Fantastic live concert film on VH1 Classic. It will be replayed tonight at 1am. Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton are really showing their age and the absence of KK Downing takes a little away, but it is a fantastic show from one of the original (and my favorite) metal bands on their final world tour. If you're into metal, this shouldn't be missed.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Rob Halford, to me, is the greatest hard rock vocalist of all time. I still have the Direct TV show the did where they played the whole British Steel album from beginning to end in concert on DVR, and watch it regularly.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
Quote: I saw this on my channel guide last night. Pretty good, eh? Do they cover much material from Painkiller? Love that album.
No they didn't. I also thought Painkiller was a great album. It actually was 1 hour of a 2+hr show (which will be available in it's entirety on dvd May 28th). They supposedly played tunes from every album on that tour. It's still well worth watching.
Here's what I recall from the VH1 show:
Rapid Fire Metal Gods Head Out to the Highway Hell Bent for Leather Breakin' the Law You've Got Another Thing Coming Living After Midnight
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Quote: He got sober relatively early in his career, no? Mid-eighties?
Usually that tacks on years to a showman's tools.
He also took quite a few years off of and did basically nothing. Hes a Metal God
KING
He had some projects going in his non-Priest years in the 90's. He put together a band with a couple Toledo natives (tattoo artists he met in Phoenix) called Fight. They put out 2 albums that were pretty good and toured around.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
I caught them live a few years back here in Aus. I only bought tickets for the support act (Cavalera Conspiracy) as i was a massive Sepultura fan. Alas, the brothers piked on the gig as death metal is the wrong support for the more mainstream rockers that were in attendance, but i went anyway.
Only knew of a few songs at that point (Breaking the Law etc) but the thing that stood out the most was how well his voice carried over live. Amazing set of pipes on the bloke, very impressive and a great show even for the neutral. Also, interesting that in the macho macho heavy metal world, this guy is out of the closet yeah? But from my perspective from any media i've seen about the band or fan comment, it simply isn't a big deal which is quite interesting given the attention given to potential sporting athletes etc that might be gay.
Didn't see the concert... but there is a lot of stuff on youtube to see if anyone is interested.
Just wanted to say a couple of things:
If you've never heard it, check out the often missed "Unleashed in the East" (Live in Japan) CD from 1979. GREAT live album. Still holds the test of time (doesn't sound dated).
I lived in Los Angeles starting in 1985 for 11 years when i played music. Towards the end of my stay there i worked at the Roxy and 'world famous' Whisky for a little less than a year, as stage manager and assistant stage manager.
Rob Halford's "Fight" played there one night. They were really good. I walked past Rob's dressing room about an hour before the show started and he yelled out, "Wooooooooo!" at me as i passed his door. Needless to say i didn't go in for a visit!!! lol! Anyhow, i noticed while Fight played he would do these moshing parts on stage, and - get this - he had a notebook (cheat sheet) with all the lyrics in it which he would look at from time to time, just in case he was having trouble remembering them. Classic move and hardly anyone noticed this, as he did it very well - may i even say surreptitiously!?!
Quote: I (Cavalera Conspiracy) as i was a massive Sepultura fan.
Is that the same Cavalera that was the lead for Soulfly? Seen them a couple times. Once opening for Static X, and once co headlining with Morbid Angel.
And Yes, Halford is openly gay. He even had his name on a line of adult toys specifically designed for gay males.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
Rob Halford is one the great vocalists over the last 40 years. Better than Plant(overated) just as good as Freddie Mercury. Pavarotti once said Halford was one of the greatest singers he ever heard back in the early 90's. Judas Priest even at this stage can simply blow much bands half their age off the stage. Showmanship, presentation, musical chops. Richie Faulkner has injected some youth in this lineup. Downing was just bored and tired of the touring and recording. Back in the early 80's I saw Priest in Germany at the Dortmund Pop Festival. one of the greatest lineups ever for a hard rock gathering. Better than anything at Donnington in the 1980's.I'm talking about bands that were in their prime. The Leps, Scorpions, a hungry Quiet Riot, MSG, a reborn Ozzy with Jake E Lee on guitar. Krokus was having success with Headhunter. Priest was the best band that day. Defenders was a very strong album and they toured heavily on that release. Priest came from the Midlands/Birmingham area that put out some great bands. The Sabs, Trapeze with Glenn Hughes, Budgie, Thin Lizzy. Priest deserve to be in the RNR HOF.
Quote: Also, interesting that in the macho macho heavy metal world, this guy is out of the closet yeah? But from my perspective from any media i've seen about the band or fan comment, it simply isn't a big deal which is quite interesting given the attention given to potential sporting athletes etc that might be gay.
The metal crowd is way ahead of the curve on this one. I don't think Halford ever tried to hide the fact nor did he officially come out of the closet AFAIK. We just knew it, accepted it and rocked out to his amazing voice. With the likes of Alice Cooper, The New York Dolls, Bowie and Queen in the 70's, pushing the envelope really wasn't a big deal.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Also to Potamus, old skool list of bands there man, but i think Budgie were from Cardiff in Wales or something? That British Hvy Metal thang was the main influence of Metallica, and they covered a few Budgie songs in their time.
