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Tag: Judas Priest

  • Alice Cooper And Judas Priest (Dad) Rock The Woodlands – Houston Press

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    Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Corrosion of Conformity
    Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
    October 26, 2025

    Did you know last night’s Alice Cooper/Judas Priest show at The Woodlands was the final date of a tour stretching back into 2024? Me neither. The fact was presented (if at all) without much fanfare. The openers mentioned it, and Priest’s Rob Halford read a data sheet summarizing the excesses of the experience (1,000 pizzas!). But if anyone was pointing out the obvious significance of a couple of septuagenarian rock acts wrapping up another spin around the globe, I must have missed it.

    Cooper and Priest have shared a bill before (1991’s Operation Rock & Roll), and even if their nations of origin and respective flavors of metal don’t completely mesh, they’re not entirely different beasts. Cooper is the founding father of shock rock, while Priest were an integral part of the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Both can be lumped into the “hard rock” category and heard with regularity on radio stations or playlists of that variety. So even if your mind doesn’t immediately put them together, the co-headlining thing doesn’t come out of nowhere.

    Corrosion of Conformity, on the other hand, were last night’s example of “which of these things is not like the other?” Starting out as North Carolina punkers, CoC moved into the thrash lane before settling more comfortably into a sludgier metal sound in the late ’90s/early ’00s. Even so, they were never as radio friendly as Alice or Priest.

    They’re also relative youngsters compared to Cooper (77) and original Priesters Rob Halford (74), guitarist Glenn Tipton (77) and bassist Ian Hill (74).

    Throwin’ the horns will never die. Credit: Jennifer Lake

    It was a fine autumn night at the Pavilion, which doubtless made it more comfortable for both our leather-clad musicians and the “none more black” outfitted audience. Roughly a third of the venue was filled when Corrosion of Conformity lead singer Pepper Keenan’s bellowed, “Tejas!” So began a set of sludgy, heavy shit the assembled masses were only slightly prepared for. 

    CoC came on stage to an abbreviated version of “Bottom Feeder” before launching into a short set highlighted by “King of the Rotten,” “Seven Days,” and “Clean My Wounds.” Keenan briefly cut in to say, “Judas Priest and Alice Cooper … give me a break. Doesn’t get any better than that.”

    The band, including drummer Stanton Moore, epically bearded bassist Bobby Landgraf, and lead guitarist Woody Weatherman (also the sole remaining founding member), have morphed into something reminiscent of early Sabbath/late Black Pyramid. They were having a blast and as they left, Keenan said he hoped they made some new friends. I think it’s safe to say they did. 

    There’s not a lot left to say about Judas Priest, icons of the NWOBHM (yes, it has it’s own acronym). The core unit of Halford, Tipton, and Hill were joined by guitarist Richie Faulkner (replacing K.K. Downing) and drummer Scott Travis (replacing…well, the less said about him the better). Both Faulkner and Travis have been with the band for years, so the show is a comfortable one, relying heavily on decades-old hits.

    Halford stalked the Pavilion stage, ducking out between every other song to don yet another in a series of more elaborate jackets — and props to the guys for continuing to rock that leather look well into their Grandpa Era — before finally bringing out the trusty motorcycle for show closers “Hell Bent For Leather” and “Living After Midnight.”

    More like “livin’ after early suppertime.” Credit: Jennifer Lake

    The band was backstopped by scenes depicting — among other things — industrial filth (“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” ), snake handlers (“Touch of Evil”), and a surprisingly Christmas-y Invincible Shield sigil (“Gates of Hell”). The only constant being a blasted cityscape that looked like it was ripped from Kiss’ Destroyer album. 

    Having never seen Priest live (shun the heretic), it was great to hear the classics, along with some surprisingly strong new cuts, including “Giants in the Sky,” which received some of the biggest roars of the night, thanks to memorial reel featuring — among others — Ace Frehley, Lemmy, and Ozzy. Last night may have been the last night of the tour; and you’d be forgiven for thinking Rob and the boys might hang it up, but as they assembled for their farewell bow; the screen behind them promised “The Priest Will Be Back.”

    Alice Cooper, on the other hand, never left. After a 30-minute intermission, the former Vincent Furnier took the stage. Cooper’s shtick has been pretty much unchanged since the ‘70s. And unlike Judas Priest, he doesn’t even bother to sprinkle new songs into his act. The latest album to make an appearance last night was 2005’s Dirty Diamonds.

