W.A.S.P. are back for their highly anticipated Album ONE Alive Tour across the US this fall, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album, released on August 17, 1984.
This release was pivotal in metal history when the band showcased their raw power and uncompromising sound to the world. Now, in 2024, they are giving fans a historic chance to relive that electric stage presence and hear those timeless anthems again. As Blackie told the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA, on a cold and rainy winter’s night, this will be the last time the band will ever perform their debut album ever again!
W.A.S.P. quickly rose to fame with their shock rock theatrics, crunchy guitar riffs, and the band’s captivating stage presence. Songs like “I Wanna Be Somebody” and “Blind in Texas” became instant classics, cementing W.A.S.P.‘s reputation as one of the genre’s most provocative and electrifying acts. Blackie Lawless remains the only original member and is joined by long-standing members Mike Duda [bass] and Doug Blair [guitar] and Aquiles Priester [drums].
It is no surprise to fans by the tour’s title that the band would be playing their debut album in its entirety, along with some classic cuts and medleys to celebrate their enduring legacy.
Like with their debut album, W.A.S.P. opened the show with their song about the unquenchable thirst for stardom, “I Wanna Be Somebody.” As the opening chords rang out, a roar was ignited from the packed venue as the musicians attacked their instruments with a feral intensity. Every note dripped with a raw, uninhibited ambition, the lyrics soaring with a youthful, defiant spirit that refused to be contained.
Once fans caught their breath, “L.O.V.E. Machine” was on the chopping block. The song quickly captivated fans as they couldn’t help but chant along to the chorus, 1000+ voices joining together in a symphony of fervor.
The band’s playing intensified with the passing song from the album, wreaking havoc in the audience due to Blackie‘s legacy of blistering songwriting. He is the backbone of W.A.S.P.‘s sound, underpinning their song structures and dark lyrical themes.
W.A.S.P. are a tight-knit group of seasoned musicians who effortlessly complement one another in their playing and dynamic stage presence. Blackie is a savage player with an aggressive style of playing and singing. He is a quintessential metal guitarist who can bash out riff after riff with sheer brute force. When not singing, he can be seen peering out into the crowd from behind the twisted wreckage of his microphone stand named Elvis. His piercing gaze dared the audience to keep up with the band’s breakneck pace.
Doug‘s thunderous opening riff on “On Your Knees” threatened to bring the very foundations of the Sherman Theater crashing down. His guitar tone was like a buzz saw to the head as he provided the six-string sting on the rhythm parts and handled all the solos. Mike was the man laying down the low end to the classic songs, giving them their snarl and bite. You have him to thank him when you feel the beat punch you in the chest and kick you in the ass, which was most prevalent in songs like “Tormentor.”
As the main set ended, the band quickly darted backstage only to return for the encores, delivering some of their MTV hit, including “Wild Child,” “Blind in Texas,” and a medley with “Forever Free” and “I Don’t Need No Doctor.”
By the time the final close chord was played, the audience was left breathless, having been swept up in the sheer visceral power of their performance. W.A.S.P. sounded stronger than ever and had the crowd’s enthusiasm revved to fully throttle the entire show.
Their music is the aural equivalent of a primal scream, a cathartic release of unbridled energy and aggression. It remains raw and unapologetically defiant as a beacon of authenticity—a middle finger to the forces of homogenization that have neutered the current musical landscape.
