Review: On last world tour, Judas Priest waves goodbye to Utah
November 12th, 2011 Posted in OpinionStory and Photo by Cathy Morgan
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah—The return of one of the world’s best known metal bands, Judas Priest, to Utah struck many fans with awe and a bit of sadness at the Maverik Center.
This triple bill concert, including Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society, was a farewell to the iconic Judas Priest, which was formed in 1969. With lead singer Rob Halford and guitarists Glen Tipton and Ian Hill all well into their 60s, the road has taken its toll, and this is part of its last hoorah, the Epitaph tour.
It may be a farewell, but they didn’t disappoint. With billows of smoke, streaming lasers, bursts of fire and sparklers erupting from his trident, Halford came on stage aboard his famous motorcycle, and played the songs his fans wanted to hear, including “Turbo Lover” and “You Got Another Thing Coming.”
The Salt Lake Tribune’s reviewer says Judas Priest doesn’t have the thunder anymore. But I think he were just shocked by Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde, best known as Ozzy Osbourne’s former lead guitarist. Wylde is known for his long, eight-minute guitar solos and a loud boisterous voice that seems to shake the audience.
But fans may just have been happy that Priest has been able to patch up its differences since they last broke up in 1991. Halford left the band for 12 years, reunited with the band in, went on tour and then created his own record company, Metal God Entertainment. The rumor has it that even though Priest claims this is their last world tour, they may not be done putting on concerts just yet.
There seems to be a fear that once those great metal bands like Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest are no longer on the scene, rock and metal music may die out. But the Maverik Center has just booked Guns n Roses for Dec. 13, along with Black Label Society. So it’s not over yet.
Whether this is Judas Priest’s last tour or not, the band will be remembered as one of the greatest and wildest bands of all time. Fans will never forget the leather jackets or thunderous motorcycles that this band seems to represent, and I don’t think this tour will ever be forgotten.
TP
Tags: farewell tour, Judas Priest
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