    But most attendees at a so-called “classic rock” show aren’t there for surprises. And in that sense, at least, Cooper delivered. And if Halford is still (almost) fully in command of his vocal capabilities, Cooper tends more toward the Vince Neil approach. But then, his voice was never the attraction. “Fortunately,” most of the old familiar props made an appearance, like the big skull belt buckle, the 10-foot “modern Prometheus” during the ode to Cooper’s boner, “Feed My Frankenstein.” He also ran a paparazzo through with a mic stand during “Hey Stoopid.” This all in addition to the top hat, occasional cloak, and creepy backdrops.

    Cooper’s band does a lot of the heavy lifting, and he frequently threw it to journeyman bassist Chuck Garric (who has a kind of taller Danzig thing going), guitarist Ryan Roxie, and guitarist Nita Strauss who gets her own dedicated solo and some of the night’s biggest cheers. It’s not difficult to see why.

    Cooper’s no idiot. Credit: Jennifer Lake

    It’s been a running gag for many years now about aging rockers still singing about teenagers (looking at you, Depeche Mode). At least Cooper gets the joke, bringing out a crutch (albeit a “spooky” one) for “I’m Eighteen” (fun fact: Cooper was 22 when he wrote that). He also produced some maracas for “Muscle of Love.” Spooky maracas.

    Perhaps the least surprising of the night’s developments was the fan exodus during the second half of Cooper’s set, though I don’t think he can really be blamed for that. Putting relatively obscure cuts like “Brutal Planet,” “Ballad of Dwight Fry,” and “Cold Ethyl” in the back half of your set isn’t going to keep hold of Houston’s notoriously mercurial audiences.

    As I’ve hinted, it’s hard not to ascribe some sense of finality to last night’s proceedings, but consider: both Priest and Alice are veteran, incessant touring machines. The former has slowed down somewhat, and Cooper never embarked on a “farewell tour,” like JP did in 2012. If I had to put money on it, I’d say we’ll be seeing both Judas Priest and Alice Cooper again.

    If *we’re* still alive, that is.

    School’s been out for a long time, dude. Credit: Jennifer Lake

    Personal Bias: I remember picking my kids up at day care while “Painkiller” was playing on my car stereo. One asked who I was listening to. I said, “Judas Priest.” They said, “She sounds mean.”

    The Crowd: Who let all these grandpas out of the assisted living center?

    Overheard In The Crowd: “I’m allergic to alcohol. Whenever I drink, I end up in handcuffs.”

    JUDAS PRIEST SET LIST
    All Guns Blazing
    Hell Patrol
    You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
    Freewheel Burning
    Breaking the Law
    A Touch of Evil
    Night Crawler
    Solar Angels
    Gates of Hell
    Electric Eye
    Giants in the Sky
    Painkiller
    Hell Bent for Leather
    Living After Midnight

    ALICE COOPER SET LIST
    Who Do You Think We Are
    No More Mr. Nice Guy
    House of Fire
    I’m Eighteen
    Muscle of Love
    Feed My Frankenstein
    Dirty Diamonds
    Caught in a Dream
    Hey Stoopid
    Dangerous Tonight
    Poison
    Brutal Planet
    Ballad of Dwight Fry
    Cold Ethyl
    Only Women Bleed
    Second Coming
    Going Home
    School’s Out

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Pete Vonder Haar

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  • This Day in Rock History: October 25

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    On this day in rock history, The Rolling Stones appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and Led Zeppelin performed for the first time under their legendary name. These are just some of the major rock-related events that happened on Oct. 25 over the years.

    Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

    Two of the biggest names in rock celebrated major career milestones on this day:

    • 1964: The Rolling Stones made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show shortly after arriving in New York City to start their second North American tour. They performed “Around And Around” and “Time Is On My Side,” taking a major step toward establishing themselves in the United States.
    • 1968: Led Zeppelin performed for the first time under this name at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England. This concert followed their Scandinavian tour the previous month, where they played as “The New Yardbirds.” The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon, is said to have inspired the name Led Zeppelin, reportedly commenting that the group would go down like a lead balloon.

