WASP - O2 Academy, Glasgow 25th July 2025
Photos & Review by MB Photography Scotland • 26 July 2025
Back in 1984 the world first saw and heard of WASP who prior to the album release had to delete the track Animal(F**k Like A Beast) which caused a bit of an uproar as expected. The PMRC which was active at the time had labeled the song as one of its "Filthy 15", songs that the group determined to be morally objectionable so the record company chose to not include it. I wonder if it will be played tonight as the band play their debut album in full. We'll get to that later.
So here we are in Glasgow to see the shock rock masters WASP. Unfortunately as we all line up there is a lot of talk about who is supporting as it's not clear from the posters. Turns out that there is no support tonight and with reports of a short set the murmurs start to increase with a bit of disappointment if that's the case. So inside we go and yep that's correct. No support which is pretty poor considering the price of a ticket and transport these days.
So as the lights go down and the smoke billows the band launch into album opener "I Wanna Be Somebody", something that in 43 years of the band they have never done. Usual set opener "On Your Knees" is kept for later since the album in being played in chronological order. With Blackie still wearing his white fringed boots and the rest in black he is sometimes difficult to see behind his "Elvis" microphone stand and with the rather moody lighting photos tonight were difficult to get. None the less the band storm through the 10 songs and with the additional backing vocals on tape the full experience of the songs are produced. Unfortunately Animal wasn't performed tonight as Blackie has publicly said he doesn't agree with it due to his religous beliefs, although it was played back in 2022 on the 40th Anniversary tour. The stage set up also has screens playing all of the original videos along to the relavant song and also some archive live performances.
After 50 minutes the band leave the stage after saying Thank You and Goodnight. Again something that has sections of the crowd in a state of bemusement. However after a short towel down the band return to do a couple of medleys which include more recent songs, Inside the Electric Circus, I Don't Need No Doctor and Scream Until You Like It. The second one with The Real Me, Forever Free and The Headless Children.
With little talking throughout the gig Blackie does a solo start to Wild Child before set closer Blind in Texas has the crowd singing along before the real end to the gig comes a little to soon. With the set length being only 80 odd minutes the venue clears quite quickly and folk are able to get home before the start of the 10 o'clock news, something that's unheard of at gigs these days and maybe a touch too short for many punters tonight. However what was on offer tonight content wise certainly pleased a lot of people and some songs that will never be played again live were heard.
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