Wait (skips at the end)

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Zoo Freaks, get ready for a wild ride with the Zoo Crew as they spin "Wait (skips at the end)" by White Lion from their 1987 album Pride! This power ballad, written by vocalist Mike Tramp and guitarist Vito Bratta, has a killer story behind it. According to Tramp, the song came together almost magically in the studio when Vito started jamming the iconic riff, and the first word out of Tramp’s mouth was “Wait.” That raw energy made it to the final cut, with producer Michael Wagener keeping Bratta’s solo from a drum recording session because it gave him goosebumps. Fun fact: another solo on the album was recorded using a Fender Stratocaster once owned by Jimi Hendrix, adding a touch of rock legend magic. The song didn’t hit the charts until seven months after its June 1, 1987 release, when MTV put the music video in heavy rotation in January 1988, rocketing it to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The music video for “Wait” has its own bittersweet tale. It featured Christie Muhaw of The Flirts, whose presence helped make the video a hit with fans. Tragically, Muhaw passed away in a car accident less than a year later at just 24, making the song’s lyrics feel even more poignant. The video’s success was no fluke—White Lion’s look and sound, especially Tramp’s charisma and Bratta’s jaw-dropping guitar work, hooked the Zoo Freak vibe of the late ‘80s. Posts on X still celebrate the song’s climb to #8 in May 1988, crediting MTV’s love for the video. The track also got a remix as a bonus on Pride and was re-recorded in 1999 for Remembering White Lion, showing its lasting growl in the band’s catalog.

White Lion roared onto the scene in 1983, formed in New York City by Danish singer Mike Tramp and Italian-American guitarist Vito Bratta. Tramp’s journey started back in Denmark, where he was a teen idol in the late ‘70s with a pop band called Mabel. He’s described that time as “singing school,” honing his vocal chops while dreaming of American rock ‘n’ roll. After Mabel fizzled out, Tramp moved to New York, where he teamed up with Bratta, a virtuoso guitarist with a knack for catchy riffs and shredding solos. Their debut album, Fight to Survive, dropped in 1985 on a small label, but it was Pride, signed with Atlantic Records, that made them stars. The band’s glam metal sound, blending Tramp’s heartfelt vocals with Bratta’s technical wizardry, struck a chord with fans, leading to double platinum sales for Pride.

Though White Lion disbanded in 1992, Tramp kept the spirit alive, reforming the band with new members in 1999 and 2004, and releasing solo work like 2023’s Songs of White Lion, where he reimagined classics like “Wait.” Tramp’s reflected on the ‘80s as a “once in a lifetime” era, full of firsts that shaped his career. You can catch up with him on his official website, follow his latest posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans keep the White Lion pride strong on sites like My Rock Mixtapes and in Facebook groups dedicated to the band’s legacy. So, Zoo Freaks, crank up “Wait” and let the Zoo Crew take you back to the ‘80s glory days!

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