    Cultural Milestones

    While the music is obviously the main attraction, rock’s stories and characters are almost as interesting. Significant rock events on Oct. 25 included:

    • 1944: Yes co-founder, singer, and songwriter, Jon Anderson, was born in Accrington, Lancashire, England. He formed the band in 1968 and created a unique style that blended multiple genres, including rock, blues, pop, and jazz.
    • 1947: Glenn Tipton, lead guitarist for Judas Priest, was born in Blackheath, England. He joined the band in 1974 and is the second-longest serving member after bass player Ian Hill.

    Notable Recordings and Performances

    Oct. 25 witnessed some electric performances throughout the years, as well as the founding of one of the biggest and most influential heavy metal festivals in history:

    • 1996: The inaugural Ozzfest took place at the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix, Arizona. The event, founded by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, was a success and launched the annual festival, which ran almost every year until 2018.
    • 2009: U2 played in front of 97,014 people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, as part of the band’s U2 360 Tour, which set a record for a US performance attendance for a single headline act. The show was live-streamed over the internet and was later released via Blu-ray and DVD.

    From The Stones introducing themselves to the American public to Ozzy and his wife Sharon creating one of the biggest metal festivals ever, plenty of things happened on Oct. 25 in the rock world. Visit us again to discover more important events in rock music history.

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    Dan Teodorescu

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  • Houston Concert Watch 10/22: Alice Cooper, The Mars Volta and More – Houston Press

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    I have never been one to dwell on death.  While it is a fundamental part of life, it is also generally a stone drag.  But I must address the passing of Ace Frehley, one of the founding members of Kiss who inspired tens of thousands of kids to pick up a guitar during the ‘70s.  These are now the same middle-aged guys you see in Guitar Center on Saturday trying out an instrument, playing too loud, and looking around to see if they impressed anyone with their rendition of “Smoke on the Water.”

    Over the years, many people expected that Frehley might die of a drug overdose or some similar fate, due to his wild lifestyle and the fact that, for many years, he was in nonstop party mode.  No, the Space Man (who discarded his harmful habits years ago) died as the result of a head injury caused by a fall in his home studio.  It is my fervent hope that, when he fell, he had just recorded a blazing solo.

    The original Kiss lineup was split into two factions.  Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were the “straight” guys, definitely horndogs but eschewing (to quote Keith Richards) “booze and pills and powders.”  Frehley and Peter Criss, on the other hand, made up for their bandmates’ sobriety in spades. 

    This division was unwittingly put under a microscope when the band appeared on Tom Snyder’s Tomorrow show on Halloween in 1979.  Frehley and Criss were ripped and having a great time, while Simmons and Stanley glowered.  Frehley in particular hit it off with Snyder.  When asked to explain his outlandish outfit, he said, “Actually, I’m a plumber!”  To which Snyder, who was by then getting into the spirit of things, replied, “Listen, I’ve got a little piece of pipe backstage that I’d like you to work on.”  You can see the video here, with the previous exchange beginning at the 11:53 mark.

    Frehley was always completely genuine, a hardcore rocker through and through.  When he plugged his Les Paul into a dimed Marshall amp, you could hear not only his influences – Zeppelin, Hendrix and Clapton – but also his own sometimes quirky but always blazing inimitable style.  Rest easy, Ace.  Thanks for never letting us down.

    Ticket Alert

    Tickets are still available for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s show on Friday, November 7, at the 713 Music Hall.  Ditto for funk-father George Clinton at the House of Blues on Friday, November 28.  Clinton’s show is scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving, so, if the family is still sitting around in a turkey / tryptophan coma, you can say, “Well, Granny, I have to go. Got to do some serious funkin’,” as you walk out the door.

    Gary P. Nunn will always hold a special place in the heart of Texans, as he is the man who wrote “London Homesick Blues,” aka “I Wanna Go Home with the Armadillo.”  The progressive country legend will be at the Heights Theater on Wednesday, December 10, with a show billed as the “2025 Birthday Bash.”  Nunn was born on December 4 – in Oklahoma! – but don’t tell anyone that last part.  Tickets are on sale now.

    Now that all of the classic rockers are of a certain age, many of their offspring have forged their own careers in the music business.  For instance, there’s The Sons of Cream.  The band includes Kofi Baker (son of Cream drummer Ginger Baker) on drums, Malcom Bruce (son of Cream bassist Jack Bruce) on bass, and Rob Johnson (nephew of Ginger Baker) on guitar.  Their mission is simple: play songs recorded by Cream faithfully but with their own interpretative twists thrown in to keep things interesting.  As a bonus, the band also plays some Blind Faith (a band which included Ginger Baker and Cream guitarist Eric Clapton) material too.  Tickets are on sale now for the Sons’ show at the Heights Theater on Sunday, February 15.

