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Judas Priest sold a ton of records and played to massive crowds throughout their career, but for non-heshers, their music may be overshadowed by and indelibly linked to the infamous Heavy Metal Parking Lot documentary of the mid 80s, where their audience was scrutinized instead of the band. Metal fans can be the butt of some easy jokes, but they are also fiercely loyal and always have a good time, so most times there will be a far greater energy at a metal show than a run-of-the-mill indie rock show.
This tour (aptly named the Epitaph Tour) was supposed to be their final victory lap, but before they even loaded the trucks, original guitarist KK Downing figured he wasn’t up for living after midnight anymore so a replacement in Richie Faulkner was found to sling the simpatico lines along with Glenn Tipton. Additionally, the possibility of future live shows was not ruled out, though for large-scale, global touring, this was to be it.
For a long, last look back it was a success on many levels, with selections from their vast discography (a whopping fourteen different LPs represented) included in the set, from the ballad into primal rocker of “Beyond The Realm of Death,” the classic riffage of “Victim of Changes,” and the patented twin guitar attack of “Night Crawler.” Halford remains the king of operatic shrieks (though he may be aided by a generous dose of reverb at times), and the band fired on all cylinders. Fireball explosions, lasers, Harley-Davidsons on stage…the big songs got trotted out (“You Got Another Thing Coming,” “Living After Midnight”) but the surprise came when Halford ceded all vocals of “Breaking The Law” to the crowd. For a final victory lap, it was all there. Judas Priest is dead, long live Priest.
Thin Lizzy was an unusual name to see on a billing, seeing as charismatic leader Phil Lynott has been dead since 1986, three years after he left the band. Unsure of what actually passed for the band these days, my fears were allayed somewhat by the guiding hands of original members Scott Gorham and drummer Brian Downey, and along with latter-era keyboardist Darren Wharton the rest of the hired guns filled in ably. Lizzy is another band that’s got a snaking guitar lines as a distinct part of their sound, and even the vocals of Ricky Warwick (appropriately born in County Down; I’m sure he sang about the Mourne Mountains referenced in “Emerald” as a kid).” This was not a cadaver exhumation, and it was good to see the songs live on stage again.
