WASP is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Los Angeles, recognized for its controversial shock rock image and theatrical live shows. Rising to fame in the early 1980s, the band gained notoriety for provocative lyrics and became a target of the Parents Music Resource Center during that decade. Their first two albums reached gold status, and hits like Animal, I Wanna Be Somebody, and Wild Child made them influential in the metal scene. Over their career, they have sold more than 12 million records worldwide. WASP continues to perform and is working on new material, with their most recent studio album, Golgotha, released in 2015.