    Concerts This Week

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    Texas music fans have long been familiar with guitarists Ian Moore, Jesse Dayton and Johnny Moeller, so there was great anticipation and excitement when it was announced that the three string slingers had formed a new group, the Texas Headhunters.  You can read more about the group’s gestation here in this week’s Houston Press interview with Moeller.  The guys will be spanking the plank on Friday at the Heights Theater.

    YouTube video

    The only member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ original lineup still in the group is vocalist / harmonicist Kim Wilson.  But that doesn’t mean it is any less of a band.  After a Grammy nomination last year, the T-Birds are on tour with a show that pays particular attention to the Chicago blues which inspired Wilson as a young musician.  The Fabulous Thunderbirds will play Main Street Crossing on both Saturday and Sunday, so take your pick.

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    Why would someone want to go see Alice Cooper and Judas Priest?  Why? Why the hell not?  A few months ago, the pioneering shock rocker released an album recorded with the original Alice Cooper band (yes, at one point, “Alice Cooper” was the name of the band, not the lead singer) to positive reviews, which must have put some pep in his step and glide in his stride.  Ol’ Black Eyes is back!  Also crushing it in old age is Judas Priest, led by Rob Halford, the Metal God.  What a double bill.  Catch it on Sunday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

    YouTube video

    For hip-hop fans, Toyota Center is the place to be this week.  NBA (Never Broke Again) YoungBoy rolls in on Tuesday with the “Masa” tour and a bill that includes Offset, NoCap, DeeBaby, Mellow Rackz, Baby Mel, Lil Dump and k3.  If you plan on attending the show, bear in mind that there are street closures due to construction around Toyota Center, so head there early and plan accordingly.

    YouTube video

    Rising from the ashes of At the Drive In during the early noughts, The Mars Volta (please include the definite article) is a musical collective which coalesces around guitarist / guiding light Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist / lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala.   How to describe the band?  Well, Rodríguez-López has been quoted as saying, “”Progressive is not a dirty word for people to use about us.”  Ok, then, let’s go with prog rock, thought the Volta frequently flashes its psychedelic influences.  Get trippy on Tuesday at the 713 Music Hall.

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Tom Richards

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  • Alice Cooper Set to Make Second Album With Original Band After Chart Success

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    Alice Cooper may record with his first bandmates after releasing The Revenge of Alice Cooper in July. Cooper shared the news while on tour. The group’s last album before this was Muscle of Love, which dropped in 1973. The Revenge of Alice Cooper hit Billboard’s charts in the top 10, reaching No. 6 on the Vinyl Albums chart. 

    While on the Too Close For Comfort tour with Judas Priest and Corrosion of Conformity, Cooper said, “I think we’ll probably do another album. I can’t see why we wouldn’t. This one did so well, we might as well do another one,” according to VICE. The project would unite Cooper with pianist and vocalist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, and drummer Neal Smith. They’ll add computer-made parts from the late guitar player, Glen Buxton. Bob Ezrin could step in as producer, but the plans aren’t final. 

    While on tour, Cooper mixes old hits like “Spark in the Dark” with “House of Fire,” “Dirty Diamonds,” “Poison,” “I’m Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” “Who Do You Think We Are,” and “Dangerous Tonight.” The shows will keep going until October 26, with a final stop in Houston.

    Cooper maintains a friendly relationship with Judas Priest, and he hosted a British high tea for them in their dressing room. His band also performed Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne after his death. 

    They’ll also play Cooper’s Christmas Pudding show on November 15 in Phoenix. The money helps the Solid Rock Foundation’s teen centers. After that, they’ll perform in Germany in December and continue touring Europe in January.  

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    Laura Adkins

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  • Judas Priest gives ‘Painkiller’-filled show at Pine Knob, plus tribute to Ozzy Osbourne – Detroit Metro Times

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    Heavy metal gods Judas Priest stopped at Pine Knob Music Theater Thursday on their co-headling tour with Alice Cooper. While Cooper closed the show, Priest was the highlight, with a set full of leather and speed.

