W.A.S.P. Confirmed For SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL

W.A.S.P. has been confirmed for next year's Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place June 9-12, 2010 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

ALDO NOVA (CAN)
ANVIL (CAN)
BACHMAN & TURNER (CAN)
BIGELF (US)
D-A-D (DK)
JORN (N)
MOTHER'S FINEST (US)
RICK SPRINGFIELD (AUS/US)
SABATON (S)
SAGA (CAN)
UNISONIC (D)
W.A.S.P. (US)

This year's festival was visited by 35,200 people, but in 2010 the maximum number of visitors will be limited to 33,000.

For more information, visit www.swedenrock.com.

Fan-filmed video footage of W.A.S.P.'s November 16, 2009 concert in Bucharest, Romania can be viewed below (courtesy of Metalfan.ro).

W.A.S.P. will hit the road in the U.S. in February 2010. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

W.A.S.P.'s new album, "Babylon", entered the U.K. "Rock Albums" chart at position No. 15. The CD was released in Europe on October 12 through Global Music (via Demolition Records) and will be issued in the U.S. on November 17.

The album — for which work began in February of this year — saw frontman Blackie Lawless take a good look in the mirror about not only himself, but also the current state of the world. "As the recordings progressed, I found myself once again asking the question — 'Who am I?' but more specifically, 'Who am I now, and where am I in my life?'" explains Lawless. "You all know that I've said repeatedly that any art — be it movies, painting or music — should reflect its maker's vision of themselves, and the world around them at that precise moment of their lives. If they are indeed truthful with that art, it then gives the viewer or listener a pretty good snapshot inside the head and heart of the one creating it."

With the world in a state of flux due to a global financial meltdown, Lawless began doing some research, which led to the genesis of what became "Babylon". "I went back and did a detailed study of the 'Book of Revelation' and refreshed my memory with some pretty amazing reading. That reading inspires powerful images. Enough for me to take those images of the sixth chapter of 'Revelation' and the four horsemen of the apocalypse and write 'Babylon's Burning'. 'Babylon's Burning' is based on that imagery in the same way 'Headless Children' was. It's an overview of what we allow ourselves to become and the consequences that befall us for the poor choices we make."

"Crazy" was made available for download via various digital service providers from September 28.

Lawless commented on the track: "Although like it may sound like a man talking to a woman, 'Crazy' is about a performer talking to an audience; the dangers of idol worship and elevating musicians and politicians to a level that's dangerous!"