When Priest came out, sans K.K. Downing, I really had no clue as to how well they would play with Richie Faulkner filling in for K.K. The young Faulkner was and is amazing. He had a great solo, with some Ozzy riffs just for Zakk. It did not take long to see that they truly were playing as well as or better than the previous shows. Rob Halford’s vocals are still a thing of awe. Glen Tipton, well, no surprise there. His playing was as brilliant as ever, with his own flawless solo. And there was Ian Hill, still just standing there, keeping that bass line. The only original member of Priest left showed us why he has lasted. Then there is Scott Travis on the drums, since the Painkiller album, he had done some studio work with Rob’s solo band Fight, yet stayed with them throughout the Ripper Owens years until Rob’s return for the Angel of Retribution album, he was extremely proficient on the drums, with a great solo before “Painkiller” as well.
Opening with ”Rapid Fire”, then “Metal Gods”, Halford proceeded to tell us they would play for another two and one half hours. They then began to blow us away. Here is just a partial list of what they played:
“Rapid Fire”, “Metal Gods”, “Breaking the Law”, “Dissident Aggressor”, “Star Breaker”, ”Desert Plains”,
“Diamonds and Rust”, “Victim of Changes”, “Green Manalishi”, “Beyond the Realms of Death” (my personal favorite), “Electric Eye”, “The
Sentinel”, “Turbo Lover”, “Blood Red Skies”, “Painkiller”, “Night
Crawler”, “Judas Rising”, “Prophecy”, “Hell Bent for Leather”, “Livin’ After Midnight”, and “You’ve Got
Another Thing Coming”- the trademark ending. The bike came out on “Hell Bent for Leather” (after playing “Prophecy”). They did have nearly forty years and 14 albums to choose from.
There were more, but that crowd was so electrified, I was caught up in the moment. Judas Priest is and they each are truly THE Metal Gods. I feel fortunate to have seen them one last time.
THREE HOURS OF JUDAS PRIEST is time well spent. And to those Priest fans whom have passed up on this tour, or were unable to attend, I feel bad that you were not able to see and hear this excellent show, perhaps the best one I have been to.
The Metal Gods may bless us with more music, I believe I have read, but this may be a rumor. Here is hoping that to be true. I will miss seeing them live. Six shows over 25 years for me. I love this band.
Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest! Priest!
Black Label Society-
Priest-"Blood Red Skies"-
Priest-"Judas Rising"-
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ARMED FORCES!
by MichaelT. Wayne- A Little Crazy (photos by J.C.)
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