After 34 years, two legendary rock bands have reunited this Fall to share the same stage: Judas Priest and Alice Cooper. The last time the two toured together was in 1991, as part of the Operation Rock N’ Roll Tour.
A packed Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio witnessed the iconic artists in all their glory with their ability to still impress thousands with their superior musicianship.
Though they may be older (Alice Cooper now 77 and Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford now 74), their live performance remains polished with vitality.
Throughout the double headliner tour, the two are switching places at each city stop; Saturday, Oct. 4 kicked off with Alice Cooper, followed by Judas Priest, who closed the night.
Surrounded by smoke and arising from his attic, The Godfather Of Shock Rock balanced traditional theatrics with his sturdy trademark gravely vocal performance, all backed by a stand-out five-member band that possess remarkable endurance—including returning guitarist Nita Strauss, who awed the audience with her impressive axe solo halfway through the set.
Strauss temporarily toured as part of Demi Lovato’s live band in 2022. She also tours as part of guitar clinics, and, as a solo musician, she has released two albums.
A fantastic non-stop, no banter 21-song stage performance, which featured: “School’s Out,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Feed My Frankenstein,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Ballad Of Dwight Fry,” “Poison.”
Throughout the 75-minute set, Ol’ Black Eyes changed his wardrobe many times and added props to different songs with onstage characters—sword, straight jacket, top hats, knife, cane, crutches, and a guillotine among other theatrics; the set concluded with streamers flying in the air.
Rob Halford & Co. (including original bassist Ian Hill, longtime drummer Scott Travis, and guitarist Andy Sneap) entered the stage with vengeance, starting the set with “All Guns Blazing” from 1990’s Painkiller album.
The talent of each musician shined, especially guitarist Ritchie Faulkner, with whom Halford often joined to rock out with on stage while he waved metal horns, sporting his black leather gloves.
The Metal God still reached his reverberating signature high octave wails throughout the set, even sustaining notes; hunched over, giving it his all, delivering with full force.
Having just released their 19th album Invincible Shield last year, Priest performed “Giants In The Sky” and “Gates Of Hell;” however, classics were not left out, fans were treated to: “Breaking The Law,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” “Night Crawler,” “Living After Midnight,” “Painkiller,” and “Hell Bent For Leather,” during which Halford rode onto stage with his Harley low-rider as part of the encore.
Nobody went home disappointed as this pairing brought their best—true icons and rock-and-roll legends in the music industry, continuing to do what they love since the early ‘70s.
Rock vets Corrosion Of Conformity opened the night with thick sludge and metal to warm up the crowd.
The band—comprised of founder and original guitarist Woody Weatherman (since 1982), longtime vocalist Pepper Keenan (Down guitarist), returning drummer Stanton Moore and new bassist Bobby Landgraf—performed seven crowd pleasing songs with onstage comradery and serious-faced relentless energy and vigor.
The 22-city tour concludes Oct. 26.
Tour Dates
JUDAS PRIEST (click to enlarge)
ALICE COOPER (click to enlarge)
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY (click to enlarge)
Comments
Post a Comment