When The Children Cry

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with some deep trivia about When The Children Cry by White Lion, straight from their 1987 album Pride. This power ballad, a staple of '80s glam metal, was born from a raw moment of inspiration. Lead singer Mike Tramp revealed in a Songfacts interview that the song was written in 1985, right after the Live Aid concert, when the world’s eyes were on the Ethiopian famine. Tramp, reflecting on global struggles, penned lyrics that imagined a world of peace, with lines like “No more presidents, and all the wars will end.” He called himself a bit of a “Nostradamus” for predicting future unrest, despite America’s prosperity at the time. The song’s simple yet powerful lyrics struck a chord, climbing to #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, fueled by heavy MTV airplay.

Another cool tidbit comes from a Reddit user, Far_Mountain_69, who shared a personal story about the song’s soothing effect. As a toddler, they’d fall asleep instantly when the music video played on MTV, like a lullaby, while their parents stayed up watching. This speaks to the song’s emotional depth, blending Vito Bratta’s intricate acoustic guitar with a wailing electric solo that’s both tender and intense. Tramp also shared in the same Songfacts interview that the song carries his own childhood pain, inspired by his father leaving his family when he was five, leaving his mother to raise three boys alone in Copenhagen. This personal touch gives the song its heartfelt plea for a better world.

White Lion’s journey began in 1983 in New York City, when Danish vocalist Mike Tramp teamed up with Italian-American guitarist Vito Bratta. Tramp, who’d moved to the U.S. chasing rock ‘n’ roll dreams, met Bratta, a Staten Island native with a knack for Van Halen-esque guitar wizardry. According to Wikipedia, the band formed after Tramp’s earlier stints in Danish bands fizzled, and Bratta’s local gigs earned him the nickname “Vito Van Halen.” They cobbled together a lineup, including drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Dave Spitz, and even landed a cameo as a fictional band in the 1986 Tom Hanks movie The Money Pit, playing “Web of Desire.” After lineup changes, with James LoMenzo on bass and Greg D’Angelo on drums, they signed with Atlantic Records in 1987, dropping Pride and hitting the big time.

The band’s early days were gritty, as detailed in a Sleaze Roxx review. Tramp’s immigrant hustle and Bratta’s virtuosity fueled their rise, but they fought hard to survive, much like the themes in their songs. Their debut, Fight to Survive (1985), laid the groundwork, but Pride’s success, with hits like Wait and When The Children Cry, propelled them to double platinum status. They toured relentlessly, opening for giants like AC/DC and Aerosmith, cementing their place in the hair metal scene. Though they split in 1992, Tramp’s kept the flame alive with solo work and a 2023 reimagining of White Lion classics, Songs of White Lion.

For more on White Lion, check out Mike Tramp’s official website for tour dates and news. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates on his solo career and White Lion nostalgia. Fans can dive into the White Lion Pride Facebook group, where diehards share memories and rare photos. Another fan hub, Hair and Flannel, offers detailed reviews and tributes to the band’s legacy. Zoo Crew, keep spinning those records and let the Zoo Freaks feel the roar of White Lion!