William Randall Piper, born on April 13, 1953, is a prominent American rock guitarist and songwriter, renowned for being a founding member and the original guitarist of the heavy metal group W.A.S.P. Prior to his time with W.A.S.P., he played in a band named Sister, which was later rebranded as Circus Circus. After departing from W.A.S.P., he went on to establish the band Animal.
Piper's musical journey began in 1977 when he crossed paths with fellow musician Blackie Lawless, then known as Blackie Goozeman, at the Starwood in West Hollywood. Their collaboration led to the recording of demos at Piper's studio, Magnum Opus. Piper soon joined Lawless’s band Sister as the lead guitarist, teaming up with Joey Palemo on bass and Jimi Image on drums after the departure of the original guitarist. Following a series of transformative performances inspired by the circus, Lawless renamed the group Circus Circus.
By 1982, Circus Circus had evolved into W.A.S.P., a band known for its theatrical live performances that featured pyrotechnics, oversized chains as mic stands, and dancers in cages. After the release of W.A.S.P.'s second album in 1985, Piper made the decision to leave the band. He subsequently formed Animal, continuing to contribute to the heavy metal scene with his distinctive guitar work and songwriting skills.
