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2012-04-30 DE – Muenster - Halle Muensterland

[Dajana] The godfathers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, a legend, one of the most influencing bands in that genre says goodbye: JUDAS PRIEST. With their final Epitaph World Tour 2011/2012 JUDAS PRIEST resign from active touring. And, if rumors come true, the band will record and release a very last album, likewise entitled Epitaph. Hardly to believe, but this farewell tour stops in my hometown Muenster!!!

[Psycho] Yes, indeed. It is great to have such big metal show in Muenster again. Much more it was like a class or family reunion. So many (and partly long time missed) friends and known faces around… beautiful!
[BRT] Yeah, it got to be a huge highlight. When you see all these creatures in one place? Awesome! Consequently the beverage consumption was on a high level long before the show got started.
[Marc] Oh, beer consumption was great. JUDAS PRIEST in Muenster… wow… would never have believed in that. Anticipation for the show and the friend’s meeting was high and almost tore me apart!
[Psycho] The show wasn’t sold out but with approx. 4000 people well attended. One advantage: I’m sure you could not see the Priests that close for years. Generally speaking Muenster’s audience was extremely enthused, in high spirit right from the beginning and thankfully accepted all games to sing-along, to scream, raise fists… etc.
[BRT] As rumors has it bigger metal bands forgo Muenster for years, so ravenous metal pack could have been called for tenders.
[Marc] Mood was really incredible among the fans. It was more like a huge party than just a metal concert.

:: pics ::

[Dajana] Support for the European part of Epitaph World Tour came from no one less than Irish rockers :: THIN LIZZY :: who look back on a likewise long and meaningful history. After a short period of confusion regarding the stage times THIN LIZZY kicked off the evening on time with Are You Ready?
[Psycho] I didn’t have many expectations as I never dealt closer with that band.
[Dajana] Same to me. I of course know the classics of THIN LIZZY, saw the once or twice live during festivals but never dealt closer with the Irish men.
[BRT] My expectations were pretty high. Especially during the last years the work of this Irish legend got me more and more under its spell.
[Marc] To be honest, I only knew the name. So the bar outside the main hall was more appealing to pinch a bit beer. I marched in to the sound of Whiskey In The Jar. Was great. I was almost in dancing mood ;)
[Psycho] Basically, THIN LIZZY is sort of a prototype for a band that lived through alternation of generations, regarding the integration of new band members. All of them visibly feel connected and committed to the musical traditions convey them with much delight in playing.
[BRT] Alternation of generations describes it well. Unfortunately the “new ones” lack in the grain of necessary charisma. There have been moments where the old gentlemen just acted like a cover band. Ricky Warwick sounded somehow similar to Phil Lynott, but his stage presence suited more a bigshot hard rock band and that is what THIN LIZZY is definitely not.
[Psycho] Hmm. As for that bass player Marco Mendoza looked like the little bros of Joey the Mayonnaise, luckily without any stupid patters and embarrassments. As for me this show was a surprisingly positive one, although I could not have named any other song than the known hits Whiskey In The Jar and The Boys Are Back In Town.
[BRT] Song selection was ok for me but I missed some of my favorites. But hey, that’s nagging on a high level, ain’t it? As a support band the show was really great.
Setlist: Are You Ready, Jailbreak, Killer On The Loose, Emerald, Whiskey In The Jar, Suicide, Rosalie (Bob Seger cover)/Cowgirl's Song, Black Rose, Cowboy Song, The Boys Are Back In Town

