ANOTHER PLANET PRESENTS
JUDAS PRIEST – 50 HEAVY METAL YEARS
LIVE AT THE FOX THEATER IN OAKLAND, CA ON 3/12/22
Judas Priest restarted their “50 Heavy Metal Years” tour kicked just a week ago and are now bringing the metal to the Fox Theater in Oakland, Ca. This show was originally slated for October 5th of last year but unfortunately lead guitarist Richie Faulkner had an aortic aneurysm while onstage at Louisville’s Louder Than Life Festival on September 26th. He underwent a 10 hour life-saving surgery and it was stated that the adrenaline from being on stage actually helped save his life. Because of this the band took some time off the road for Richie to heal.
Richie Faulkner showing off our issue with him on the cover
Before the show I was able to spend a few minutes talking with Richie and found out that he’s physically doing well, is grateful to be touring once more, and really missed being on the road. It didn’t help that prior to this tour no bands (including Judas Priest) were able to tour because of the Covid-19 shut down.
It’s been three years since the mighty Judas Priest brought the ‘Firepower’ tour to the Bay Area and many fans including myself were looking forward to see them. For several years there has been one song that has been pretty much played right before every show of theirs to let you know they will be hitting the stage. That song is Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. As the song started all the people in the venue sung the lyrics as the lights in the theater dimmed.
A recording of “Battle Hymn” started playing as a giant Judas Priest trident that was hanging stage level from the light rigging started to rise. The band opened the show with “One Shot of Glory”. The band continued the onslaught of metal with “Lightning Strike” and the classic hit “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”.
As I saw the scar coming out of the top of Richie’s vest from his surgery, I was concerned that he would be playing the songs but not able to be his energetic self on stage due to his heart issue. I can say that the Falcon was at the top of his game and put on a fantastic show while nailing all his parts solo wise.
Rob Halford is now 70 years old and can still out sing almost anybody. He truly is the ‘Metal God’. He proves this as he tears through “Freewheel Burning”, “Turbo Lover”, and “Hell Patrol”. There were questions of whether guitarist Andy Sneap was going to be part of this tour but he was onstage earing his street cred with the JP fans.
The show continued with the classic “The Sentinel” from the ‘Defenders of The Faith’ album as well as “Touch of Evil”. Both these songs showcase the strength of founding member/bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis as the band’s rhythm section.
The next song the band played proved why this is the 50 years of metal as the band played the title track of their 1974 debut album “Rocka Rolla”. This tour is the first time the song has become part of the tour set list in 45 years and tonight’s music will span their career.
Judas Priest could not falter and the energy of the band was equal to the energy being given by the fans. So far is has been one Hell of a great evening. Priest played through other great tracks like “Victims of Changes”, Desert Plains”, Blood Red Skies” and the tour debut of “Diamonds & Rust” which had not been played in 20 years. The band plays “Painkiller before exiting the stage.
There are some classic Judas Priest songs the band still hadn’t played so the fans wait for an encore. The wait is not long as the re-enter the stage to perform “Electric Eye”. The Metal God Halford brings out the motorcycle to sit on top of as he belts of fan favorite “Hell Bent For Leather”.
If this isn’t enough of a great show the band still have one big surprise. Rob Halford introduces guitarist Glenn Tipton to come out and play. He looks frail but is such a huge part of the band that even hearing him perform one song would be a treat. Glenn’s Parkinson’s disease is to the point that it took him off the road from playing and Andy Sneap had to step in. We were actually treated to three songs with Glenn on guitar which were “Metal Gods”, Breaking the Law”, and “Living After Midnight”. It is comforting to know that Glenn is still travelling with the Priest and hitting the stage when capable.
We must thank Judas Priest for rescheduling the show and coming back to the Bay Area and to prove why after 50 years as a band, they are still one of the greats!
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