News.RttP{W.A.S.P. TO HEADLINE AMERICAN METAL BLAST 2005}

W.A.S.P. TO HEADLINE AMERICAN METAL BLAST 2005
AND BRING BACK ITS LEGENDARY STAGE SHOW FOR HITS-HEAVY TOUR
L.A. GUNS AND STEPHEN PEARCY FORMERLY OF RATT
ALSO FEATURED ON THE U.S. ONSLAUGHT
METAL CHURCH SCHEDULED FOR SELECT JULY DATES
ALL FOUR BANDS FEATURED ON SECOND TOUR LEG BEGINNING IN AUGUST

In the annals of rock 'n' roll, few theatrical stage shows have shocked, horrified and entertained America as much as W.A.S.P.'s did on the Los Angeles-based band's 1983-84 debut tour.

Now, W.A.S.P. is resurrecting this not-for-the-faint-of-heart spectacle of blood and gore for the first-ever American Metal Blast 2005 tour. This uncontrollable onslaught, with W.A.S.P. planning a "greatest hits" set, comes exactly two decades after the band's scandalous, meteoric rise spooked the nation to the point where it was vilified by an out-of-touch Congress and hopelessly misguided Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC).

Joining W.A.S.P. -- vocalist/guitarist Blackie Lawless, guitarist Darrell Roberts, bass guitarist Mike Duda and drummer Stet Howland -- on tour for this celebration of heavy metal are L.A. Guns and former Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy. Metal Church will appear on select July dates. The second leg of the tour, which runs from August 18 to August 28, will feature all four bands. Complete details about the second leg are forthcoming, but Thursday, August 18 in Amarillo, TX, at Graham Central Station and Saturday, August 20 in Dallas, TX, at the Granada Theater are confirmed.

W.A.S.P.'s most recent album is the late 2004 Sanctuary/Metal-Is Records release 'The Neon God Part 2: The Demise,' the second half of an intensely emotional, thought-provoking, two-part concept album. 'The Neon God Part 1: The Rise' was released first by Sanctuary/Metal-Is early in 2004.

"We are hell-bent on going out and having fun. It's like a working vacation," says Lawless. "The creation of American Metal Blast 2005 is the result of a combination of things. With 'The Neon God' tours and 'The Crimson Idol' tour back in 1992-93, we did shows where people listened with their ears and not their eyes. The general consensus among the band members was to go back where we started and do a tour utilizing our original stage show. That's the thought process that went into it.

"This tour serves another purpose, and that is to bring our classic stage show to the younger fans. We noticed on our European tour last year that there were a lot of 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds in the audience. There are certain heritage bands out there like us that have survived. We've turned over a whole new generation of fans and they've only heard stories of what these shows are like, and they loom legendary. The visual presentation combines with the quality of the music, which stands the test of time."

Fans will get to hear all of their W.A.S.P. favorites, and the band is more than happy to perform them.

"It will be a giant best-of set with mostly classic material. When you start playing too much new material, it becomes self-indulgent. Any band is in direct competition with itself. Fans have 10 or 20 years or more to romance your earlier music. They are flashing back to important points in their lives that your music was the soundtrack to. You are your own worst competition. You can't imagine how many people have told me the first time they got laid they were listening to 'Animal (F**k Like a Beast)'," Lawless says. "If your newer records are really good, fans will romance them and feel the same way about them in the future too. It's important to listen to your audience. I feel blessed to be able to do this."

Lawless is planning on American Metal Blast becoming an annual event. After this year's inaugural tour, W.A.S.P. will finalize work on songs for a new album to be recorded by the end of the year.

For all the latest W.A.S.P. and American Metal Blast 2005 news and tour updates, visit www.waspnation.com. Confirmed American Metal Blast 2005 shows at this time include:

DATE CITY VENUE
Tuesday, June 28th West Hollywood, CA House Of Blues
Wednesday, June 29th San Diego, CA House Of Blues
Thursday, June 30th Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
Friday, July 1st Yucaipa, CA Angels Concert Hall *
Sunday, July 3rd Farmington, NM Big City *
Monday, July 4th Denver, CO Oriental Theatre *
Wednesday, July 6th Andover, MN POV's *
Thursday, July 7th Monmouth, IL Rivoli Theatre *
Friday, July 8th Chicago, IL Mr. Kelly's *
Saturday, July 9th Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theater *
Sunday, July 10th Cleveland, OH House Of Blues *
Wednesday, July 13th Buffalo, NY Club Infinity *
Thursday, July 14th Hartford, CT Webster Theatre *
Friday, July 15th Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom *
Saturday, July 16th Poughkeepsie, NY Mid-Hudson Civic Center * #
Sunday, July 17th Farmingville, NY Brookhaven Amphitheater * #
Wednesday, July 20th Atlantic City, NJ House Of Blues *
Thursday, July 21st Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock *
Friday, July 22nd Springfield, VA Jaxx *
Saturday, July 23rd Albany, NY Northern Lights *
Sunday, July 24th New Philadelphia, OH Poncho's *
Wednesday, July 27th Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
Thursday, July 28th Fayetteville, NC Jesters
Friday, July 29th St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Landing
Saturday, July 30th Orlando, FL House Of Blues
Tuesday, August 2nd Springfield, IL The Warehouse
Wednesday, August 3rd Omaha, NE Anchor Inn
Thursday, August 4th Moorhead, MN East Gate Outdoor Fest
Friday, August 5th Casper, WY Lost Iguana Field
Saturday, August 6th Salt Lake City, UT to be announced
Sunday, August 7th Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
Thursday, August 18th Amarillo, TX Graham Central Station *
Saturday, August 20th Dallas, TX Granada Theater *

* with Metal Church
# with Twisted Sister