W.A.S.P.
The Sting: Live At The Key Club L.A. (DVD)

April 2004
Released: 2001, Snapper
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Lord of the Wasteland

With THE NEON GOD, the new opus from W.A.S.P., right around the corner, I thought it would be fitting to revisit the band’s first DVD entitled, THE STING: LIVE AT THE KEY CLUB L.A.. This recording was actually a webcast done on April 22, 2000 and later put out on CD and DVD with mixed results.



The track listing here is pretty good, but the quality of this recording is subpar at best. While something can be said for the purity and rawness of a live recording that hasn’t been doctored afterwards in the studio, it is another thing altogether when entire verses are missing from a song! Short of the excellent camerawork, the audio portion is a serious mark against it. As for the songs, W.A.S.P. touches on most of its storied 20-year career. Sadly, STILL NOT BLACK ENOUGH and KILL FUCK DIE are completely ignored, while three songs from the embarrassingly bad HELLDORADO are played. Granted, this is the album they are touring for here, but unless hearing “Dirty Balls” live gets you excited, this DVD is one for the W.A.S.P. die-hards and completists only. Blackie climbs aboard his mike stand (that looks like a set of demonic motorcycle handlebars) during “The Real Me” and begins spinning around while sparks go flying everywhere. One thing is for certain, a W.A.S.P. live show is an experience. “I Wanna Be Somebody” suffers from the vocal cut-outs the most but Mike Duda (who does an excellent Blackie imitation) actually seems to be taking over lead vocals at times and is seen singing but nothing is audible at others. Blackie is still able to hit some high notes and looks as menacing as ever while he spews out, “All I need is my LOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWVE MACHINE!” at the end of the track. The underrated “Damnation Angels” from HELLDORADO is played here and fits nicely among the other W.A.S.P. classics. This is also one of the last performances before Chris Holmes left the band again, so enjoy it!



While any W.A.S.P. visual is at least worth a look, THE STING: LIVE AT THE KEY CLUB DVD is really worth it if you can find it a cheap price. I held off on buying mine for 3 years and finally saw it for $13 at a used store in Las Vegas. If I’d paid anymore, I would have felt ripped off. Besides the barely 1 hour show, there is nothing else on here except for some weblinks, a discography and an essay about the history of the band.



KILLER KUTS: “L.O.V.E. Machine,” “Sleeping (In The Fire),” “Damnation Angels”