W.A.S.P. PRESS RELEASE

NOTHING BUT THE FACTS

17 JULY 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The accurate series of events is as follows:

• In April this year W.A.S.P. were asked by The Agency (both bands mutual U.S. agents) to consider taking Motorhead as their "Special Guests" on their forthcoming tour. In an effort to give their fans value for their money W.A.S.P. agreed.

• Motorhead accepted the "Special Guest" slot and requested that W.A.S.P. give them co-headlining billing. W.A.S.P. granted the request out of respect to Motorhead and their achievements in Heavy Metal history. At the same time it was made clear that the tour was controlled by W.A.S.P. and all decisions relating to it would be W.A.S.P.'s alone. This was agreed by both band's management and it was understood that this was a condition of the tour taking place.

• Throughout the weeks leading up to the tour Motorheads's management made it very clear that they were having financial difficulties in general and these were compounded by problems they were having making their budgets work. Subsequent to this and following a commitment by W.A.S.P. to pay some of their costs (for a monitor system W.A.S.P. did not need) Motorhead decided to proceed.

• The first few days of the tour were a logistical nightmare as is the case for most tours. This was compounded by a general bad attitude on the part of key members of Motorhead who were obviously not happy to be on the road again particularly in light of the commercial failure of their recent album.

• The night before the New York show Motorhead were thrown off the tour as a result of their unprofessionalism, being abusive to crew members and general inebriated state which made it very difficult to deal with them and put on a good show for the fans.

• The day of the New York show a conference call took place between the bandŐs respective managements and agent where Motorhead asked to be allowed back onto the tour. Once again in an effort to give the fans the show they were promised W.A.S.P. relented after an undertaking from MotorheadŐs management that they would be professional and straighten themselves up. Further to this it was also a condition that Lemmy would personally apologize to those crew members shared by both bands that he had been abusive to or lose their services. Lemmy of course being the big man that he is couldnŐt bring himself to apologize. Those crew members continued to work for W.A.S.P. and Lemmy was forced to put himself deeper into debut by hiring additional crew members for Motorhead purely because he couldnŐt act professionally.

• The week following the New York date and conference call went off smoothly with only minor glitches and a mutual respect rebuilding between both parties.

• Just as it seemed that things were going to work out and that Metal fans were going to continue seeing the best package of the summer Motorhead called in with the news that they had to pull off the tour after the Chicago date. If they pulled out at the time they stated that they would lose $40,000; if they continued to the end of the tour their loss would have been even greater. This example of poor planning on MotorheadŐs part not only robs the fans of the show they were promised but is completely indicative of their complete lack of professionalism.

• Following Motorhead's decision to pull out W.A.S.P. elected to cancel the next five shows as the fans in those cities were not going to see the package they bought tickets for and there wasnŐt sufficient time to advertise the correct package. The last three shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Ana took place with the public fully aware that they were going to a show that did not include Motorhead. Motorhead's insinuations to the contrary are libelous and a fabrication.

• Motorhead are complete amateurs who after twenty years still canŐt plan a tour properly and professionally and are fabricating stories to excuse themselves for not giving Metal fans the show they were promised.

• Blackie Lawless said "ItŐs the fans that are losing out and them we feel sorry for. WeŐll never allow Motorhead on one of our shows again."

• If Blackie Lawless is Mike Tyson as Motorhead state in their press release then Lemmy must be Frank Bruno as when it came time for fisticuffs Lemmy crossed himself ten times said his Hail Mary's and ran the 100 yard dash faster than Donovan Daily. Blackie Lawless said "Beating up on Lemmy would be like beating your grandfather. In hindsight I'm just glad he had the foresight to run. I come from the school that says don't kick a dog when heŐs down and let me tell you he's down and beaten."

• W.A.S.P. are planning a live album for release in 1988 which was recorded on their final dates of the U.S. tour and from their Japanese tour in September.