    It’s probably a given that Priest will play “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” “Hell Bent for Leather,” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’.” These are the popular “radio-friendly” tracks that longtime bassist Ian Hill said, in our 2022 interview, helped bring heavy metal to a wider audience who may not have paid attention to it before.

    When I spoke with Hill in 2022 and told him my favorite Priest song was Sin After Sin’s harrowing “Raw Deal”, he seemed surprised and then chuckled lightly. That should have been a sign that I was born much too late to ever hear that song live. They haven’t played it since 1977, but a girl can dream.

    On the way in, a man waving a massive MAGA flag with a Charlie Kirk sign stood on the corner of Bob Seger Drive, leading into Pine Knob. It has always been strange to me when extremists and bigots are also Judas Priest fans, as if Rob Halford is not a gay leather daddy. “Raw Deal” is about cruising in a gay bar and was a coming out of sorts for Halford. In his autobiography, Confess, he mentions that many Priest lyrics are veiled ways of him talking about cocks (hot rods are not just motorcycles, y’all). 

    Alice Cooper and Judas Priest perform at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Thursday, October. 2. Credit: Randiah Camille Green

    Back inside the venue, Halford reminded us that heavy metal is for everyone. It’s about “heavy metal brothers and sisters coming together to celebrate rock ’n’ roll,” he said.

    The night was filled with tracks from Painkiller — five out of the 14-song set were from the speed-fueled 1990 album. Beyond the title track, there were songs I wasn’t expecting to hear like “Night Crawler,” “A Touch of Evil,” and “All Guns Blazing.” Priest also played a deep cut from Point of Entry, “Solar Angels,” which hasn’t been part of their setlist since 2005. 

    Down in the seated area, half of the audience seemed either bored, underwhelmed, or they just didn’t know the songs. Maybe it’s that the crowd down there was a bit older, and the young headbangers are on the lawn. 

    Alice Cooper and Judas Priest perform at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Thursday, October. 2. Credit: Randiah Camille Green

    Halford dedicated “Giants in the Sky,” from their 2024 effort Invincible Shield, to heavy metal and rock musicians who have passed away. A banner with Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy, Jill Janus, Neil Peart, Randy Rhoads, Freddie Mercury, Chris Cornell, and others was displayed behind the band during the song. It felt incomplete without Ozzy Osbourne, but the Prince of Darkness got a solo tribute with just his photo near the end of the song.

    Alice Cooper and Judas Priest perform at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Thursday, October. 2. Credit: Randiah Camille Green

    The set closed with “Painkiller,” followed by encores of “Hell Bent for Leather” and “Living After Midnight,” played well before midnight, just before 9 p.m. As expected, Halford rode in on a motorcycle for “Hell Bent For Leather,” further proving why he will forever be the metal god. It felt like a travesty to end the night without hearing “Victim of Changes,” but at least I have memories of them playing it in 2014 at the Fox Theatre.

    Alice Cooper and Judas Priest perform at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Thursday, October. 2. Credit: Randiah Camille Green

    I thought the crowd was waiting for “Painkiller” to lose their shit (like me), but it turns out they were waiting for Alice Cooper. The entire ground floor came to life when Cooper emerged from a giant tome. I’m not a Cooper fan, but an energetic and lightning fast Nita Strauss on guitar was amazing to watch.

    Alice Cooper and Judas Priest perform at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Thursday, October. 2. Credit: Randiah Camille Green

    With my “Painkiller” adrenaline waning, I left about halfway through Cooper’s set during “Hey Stoopid.” Turning off Bob Seger Drive, I caught a glimpse of MAGA man, still posted at the corner, but more interested in his phone than waving his obnoxious flag. I guess he got bored too.

    The co-headling tour will continue on to Cincinnati and wrap up in Houston on October 26 with support from Corrosion of Conformity.


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    Randiah Camille Green

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  • Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest Join Forces on Charity ‘War Pigs’ to Fight Parkinson’s

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    A new version of “War Pigs” hit streaming platforms on September 26. The track brings together metal giants Judas Priest with Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne in a special duet. The release will support Parkinson’s disease research through sales in the UK. Judas Priest released a cover of “War Pigs” in July, and this new version continues their homage to Ozzy.

    Rob Halford and Ozzy trade verses in this fresh take on the Black Sabbath classic. The recording took place just months before Ozzy’s death in July. Each UK stream, download, and physical sale splits funds between The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s.

