W.A.S.P. - September 13, 2026 (Phoenix, AZ)

Phoenix got a serious dose of old-school heavy metal Sunday night as W.A.S.P. took over the Celebrity Theatre with KK’s Priest opening the show.

KK’s Priest wasted little time getting the crowd moving. With former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing leading the charge, the band delivered a straight-ahead metal set that felt loud, tough and completely at home in a room like the Celebrity Theatre. Opening with a medley of classic Priest tracks, it got the place rocking fast.  The crowd clearly knew what they were getting, and the response was strong from the start.  And the night was even better knowing they were recording the event for possible use on a live record.  And, on top of that, it was Time "Ripper" Owens birthday!

Then it was time for W.A.S.P.

Blackie Lawless and the band came out ready to remind everyone why W.A.S.P. became such an important part of the 1980s metal scene. The performance had plenty of attitude, heavy guitar work and the kind of larger-than-life presentation you'd expect from a W.A.S.P. show, but there was also a feeling that this was a band genuinely enjoying being in front of its fans.

The Celebrity Theatre was a particularly good setting for the show. The relatively intimate room put the audience close to the stage, making the performance feel more like a club show than a typical arena production. Fans were engaged throughout the night, with plenty of singing, cheering and fists in the air.

Lawless remained the focal point, commanding the stage with his unmistakable presence.  With his incredible mic stand springing back and forth, as the band behind him kept things tight and heavy. The combination of W.A.S.P. and KK’s Priest made for a lineup that appealed directly to fans who grew up on classic heavy metal and still want to hear it played with some serious volume.

There was no need for gimmicks or trendy production tricks. This was simply two veteran metal acts getting onstage and playing heavy music for people who came to hear heavy music.

For Phoenix metal fans, September 13 was a pretty damn good night. W.A.S.P. delivered the attitude and aggression fans expected, while KK’s Priest made a strong case for themselves as the perfect band to open the evening. At the end of the night, the Celebrity Theatre had done what it does best: put a great rock band close to its audience and let the music do the talking.