What to remember about Tony Richards

• Tony Richards was the founding W.A.S.P. drummer and died at 69 of unspecified causes.
• Debut album Richards performed on W.A.S.P., the band’s self-titled 1984 debut.
• Band departure Richards was replaced before W.A.S.P. toured in support of its debut album.
• Tributes Blackie Lawless and Chris Holmes remembered Richards as a valued bandmate and friend.

This article recounts Tony Richards’ time in W.A.S.P., his contribution to the band’s first album and the tributes shared after his death.

Founding W.A.S.P. drummer Tony Richards has died of unspecified causes at the age of 69. His story includes joining the band in 1982, playing on its self-titled debut and leaving before the album’s supporting tour.

Tony Richards played drums on W.A.S.P.’s 1984 self-titled debut album.

After spending time in Dante Fox, a group that would later change its name to Great White, Richards joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and appeared on the band’s self-titled 1984 debut album.

W.A.S.P.’s first album marked Richards’ recorded contribution to the band. Richards later recalled the early period as an exciting time of getting to know one another and writing music.

“Those were good times you know, when we were just getting to know each other and writing. It was exciting, seeing the other up-and-coming bands in the club,” Richards later told Full in Bloom. “Once the business end came into it it was, ‘Rush, rush, rush, hurry here, hurry there, sign this, sign that, you gotta be there yesterday,’ you know? Things really started rolling along really fast.”

Read More: The Controversy Caused by W.A.S.P.’s First Album

Before W.A.S.P. toured in support of W.A.S.P., the band replaced Richards with Steve Riley, who later became the drummer for L.A. Guns. Riley performed on 1985’s The Last Command and 1986’s Inside the Electric Circus.

Steve Riley replaced Tony Richards before the debut album’s supporting tour.

Frontman Blackie Lawless announced the news on social media and described Richards as an important member of the original lineup. Lawless said Richards’ playing left a lasting mark on the band’s first album.

“The entire W.A.S.P. Camp are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our original drummer, Tony Richards,” frontman Blackie Lawless announced on social media. “When the band was first started we were four extremely strong personalities. Tony was absolutely equal to any of the others that were in the band. His personality was infectious.

“He looked fantastic in photos. But his ability to play made him really who he was. To watch him play riveted you no matter where you were in the room. When he was gone from the Band we were wounded in a way that we never really quite recovered from. He was equally a part of that first album and when that record is heard to this day his personal stamp will forever be a part of the totality of that recording. He will forever be missed. We in the W.A.S.P. Camp would like to wish his family our deepest condolences.”

Chris Holmes, a founding W.A.S.P. guitarist, also paid tribute to Richards, calling him a friend and one of the nicest people he knew.

“Goodbye Tony,” founding W.A.S.P guitarist Chris Holmes added on Instagram. “My friend and one of the nicest fella(s) you could know!!”

Watch W.A.S.P. Perform ‘I Wanna Be Somebody’

What did Tony Richards contribute to W.A.S.P.?

Tony Richards joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and played on the band’s self-titled 1984 debut album.

Tony Richards’ recorded contribution to W.A.S.P. includes its 1984 debut.

When did Steve Riley replace Tony Richards?

Steve Riley replaced Richards before the band toured in support of its debut album.

Steve Riley took over as W.A.S.P.’s drummer before the debut tour.

Which W.A.S.P. albums featured Steve Riley?

Riley played on The Last Command (1985) and Inside the Electric Circus (1986).

Steve Riley performed on two W.A.S.P. albums named in this account.