    “So you get Ozzy singing a line, and then I’m singing a line and Ozzy’s singing a line and I’m singing a line, and it’s the first-ever time in my entire life that I’ve been able to do a duet with Ozzy,” said Halford, according to Louder Sound.

    The project started when Sharon Osbourne contacted Halford about adding Ozzy’s voice to Priest’s existing cover. Priest first put out their take on July 2. The band meant it as a nod to Sabbath when they couldn’t make the final Back To The Beginning show on July 5. A prior booking with Scorpions in Germany kept them away.

    “That last performance Ozzy gave was extraordinary — like him saying, ‘Thanks for everything, I’m leaving soon,’ though none of us knew it at the time,” Halford recalled to News 4 San Antonio. On July 23, in Scarborough, the band highlighted Ozzy’s lasting impact with visual tributes.

    Both bands share a deep link to the cause. Doctors found Ozzy had Parkinson’s in 2003, and Priest’s Glenn Tipton got the same news in 2008. While Tipton stepped back from full tours in 2018, he still joins shows for special moments. Fans can find “War Pigs” on major music apps now. Physical copies are also coming soon. 

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    Laura Adkins

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  • Houston Concert Watch 8/28: Charley Crockett, Squeeze and More

    Houston Concert Watch 8/28: Charley Crockett, Squeeze and More

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    Ah, the bliss of youthful ignorance, a totally misplaced sense of confidence and an unswerving conviction that “it will be fine.” This thought crossed my mind when I read about an amusement park ride at Six Flags Mexico that ceased operation for ten minutes during a storm this past weekend, leaving stranded passenger hanging about 250 feet in the air. For the record, the name of the ride is “The Sky Screamer.” I’ll bet!

    I’m pretty sure that none of the kids on the ride worried for an instant about such an incident prior to boarding the ride. When it comes to rides, kids don’t think twice before jumping on the Nausea Whirl in a shopping center parking lot, unconcerned by the fact that the ride was assembled by a bunch of toothless carny tweakers just hours before. But I was one of those kids in the early days of Astroworld. The only thing I ever really worried about was some yahoo next to me in the Barrel of Fun throwing up and, thanks to centrifugal force, having the effluvia hit me in the face. For more cheap thrills, please see below.

    Ticket Alert


    The Rev. Horton Heat, a true Texas treasure, will play at Main Street Crossing on Wednesday, January 8. Tickets are on sale now, so snag them quickly if you are looking for a serious psychobilly fix.

    Iconic metal band Judas Priest will be on tour this fall, performing in support of its latest album, Invincible Shield. Incredible as it seems, lead vocalist Rob Halford (“The Metal God”) can still hit all of the high notes, or at least most of them. The Houston show is on Tuesday, October 22, at the Smart Financial Centre, and good seats are still available.

    Concerts This Week

    It has been said that most rock stars would like to be actors (e.g. Mick Jagger in Freejack) and most actors would like to be rock stars (e.g. Corey Feldman opening for Limp Bizkit on the band’s current tour). Add to the latter category Jared Leto, who will perform with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars on Thursday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

    To be fair, Leto and his crew have been at it for over 20 years, releasing their debut album, produced by industry legend Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd), in 2001. Considering that Leto’s mega-bummer film Requiem for a Dream was released just before work on the album began, it makes sense that Leto would have been looking for a rock and roll distraction at that point.

    The early ‘80s music scene will be represented on Thursday at the 713 Music Hall by beloved British band Squeeze (“Tempted,” “Black Coffee in Bed’) and Boy George, formerly of Culture Club (“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Karma Chameleon”). Both acts were leaders of the new wave movement and seen often in the early days of MTV, so the billing makes sense. Squeeze and Boy George are alternating opening and closing the evening on this tour, so if you have a particular favorite of the two, get there early and don’t miss out.

    America doesn’t usually get mentioned in the first breath when “bands of the ‘70s” are discussed, but that isn’t necessarily fair. Sure, the group’s first single, “Horse with No Name,” was viewed by some as a crass Neil Young rip off. Even Young’s father thought that America was Neil and called to complement his son when he heard the song on the radio.

