LIVE CONCERT PHOTOS—W.A.S.P. 2026

W.A.S.P. • KK’s Priest • September 22, 2026 • Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL • Photo by Randy Cook — instagram.com/horns_raised

KK's Priest Live Concert Photos 2026
KK's Priest • September 22, 2026 • Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL • Photo by Randy Cook — instagram.com/horns_raised

W.A.S.P. Live Concert Photos 2026
W.A.S.P. • September 22, 2026 • Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL • Photo by Randy Cook — instagram.com/horns_raised

W.A.S.P. Live Review

W.A.S.P. & KK’s Priest |September 22, 2026 | Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL

In the days leading up to the debut performance of W.A.S.P. performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL, I was stricken with the worst sinus infection I had ever experienced in life. I was worried I might not be able to make the show, I had felt so bad. I was willing to drill a hole in my head to relieve the pressure, but my doctor was against that, suggesting that if she did that, then for sure I would miss the show. Thankfully modern medicine prevailed and I was able to attend and soak in some much needed vitamin M.E.T.A.L!

Announced back in February, the “1984 To Headless” tour featured W.A.S.P. performing their hits from the band’s first four albums, W.A.S.P. (1984), The Last Command (1985), Inside the Electric Circus (1986), and The Headless Children (1989). Supporting W.A.S.P. for this run was KK’s Priest, a powerhouse heavy metal band formed in 2019 by former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, bringing him back together with former Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens. Not many shows have made me as excited for the opening act as much as the headliner but this one for sure fit that category!

This was my third time seeing KK’s Priest perform and this band delivers a high-energy combination of new material and classic Judas Priest songs, with Downing’s unmistakable guitar work and Owens’ powerful, soaring vocals at the center of it all. Rounding out the lineup are guitarist A.J. Mills, bassist Tony Newton, and drummer Sean Elg. Together, they carry the spirit and sound of classic British heavy metal into a new era. With “Ripper” commanding the microphone, the band tore through a set built around Judas Priest classics including “Turbo Lover,” “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” “Heading Out to the Highway,” “The Sentinel,” “Victim of Changes,” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” while also showcasing KK’s Priest material such as “Strike of the Viper,” “One More Shot at Glory,” “Hellfire Thunderbolt,” and “Raise Your Fists.” The result was a no-frills, high-energy dose of classic metal that reminded the Clearwater crowd exactly why these songs have endured for decades. It was a fantastic opening set and got us primed and ready for W.A.S.P.

Historically known for their notoriety of their shock rock-themed image, lyrics and live performances, one of my early favorite bands back when I was in high school (in the mid 80s) was W.A.S.P. The band formed in 1982 and was a big part of the early ‘80s L.A. heavy metal scene. My friends and I discovered them from the band’s wild and outlandish video on MTV “I Wanna Be Somebody” and we just fell in love with the band’s sound. I had this show circled on the calendar as soon as it was announced. W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless states: “It’s hard to express the genuine excitement I’m feeling in describing the ‘1984 To Headless’ U.S. tour. Playing those songs from those first four albums in a combined package like this is something we’ve never attempted before. In addition to the songs, the entire stage show will look like the album covers from those records will come alive… right right before your eyes! Complete with all the history and bombastic live presentations that’s made this band one of the great live bands in the theatrical rock world. When elements of those album covers start to come alive, right on the stage before the people, it’s gonna be something they’ll not soon forget!

Elvis, the distinctive skull-topped microphone stand that Blackie uses, has a dark, skeletal aesthetic that fits W.A.S.P.’s theatrical stage presentation, with the skull positioned prominently above the microphone. It is an imposing piece of gothic stage hardware that looks every bit as sinister as the band’s music sounds. With motorcycle handlebars and foot pegs, it serves as functional stage equipment, allowing Blackie to literally climb onto it and sway on the structure during performances, rather than it simply being a decorative prop.

The band opened their set to an already riled up crowd with “Easy Livin’”, a Uriah Heep cover and sadly a very short song counting toward our three songs to photo from up front. From the opening notes, the evening was a visual and musical trip back to W.A.S.P.’s formative years. Doug Blair’s guitar work, Mike Duda’s bass and Aquiles Priester’s thunderous drumming gave Lawless a powerful foundation throughout the performance. This was my fifth time seeing W.A.S.P. and the show was exactly as I had anticipated. The set dug deep, mixing familiar favorites with rarities including “Fistful of Diamonds,” “Mr. Cool” and “Thunderhead,” while staples such as “I Wanna Be Somebody,” “L.O.V.E. Machine,” “Wild Child” and “Blind in Texas” provided the biggest sing-along moments. W.A.S.P. has essentially turned the clock back to the era that established the band, transforming four foundational albums into a tightly focused, theatrical live production that combines deep cuts, familiar anthems and the visual excess that helped define the band in the first place.

Props to the sound engineers as both bands sounded fantastic as Ruth Eckerd Hall is known for its near-perfect acoustics. Hard to say the same for the lighting crew, while KK’s Priest had great lighting, it was equally opposite for W.A.S.P. and I think that is by design. Even with the unusual step of being allowed to photo from my seat after the first three songs from up front, I did not have great expectations prior to reviewing my W.A.S.P. photos. With the heavy metal royalty involved with these two bands sharing the same stage, it is one not to be missed. The current tour continues across North America until the end of October, then W.A.S.P. returns to Europe – see their future tour dates here.