W.A.S.P. Brings Darkness and Mayhem of 1984-Headless to Tulsa Theater

W.A.S.P. — 9/17/26 | Tulsa Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Iconic ’80s metal band W.A.S.P. brought their unique brand of dark theatrics, unparalleled sound and a wall of thunderous noise to a packed and enthusiastic Tulsa Theater on Thursday night as the 1984–Headless tour rolled into town.

Flanked by the straight-ahead metal assault of KK’s Priest, who are opening the U.S. dates of the tour, the evening got off to a roaring start. Legendary Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, backed by the unmistakable screams of vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, took the crowd on a journey through a plethora of Judas Priest classics while sprinkling in newer material.

Songs such as “Raise Your Fists” and “Strike of the Viper” sounded like they could have come straight off British Steel or Screaming for Vengeance, and the Tulsa crowd responded accordingly. KK’s Priest proved to be a fitting appetizer for what was about to come.

Then, at approximately 9:00 p.m., the mood inside the theater changed.

When W.A.S.P. took the stage, darkness descended over the room. At center stage stood Blackie Lawless’ gigantic skull and crusted, steel-plated microphone stand, instantly recognizable symbols of a band that has never been afraid to embrace the darker side of rock ‘n’ roll.

The band erupted into “Easy Living,” and from that moment forward, the Tulsa Theater was enveloped in a wall of thunderous sound.

It is almost indescribable.

It felt big. It felt important.

W.A.S.P. managed to toe the line between ear-splitting volume and absolute hard-rock perfection, producing the kind of massive live sound that makes you understand why this band has maintained such a devoted following for more than four decades.

And, of course, W.A.S.P. delivered the theatrics.

Dark imagery, historical figures associated with evil, a mock electrocution, massive backdrops and video production all combined to create a show that was far more than simply a band standing on a stage playing songs. There was a sense of danger and spectacle throughout the evening — something that has always been central to the W.A.S.P. experience.

But make no mistake: this night belonged to Blackie Lawless.

Lawless has always been vastly underrated as both a vocalist and songwriter. At 70 years old, his voice was outstanding throughout the night, and his command of this unique catalog was as strong as ever.

The 1984–Headless tour focuses heavily on material spanning W.A.S.P.’s 1984 debut through 1989’s The Headless Children, making it a genuine treat for longtime fans.

Hearing songs such as “Thunderhead” and “The Headless Children” live was a particular highlight, while rarities including “Fistful of Diamonds,” “B.A.D.” and the old Sister demo “Mr. Cool” gave the evening an even deeper sense of authenticity.

This was a show made for the true W.A.S.P. faithful.

But the band wasn’t simply relying on deep cuts. When “I Wanna Be Somebody,” “L.O.V.E. Machine” and “Wild Child” blasted through the theater, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

The night eventually came to a close with “Blind in Texas,” followed by a long, well-deserved ovation as the band bid farewell to Tulsa.

And while Lawless is undoubtedly the centerpiece, the musicians standing beside him deserve plenty of credit for creating the massive W.A.S.P. sound.

Longtime guitarist Doug Blair and bassist Mike Duda remain a huge part of the band’s identity, with both delivering rock-solid performances and spot-on background vocals. Behind the kit, drummer Aquiles Priester produced a kick drum sound that seemed capable of pounding straight through the walls of the Tulsa Theater, all while maintaining flawless precision throughout the performance.

There is something remarkable about watching a band that has been doing this for more than 40 years still sound this hungry, this loud and this dangerous.

W.A.S.P. has now been back on the road for several major tours dating back to 2022, a period that included some difficult moments for Lawless, including back issues that forced cancellations on select dates.

But on this night, none of that mattered.

Blackie Lawless looked fantastic, sounded fantastic and appeared completely in command.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the 1984–Headless tour is just how deep W.A.S.P.’s catalog really is. There are enough great songs, rarities and fan favorites tucked away in their history to fuel plenty more tours.

For the longtime W.A.S.P. faithful, Tulsa was a night of darkness, mayhem, nostalgia and thunder.

And for a band that has been around since the early days of ’80s metal, W.A.S.P. proved that the fire is still burning.