50 Heavy Metal Years
[Dajana] I guess that is the summer of summers. Almost every multi-platinum selling act must be on tour right now, to catch up on everything lost during the last 2 or 3 years. Stadiums are on continuous operation and mostly sold out. The previous day around 17.500 fans rocked the ground outside the :: Rudolf Weber Arena :: during the very first Knotfest Germany.
Today, fans want to celebrate the 50 Heavy Metal Years of JUDAS PRIEST. And that's not even the "original" tour that sees JUDAS PRIEST playing alongside Ozzy Osbourne. This one is postponed to 2023. If things go well… The guys are old and you never know when you see them playing live the last time. And there is still that creepy tiny thing called C19. So, when it comes to such (old) bands the slogan must be: Catch them live whenever you can!
And so we did. Around 6.500 fans found their way into the arena to pay homage to the metal god himself and to celebrate the band's (postponed) 50th anniversary.
Last time I have seen JUDAS PRIEST was on their "final farewell tour" 10 years ago in my hometown ;) My summary back then: "…tonight’s show was sensational! Unbelievably great! Pure awesomeness and definitely a highlight in 2012! A worthy farewell for JUDAS PRIEST."
Well, here we are ;) JUDAS PRIEST still didn't retire and still kick ass as fuck!
[Psycho] Well, a farewell tour isn't the same anymore as it used to be. That's why I saw JUDAS PRIEST last time in 2018 in Dortmund. Back then the priests had some nice surprises in their setlist, such as Saints In Hell and the Grinder. Such rare ear-candies surely would have suited them well on this anniversary tour too. However, it's always great to see one of my all-time faves live on stage again!
[Dajana] Despite announced road constructions and expected delays the drive was smooth and we arrived early enough.
As for that we got wet during our walk towards the arena as it started to rain cats and dogs. As everywhere, pricing exploded at Rudolf Weber Arena too. For beer and coke (0.4l) 6.20 Euro were due, the cloakroom was closed (not enough people) and the cheapest shirt at the merch was 40 Euro.
Besides, it was the night of the women's European Soccer Championship final, Germany vs. Great Britain. Many fans couldn't take their seats or places quick enough to get the mobiles out for a live watch till the beginning of the show. The Lionesses have won, 2:1, congratulations!
[Psycho] I guess, we need to get used to expensive merch pricing. It's the only source for income left for musicians these days. It's a different thing with the pricing at the venue. In this case, it's the responsibility of the owner/operator. And here we are beyond the current level of inflation. So, you can also call it a rip-off…
:: pics :: THE DEAD DAISIES ::
[Dajana] For the warm-up :: THE DEAD DAISIES :: entered the stage. They came without their new singer Glenn Huges, who tested positive for Covid-19. He was replaced by stand-in singer Dino Jelusick (keys and backing vox in Whitesnake) and bassist Yogi Lonich (formerly of Buckcherry and Fuel). And wow, Dino has truly rocked the 30 minutes of playing time. I didn't expect this! Hats off!
[Psycho] I meanwhile have seen THE DEAD DAISIES several times. I still wouldn't listen to them in my own four walls, but I would like to state that THE DEAD DAISIES play perfect bluesy Hard Rock. The tracks are sophisticated and interesting enough to stand their own instead of being copies of umpteen times heard melodies. It's just not my cup of tea…
But the biggest surprise was indeed stand-in singer Dino! He really owns a great voice and stage presence, delivering such a convincing performance. Yes, the crowd was well warmed-up by now for the main act.
[Dajana] It was a short but crispy and entertaining show and THE DEAD DAISIES already played two brand new songs, Radiance and Shine On, from their upcoming sixth album, Radiance, set to be released on September 30.
Band: Doug Aldrich (git), David Lowy (git), Brian Tichy (drums), Dino Jelusick (vox), Yogi Lonich (bass)
Setlist: Long Way To Go, Rise Up, Dead And Gone, Bustle And Flow, Mistreated, Radiance, Shine On, Burn
:: pics :: JUDAS PRIEST ::
[Dajana] There should be no need to introduce :: JUDAS PRIEST :: anymore. The stage setting looked awesome and the faces around shone with pure anticipation and excitement. The break was short and then the lights faded out.
Accompanied by War Pigs blasted from the speakers and Battle Hymn the huge illuminated Priest trident was wound up and prominently placed under the ceiling. Then, the metal god himself, Rob Halford, took the stage and kicked off with One Shot At Glory.
