Gig Watch: Judas Priest

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Judas Priest

By April Bedeau

Judas Priest have undoubtedly been one of the most influential metal acts ever to hit the airwaves, and were pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal  movement along with the likes of Iron Maiden.

So considering that they haven't toured since 2001... you can kind of understand the excitment that was building within my little brain.

The stage is set. The time is now. Judas Priest are in back town and they are going to rock our asses off. I'm pretty sure of it anyway...

And with the original line-up to boot, what more could you ask for? I am as excited as hell to be seeing them and I am hoping it will go down in history as one of the best gigs I have ever been too.

I'm destined to ride the Priest Beast roller coaster and be obsequious in it's presence, I was on my way. Rest assured, they did not disappoint and I'm sure many an "ass was rocked off" by the end of their Melbourne show... including MINE!

After a seriously frustrating attempt at finding a car park (Rod Laver really do need to look at their parking facilities around their venue) I bolted on down to the arena in divine anticipation of the show that waited me.

Unfortunately after the hour long search for a park, I regrettably missed the two support acts, but I knew who I was there to see and I got there with a tenner to spare. Just enough time to peruse the crowd, take a seat and drag my metal mate Enzo along for the ride.

It often surprises me, and it probably shouldn't any more, that metal music seems to unite generations. No matter where I go, it seems to surpass the generation gap and unite like-minded people from all walks of life.

This gig was no exception.

Those who say that metal is dead need to take a long hard look at themselves and the bounty of fans all over the world! As the long hair, the metal tees, the studs and serious head banging, were prevailant throughout the packed arena. Fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, teenagers, adults, kids, genuine head bangers - all of them - a plethora of metal heads were to be found in the sea of faces and they had all come to worship at the Priest's alter. And worship they did.

When the lights went down, the crowd went ballistic. And they did not stop. Cheers of "Priest" were to be heard throughout the entire set and a sea of hands were ubiquitous amongst them.

They let rip with their first song Dawn Of Creation and unless you had been given a free ticket and were just along for the ride, the crowd jumped from their seats and got right on into it. It was a theatrical experience right from the get go.

Mr. Halford emerged just after the second song, bursting from underneath the drum kit - and there he stood, in a sparkly cloak on a platform looking like a wizard with his staff, screaming into his microphone, yet to take the stage front and centre.

Halford slowly made his way down amongst the other players by the end of the second song and from then on they basically rocked the roof off the joint. I am not going to bore you with a set list, you can find out about that somewhere else, but this experience that has to be written about.

Sure the song Angel was haunting, Death was very dark and macabre in comparison and Hell Bent For Leather were worth waiting for to hear live - but it was the presence of the band that needs to be bowed down to.

Their stage presence is undeniable and inarguably not just a gig but a "performance" in itself. The first cloak outfit was one of five costume changes Halford made throughout the show and the numerous props that went along with it were what made it truly theatrical.

Judas Priest rocked... but were theatrical too

Overall: 80%

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