Five years ago W.A.S.P. (now a vehicle for Black Lawless and a bunch of sidemen) embarked on they 30th anniversary tour during which they played their greatest hits and, after an intermission, an abridged version of their concept album The Crimson Idol.
Now celebrating the 25th anniversary of that same record, they are playing it in full, accompanied by a film they had shot to promote it back when it was released. And if the video and concept can seem a bit ridiculous , the music still stands the test of time and more importantly the test of the stage. W.A.S.P. never toured the album when it was first released, and Lawless always felt (rightly) that it was his magnum opus. This is now his chance to do what he couldn't do a quarter of a century ago.
Because the music has to sync perfectly with the video screens, the playing is a bit rigid. And the musicians play mostly in the dark. But the interpretation is flawless, with a special mention to drummer Aquiles Priester, formerly of Angra, who reproduced Frankie Banali's original thundering fills with panache.
As a fan of that album, it was a treat being able to hear it performed in its entirety. While it may not belong in the same league as its models Quadrophenia or The Wall, it is undoubtably the best metal concept albums, tied with Queensrÿche's Operation Mindcrime.
After they finished playing the album, they returned to play a few more songs (including a cover of the Who's The Real Me) and I wish they had expanded that part a little bit. If The Crimson Idol is Blackie's finest overall album, his best songs are scattered among those first releases.
A very good show nonetheless, with a Blackie in fine voice and better shape than he's been in years.
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