    Nevertheless, a hit-filled career followed, helped in no small part by the fact that Beatles producer George Martin was behind the board for singles like “Tin Man,” “Sister Golden Hair” and “Lonely People.” America will perform at the Smart Financial Centre on Sunday, with Al Stewart (“Year of the Cat”) opening. Gotta love a guy like Stewart, who name checks Peter Lorre in a pop song.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC81z_tZ-E8
    Charley Crockett could be viewed as a savior of country music. These days, few artists are able to capture the sound and the heart of classic country better than Crockett. For an example, check out the performance of the title track from his latest album, $10 Cowboy. But Crockett is more than a latter-day Ernest Tubb. He’s one hell of a bluesman, making him a favorite of those who dig a rootsy sound. Crockett performs on Tuesday at the 713 Music Hall.

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    Tom Richards

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  • Judas Priest’s Rob Halford talks ‘Invincible Shield’, Dolly Parton, acceptance in metal community – National | Globalnews.ca

    Judas Priest’s Rob Halford talks ‘Invincible Shield’, Dolly Parton, acceptance in metal community – National | Globalnews.ca

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    It’s been six years since Judas Priest released their last album, but on Friday the British Heavy Metal pioneers returned with their 19th studio effort, Invincible Shield.

    Since 2018’s Firepower, the Breaking the Law hitmakers have had a rollercoaster journey. COVID-19 wasn’t the only obstacle that put a wrench in their touring plans. Lead singer Rob Halford battled prostate cancer throughout a portion of the global pandemic before getting the all-clear in early 2021.

    Not long after they were back on the road, co-lead guitarist Richie Faulkner suffered a near-fatal acute aortic aneurysm onstage during a performance at Louisville’s Louder than Life festival in September 2021.

    The 43-year-old was midway through the band’s last song of the night — Painkiller, ironically — when it happened. Faulkner powered through and finished the song and was rushed to a hospital where surgeons performed a life-saving surgery.

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    Faulkner stayed on the mend until rejoining Priest on the road in March 2022, shortly before they were set to embark on their mammoth 50th anniversary tour.


    Rob Halford (R) and Richie Faulkner (L) of heavy metal band Judas Priest perform at the Heaven and Hell Metal Fest, in Toluca, Mexico, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

    AP Photo / Alejandro Godinez

    During the trek, the leather-clad quintet stopped in Los Angeles for the band’s long-awaited induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — where Priest welcomed back estranged band members guitarist K.K. Downing and drummer Les Binks to make speeches, before a rocking medley performance.

    Additionally, Halford performed Jolene with the Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton — a personal favourite icon of his — before going on to record the song Bygones with her for her acclaimed 2023 Rockstar album.

    Speaking with Global News, Halford expressed his gratefulness: “I can’t thank her enough, not only for giving me the opportunity, but for giving the metal community the opportunity, because I know who I am, I know what I represent. I’m a singer in this British heavy metal band.”

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    Inductees Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, from left, Dolly Parton and Rob Halford of Judas Priest perform during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

    AP Photo / Chris Pizzello

    By the way, we’re not yet done with the challenges.

    Throughout these successes and close health calls, co-lead guitarist Glenn Tipton had been fighting Parkinson’s disease since 2008 — a battle he made public only weeks before Firepower was unleashed to the world.


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    The culmination of emotions endured by Halford, Tipton and Faulkner — Priest’s core songwriters — in that time resulted in one of the band’s most ferocious and introspective records to date.

    Between lead singles Panic Attack and Trial By Fire, power ballad Crown of Horns and the touching, tributary closing track Giants in the Sky — which pays homage to fallen metal legends Ronnie James Dio and Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister — fans are treated with some of Halford’s deepest lyrics to date. The vulnerable nature of these compositions, however, doesn’t take away from the “heavy” aspects that heavy metal fans should expect. Throughout this record, all five band members are firing on all cylinders and perform with conviction that hasn’t been heard since 1990’s Painkiller. Though we are met with sonic twists and turns that harken back to records of Priest’s “golden era,” the overall diversity contained within Invincible Shield’s progressively shines brighter as each track ends and the next begins — serving as a reminder that Priest never does exactly the same thing twice and is a force to be reckoned with, still, after all these years.

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    The title, Invincible Shield not only represents the victories and hardships of the collective band, but those of their fans, too, according to Halford.

    The 72-year-old “Metal God” emphasized the importance of writing music that will connect with Priest fans — or “heavy metal maniacs” — and being able to show them that they’re not alone in whatever troubles they face.