[Psycho] The stage setting was extremely nontypical for JUDAS PRIEST as no album covers were displayed in any form. It seems like the idea was to represent the early days of the band with a factory like background of the steel metropolis Birmingham.
When the band members came out on stage the crowd started cheering them full-throated and singing along One Shot At Glory. It's a rather suboptimal opener, there are much better working songs in the song catalogue. My suspicion is that Rob Halford needed this song to warm-up his voice and so the following Lightning Strike sounded much more powerful. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ was next, a song known to be played during the encore for decades. So we got a frame of three songs right in the beginning to cover the first 40 years of band history ;)
Of course, there is one question towards every JUDAS PRIEST show: How's the voice of Rob Halford? Tonight, every fan would be satisfied, even without rose-colored fan glasses. You can't expect marvelous things from 70 years old vocal cords but there are official live recordings existing, for example of Painkiller, with a vocal performance much worse than tonight's show. Though, I don't want to conceal that it was visible to everybody that it was strenuous work to him. He often deeply bent over (to disburden his vocal cords at high pitches?) or interpreted song passages differently or shorter as known, as he did in The Sentinel.
[Dajana] Well, age takes its toll. And we are about to experience it too. We could witness him being breathless now and then and he must have sweated as hell in his leather clothes. I don't know why he worn leather gloves and a leather coat at those high summer temperatures. I remember news from German shows where the priests performed in jeans and tees.
However, the white bushy beard and his saggy moves made Rob Halford look like a papa bear, ready to cuddle with. Absolutely cuddly ;)
[Psycho] I'd rather like to have a beer with him…. ;) The level of enthusiasm was kept high as Rob Halford continuously managed to fire up the crowd, made them to sing along or doing some funny things. The response to Turbo Lover makes this song a secret band hymn, even if no one likes the album itself, and Victim Of Changes is always a force.
[Dajana] Yep, this song is very special and became very emotional too. During Victim Of Changes a live performance with guitarist Glenn Tipton was shown on the screen playing his solos. Every now and then he still appears at live shows and plays one or two songs with the band, as far as his state of health allows to do so. Besides, he gets exquisitely well replaced by Andy Sneap.
[Psycho] Indeed, Andy Sneap harmonizes much better with the band than four years ago. I guess, the fiasco prior the tour helped to establish the two-guitars-solution.
"Unfortunately" JUDAS PRIEST played whole four songs less than on their 2018 stint, although it has been still good 100 minutes of playing time. For some reasons they must have shortened their set, otherwise they wouldn't have cut out Metal Gods. I, anyway, can't remember a gig, where they did not play this song!
[Dajana] As for that the encore made the crowd roar and scream again, when Rob Halford revved up his Harley and cruised the stage to Hell Bent For Leather under the mighty banner of the Judas Priest Birmingham MC.
[Psycho] Yep, the encore part with Electric Eye, Hell Bent For Leather, Breaking The Law as well as Living After Midnight was unimpeachable. But, what the heck, was the huge inflated bull for? No one could explain or had an idea… Perhaps a hint to the next cover artwork?
Band: Rob Halford (vox), Andy Sneap (git), Richie Faulkner (git), Ian Hill (bass), Scott Travis (drums)
Setlist: War Pigs, Battle Hymn (intros), One Shot At Glory, Lightning Strike, You've Got Another Thing Comin', Freewheel Burning, Turbo Lover, Hell Patrol, The Sentinel, Victim Of Changes, The Green Manalishi, Diamonds & Rust, Painkiller // The Hellion (Intro), Electric Eye, Hell Bent For Leather, Breaking The Law // Living After Midnight, We Are The Champions (outro)
[Dajana] Who knows ;) What's left to say? 50 years of British Steel, 50 years Heavy Metal, 50 years of JUDAS PRIEST. And still alive and kicking. Once again a spectacular show on all levels from a band its original members are in their 70s now. And it wasn't the last time. In big capital letters there was to read: "The PRIEST will be back". Of course, next year with Ozzy. A fantastic evening!
Only the traffic chaos afterwards I would have liked to skip.
[Psycho] Me too. Well, we didn't have that chaos before the show (as announced). I also want to mention that both bands had an excellent sound, which is no matter of course either. All I can say is that anticipation and excitement towards the tour next year even rose. Would be great to meet again.
And I have no objections to a new record of the same quality and power as Firepower…
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