[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.
