Best known as a guitarist and songwriter for the Los Angeles-based metal band W.A.S.P., this Texas-born rock musician also founded a band called Randy Piper's Animal. His albums include The Last Command (with W.A.S.P.) and Violent New Breed (with Randy Piper's Animal).
The original incarnation of W.A.S.P. was a band called Sister; before becoming W.A.S.P. in 1982, Sister was renamed Circus Circus.
W.A.S.P.'s live performances, which often featured an on-stage meat grinder into which living rats were thrown, were harshly criticized by animal rights activists.
Born William Randall Piper in San Antonio, Texas, he later relocated to Long Beach, California, where, during his high school years, he opened a music store.
He and singer and guitarist Blackie Lawless were both founding members of W.A.S.P.