infinite sides of human nature.

“I told Nikki one night, ‘Man, we’ve gotta be great to fuckin’ follow [the Scorpions],’” says vocalist Vince Neil with a hearty laugh. “They’re no slouches, man—they’re one of my favorite bands!” 

If Vince had any reservations about the ability of his band to generate onstage excitement in the wake of performing following the Scorpions, they were certainly unfounded. Attacking the stage each night with a savage ferocity on the Maximum Rock tour, Mötley Crüe blazed with the reckless abandon of a band determined to wreak rock and roll havoc on their audience.

12:30 p.m., Thursday, April 29th...it’s gloriously sunny outside, a perfect day to be walking the streets of New York City. Sidewalks congested with quick-paced pedestrians; traffic rushing past, horns beeping to punctuate the rush—breath deeply and taste the attitude of the city.