This album took far too long in the making, but is well worth a listen if you are into more rock n' roll than the heavier stuff. This is a rock opera basically similar to The Who's 'Tommy' and Queensryche's 'Operation Mindcrime'. The story is of Jonathan Steele, a kid some what ignored by his parents has they divide most their attention to his older brother. His dream of becoming a rockstar is his only way of making his olds proud of him. The first track the 'Titanic Overture' is an instrumental intro which ends with the plea for his parents to love him, kicking straight into the 'Invisible Boy' that again is a classic rock n roll style track that tells of Jonathan's neglect of his parents. 'Arena of pleasure' is about his meeting with record company manager 'Chainsaw Charlie' who is has his name suggests, sign up and coming talent and 'rip' what you can out of them and spit 'em out. 'Chainsaw Charlie' is the next track that's about his promise that he will make Jonathan a star? The story goes on to Jonathan's dabbling with drugs and later becoming an addict, which his new friend and dealer 'Uncle Slam' is explained in the track 'Doctor Rockter'. Next is the track the 'Idol' which after a few years he tries to contact his mother but she hangs up when he rings her, which then is linked to the next track 'Hold on to my Heart' which then he can only find one way out, suicide. They finale is the 'Great misconseptions of me' which is an extended track that recaps music and lyrics throughout the album and Jonathans plea that he does not want to the 'Crimson Idol of a million' before hanging himself with his guitar strrings at his finale concert in front of his 'fans'.
The album is sort of a biography of vocalist Blackie Lawless' experiences in the music industry be it first hand or what he has saw and it is a kind of warning to up and coming talent who want to enter the industry and become famous.
The Crimson Idol is a great album if you like rock, it is a little different to previous W.A.S.P. records as it is more a solo album. Blackie just used the W.A.S.P. name as he is the focal point of what the band do. His other band members Frankie Banali, Stet Howland (Both drummers) and Bob Kulick (ex Kiss guitarist) along with a little help of Pete Townsend (The Who) were only in the studio for about 3 months, the rest was done by Blackie, and it took 3 years to make this!! It is well worth a listen if you don't already own it, check it out you won't be disappointed!!