Concert review - W.A.S.P. at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

These days most of their fans are parents themselves and last night W.A.S.P. burst on to the stage at the Wulfrun for their 30 Years Of Thunder tour, in a near two-hour show which took in all of their greatest moments . . . bar one.

Frontman Blackie Lawless , these days the only remaining original member, has said that he will never again play their debut single (the name of which can't be printed in a family newspaper), because of his religious views.

Many of the band's shock rock theatrics - from exploding codpieces to hurling raw meat into the audience - were also missing last night, but the first part of the show was still a jam packed 'greatest hits' package, with the original videos from years gone by beamed onto three large screens at the back of the stage as the band powered through fan favourites like L.O.V.E. Machine, I Don't Need No Doctor and the magnificent Wild Child.

It was clear that Lawless has lost none of his wild-eyed, malevolent glee, commanding attention at the front of the stage.

The second section saw W.A.S.P. performing a cut-down version of their 1992 concept album The Crimson Idol, considered by many to be the band's finest moment.

Once again the video screens were put to great effect as the sorry tale unfolded of a street bum turned rock god who makes the ultimate sacrifice when he is disowned by his parents.

Having packed the first hour or so with the big hits this leant the evening a slightly unbalanced air but with Lawless's skeleton-shaped microphone stand 'Elvis' making an appearance for the encores – as well as the singer's tale of hallucinating on vindaloo after their first trip to the Midlands 28 years ago – W.A.S.P. sent their fans home happy with a final blast through Blind In Texas.

Review by Ian Harvey