[Dajana] Yes, that was an awesome part. The bigger one still to come ;) But first a well deserved break, while stage hands work busily behind a huge Epitaph curtain. Our entourage storms the bar and smoking area, while I have a chat outside too, taking a breath. Discussions and expectations raise. Time has come for :: JUDAS PRIEST ::
[Psycho] Hottest topic in these discussions was surely the vocal effort Rob Halford would be able to perform with. There have been many reports in the past telling of really bad vocal days of the “metal god”.
[Dajana] Yes, I remember an almost shocking festival appearance of JUDAS PRIEST where Rob stood like nailed behind his teleprompter reading his lyrics from there and hardly able to hold any tone.
[BRT] I never was a real PRIEST fan, thus my expectations were kept within a limit. Besides, their Punch & Judy shows during the last couple of years did not make it any better.
[Marc] I had the pleasure to see dear Rob at last year’s Wacken Open Air. And there he was in a good mood. Correspondingly high were my fears to say goodbye with a worse show… But… hat’s off… I think tonight’s show was amazing!
[Psycho] Though anticipation was really when JUDAS PRIEST finally got in with Rapid Fire. And hey, hall was lit up immediately.
[BRT] Yeah, respect! Great sound, delight in playing, charisma, great stage scenery. I did not expect that. I was positively surprised!
[Psycho] Generally speaking the first half of the show did not leave anything to be desired. Tracks such as Metal Gods and great versions of Starbreaker and Victim Of Changes could not fail at all.
[BRT] I have to declare, I need to deal much more with JUDAS PRIEST. Especially their early 70s stuff hits my nerves.
[Psycho] At the end, almost every regular record was considered with at least one song, except the ones with Ripper Owens. Not sure if he even would have been able to sing that?!?! Yes, for the half set Rob Halford had a got voice. But latest with Night Crowler one could hear out problems. He was good in covering that in using a different pitch, but it did not work out fine all the time…
[BRT] In between I was really worried that Robbie would break down as he acted rather stricken. He disappeared often behind the stage and so nourished rumors that an oxygen tent would produce relief.
[Marc] I agree. It really seems that Rob Halford ain’t able bodily to go through such concert marathon without problems anymore. I think it is now the perfect time for him to retire. But he does not need to hide, much the opposite. His effort tonight is beyond doubt, even if you could see his trouble to hold up.

[Psycho] Musically there was absolutely nothing to nag about. Selected songs fitted the importance of the event properly and regarding musicianship the band was top! Also new guitarist Richie Faulkner (with a K.K. Downing memory hairstyle) acted as if he would play with the band for ages. And I guess Glen Tipton is happy now to have a younger and thus much livelier counterpart on stage. Crowd anyway was almost freaking out. There was pure enthusiasm everywhere. Especially surprising I found the high spirit at Turbo Lover, where everybody was singing along. Wasn’t that the song everybody hated in the past? And because it worked out so fine Breaking The Law turned out to be sort of a karaoke-live-version sung by the audience, not the band ;) After a long encore part with a high hit frequency the show was over. For good I think. Too bad, because this evening has significantly displayed how many PRIEST songs are worth it to be played live. Maybe the band should start dealing with the Thin Lizzy-generations-concept…
[BRT] Yes! That’s definitely the way Metal entertainment has to be. No doubt. With all these great hits even ignorant like me got captivated.
[Marc] (sic!)
[Psycho] On the other hand… If one has seen how much pain it took for Halford to move that way on stage I truly grant him his retirement. Although there is still an album to come…
[BRT] You wanted to say he dragged himself over the stage… didn’t you?
[Marc] Again I agree on both. It’s better to stop when things are still ok than to wait till things go down the drain or he even meets his maker on stage. But maybe that’s the plan…
Setlist: Intro: War Pigs & Battle Hymn, Rapid Fire, Metal Gods, Heading Out To The Highway, Judas Rising, Starbreaker, Victim Of Changes, Never Satisfied, Diamonds & Rust, Dawn Of Creation/Prophecy, Night Crawler, Turbo Lover, Beyond The Realms Of Death, The Sentinel, Blood Red Skies, The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown), Breaking The Law, Painkiller // The Hellion/Electric Eye, Hell Bent For Leather, You've Got Another Thing Comin' // Living After Midnight

[Psycho] What more to say? JUDAS PRIEST accompanied my entire „music life“ since I heard Breaking The Law and United on a radio show in 1981.
[Dajana] I got infected by JUDAS PRIEST a little later (1983/84) when Screaming For Vengeance was released and got hooked on them since then. As for me: tonight’s show was sensational! Unbelievably great! Pure awesomeness and definitely a highlight in 2012! A worthy farewell for JUDAS PRIEST.
[BRT] I venture to doubt that I ever get a big fan of JUDAS PRIEST, but I keep in mind to check out their older stuff!
[Marc] Great band, great songs, great evening! Thank you JUDAS PRIEST for many, many years of best Heavy Metal entertainment!
[Psycho] I think the band got their act together right on time to finish its career in dignity. A show like this one tonight, where band and fans close ranks for a last time offered the perfect frame. That JUDAS PRIEST left a huge impact and permanent impression could be seen on thousands of euphoric and happy faces.
[BRT] In comparison to the still lively Iron Maiden and in absolutely top form acting Saxon is lands JUDAS PRIEST on rank 3. A PRIEST show with just mentioned bands in support would have been a total fail. To retire now is for sure a well-chosen moment.
[Marc] Yes – unfortunately.

 

story & pics © Dajana