Ex-W.A.S.P. Guitarist On His Departure: 'I Felt Like It Was Time To Go Out On My Own'

September 19, 2006

W.A.S.P. fan site WASParmy.com recently conducted an interview with ex-W.A.S.P. and current FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Darrell Roberts. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow:

WASParmy.com: Talk a little bit about your decision to leave W.A.S.P. and subsequently to join 5FDP (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH).

Darrell: Blackie and I both knew from the beginning that I would eventually leave to do my own thing. After five awesome years with W.A.S.P. I felt like it was time to go out on my own. Blackie was very fair to me and taught me more about the business in five years than most musicians would learn in a lifetime! But for me to truly be successful and set myself up financially for the future I have to do my own thing. The sobering reality is that I am not getting any younger and music is what I have dedicated my life to. I have no "retirement plan."

WASParmy.com: In regards to joining 5FDP. Did you get the gig through an audition?

Darrell: No, I did not audition...The drummer (Jeremy) has been a good friend of mine for a few years. He had played on some tracks for me and almost toured with W.A.S.P. a couple years ago. He basically called me up and said his new band had just finished a complete CD and was ready to start showcasing and playing live, but they weren't really happy with their lead guitarist. He knew I had recently left W.A.S.P. and asked if I would be interested in playing with FIVE FINGER. To be honest, I wasn't really interested at first because I really wanted to do my own band… but after hearing the CD (and the song "The Bleeding") I could not say no! I was blown away.

WASParmy.com: What is your most memorable W.A.S.P. moment?

Darrell: There are many… But probably the first time we played in Moscow. It was a magical night. The people were so happy and grateful to be seeing us play it was overwhelming. There was a girl sitting on a guy's shoulders in the middle of the crowd with tears running down her face, singing EVERY word to "Raging Storm". It was one of the most moving things I have ever experienced. Blackie sang the song flawlessly and this girl sang along to every word and the record had just came out.... It was unbelievable!

WASParmy.com: Would you ever work with Blackie/W.A.S.P. again?

Darrell: Yes, if scheduling permitted it.

Read the entire interview at WASParmy.com.

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