    For decades, Halford has been an advocate for acceptance and empowerment of those within not just the heavy metal community, but for folks from all walks of life.

    The Living After Midnight singer recounted the loneliness he felt for the first 25 years of being a part of Judas Priest and feeling like he had to hide his sexuality as a prominent figure in the music community at a time where it was not as well-received.

    It wasn’t until he publicly came out during an MTV broadcast in 1998 that he felt truly like himself.

    “Tolerance and inclusivity is something that that I won’t stop talking about. This whole business of being embraced and feeling not alone and feeling (like) part of a group of people that are all feeling the same way is really special and unique to the metal world.”


    Metal fans celebrate the performance of the British heavy metal band “Judas Priest” at WOA – Wacken Open Air in wacken, Germany, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022.

    Frank Molter / dpa via AP

    And though Halford has faced prejudice along the way, Halford has paved the way for multiple generations of metalheads and LGBTQ2 members and says that the collective idea of embracing each other’s differences has improved significantly since his career began.

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    Prior to unleashing the pummelling Invincible Shield, Priest shared four of the 11 tracks as singles, offering a mere taste to their loyal followers.

    He made clear that while Tipton’s battle with Parkinson’s has slowly deteriorated his stamina, his compositions are still very much present. And where Tipton was not able to record a phrase or solo to his best ability, Faulkner stepped in and replicated it as accurately to his bandmate’s style as possible.

    Glowing at the incredible reception they have received, Halford couldn’t contain his excitement for fans to hear the rest of it, adding an eagerness to get back out on the road.

    Taking Tipton’s place on the road once again will be touring guitarist Andy Sneap, who also produced Invincible Shield — his second time producing for Priest. Fortunately for some fans, Tipton has previously made a handful of appearances on the road for the band’s encore.

    Though Priest have yet to announce Canadian tour dates, Halford has shared fond memories of travelling the country via tour bus from coast-to-coast, and is promising the band will return in the near future.

    “I’ve driven the entire breadth of Canada, and it’s the most glorious thing. I feel very, very lucky that I’ve been able to. It’s just a beautiful country,” Halford said, adding, “We will be coming back.”

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    Judas Priest will begin the first leg of the Invincible Shield world tour in Glasgow, Scotland on March 11, making their way through the U.K., U.S. and several European countries until July.

    As well as select tracks from the 53-minute spanning mammoth that is Invincible Shield, Halford promises diehard fans a healthy dose of the classics, as well as “two or three” deep cuts.

    You can watch a condensed version of our interview with Rob Halford above.


    Judas Priest, the band, with an image if their 19th studio album ‘Invincible Shield’ (2024).

    Kyarah Boon (UK International Group)

    ‘Invincible Shield’ is now available worldwide at judaspriestinvincibleshield.com.

    2024 ‘Invincible Shield’ world tour dates

    March 11 – Glasgow, Scotland
    March 13 – Leeds, England
    March 15 – Dublin, Ireland
    March 17 – Bournemouth, England
    March 19 – Birmingham, England
    March 21 – London, England
    March 24 – Frankfurt, Germany
    March 25 – Munich, Germany
    March 27 – Dortmund, Germany
    March 29 – Prague, Czech Republic
    March 30 – Krakow, Poland
    April 1 – Vienna, Austria
    April 3 – Basel, Switzerland
    April 5 – Lyon, France
    April 6 – Assago, Italy
    April 8 – Paris, France
    April 18 – Wallingford, Conn.
    April 19 – Newark, N.J.
    April 21 – Reading, Penn.
    April 24 – Bangor, Maine
    April 25 – Boston, Mass.
    April 27 – Youngstown, Ohio
    April 28 – Indianapolis, Ind.
    May 1 – Rosemont, Ill.
    May 2 – Minneapolis, Minn.
    May 4 – Kalamazoo, Mich.
    May 05 – Maryland Heights, Mo.
    May 07 – Huntsville, Ala.
    May 09 – Daytona, Fla.
    May 11 – Alpharetta, Ga.
    May 12 – Mobile, Ala.
    May 14 – Charlotte, N.C.
    May 17 – Evansville, Ind.
    May 19 – Washington, D.C.
    May 21 – Albany, N.Y.
    May 22 – Syracuse, N.Y.

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    Adam Wallis

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