Friday 22 March 2024.

Thursday 21 March 2024. An excellent triple bill of classic rock bands. ​JUDAS PRIEST live at Wembley Arena. with special guests SAXON and URIAH HEEP. This is the last date on their six date UK tour. Judas Priest new album ' Invincible Shield ' is out for the tour. The metal icons’ 19th album entered the UK charts at Number 2. It was only kept off the top spot by Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine. Previously, Priest‘s best UK chart showing was with 1980’s British Steel, which reached No.4. The band’s last album, 2018’s Firepower, reached No.5. I have seen all three bands many times since the 1970s. I have seen Judas Priest around 20 times , with the first time in 1977 at The New Victoria Theatre , and including when they supported KISS in Chicago Sept 1979 I have seen Saxon around 25 times , with the first time in 1979 when they supported Motorhead at Hammersmith Odeon. I have seen Uriah Heep around a dozen times , with the first time in 1974 when they headlined Hammersmith Odeon. I got Mick Box guitar pick that night, which was the first ever guitar pick I got from a well known musician. --------------------- It is not sold out tonight, but pretty much 90% full. We have great seats , right of stage in Block N6. The Who long time manager BILL CURBISHLEY is sitting in the row in front of us. Now aged 82, he is a music biz legend. Curbishley started his career in the music business in 1971 at Track Records, managing tours for The Who and other artists such as Thunderclap Newman, Golden Earring and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.Curbishley produced The Who's film Tommy, the prison movie McVicar and also the film Buddy's Song, all starring The Who's Roger Daltrey. As their manager he persuaded Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to team up together for their mid 1990s tour. He also managed Judas Priest at one stage of their career. URIAH HEEP arrived on stage at 6.40pm for their 35 mins set. Original member Mick Box on guitar is still there at age 76. A short set , which included their best songs at the end. Full URIAH HEEP setlist played tonight... Save Me Tonight Grazed by Heaven Rainbow Demon Hurricane Free 'n' Easy Gypsy Easy Livin' SAXON arrived on stage at 7.40pm for their 65 mins set. Saxon played a great set mixing a few new album tracks with the big anthems , although a shorter set than normal meant a few biggies not played. ' 747 (Strangers in tge Night)', 'Wheels of Steel' and ' Princess of the Night' were mega. Oddly singer Biff said this was the first time they had played here, as in 1980 they were due to support Rainbow here but a moody Richie Blackmore told his team to turn them away. That night Richie had a fight with his own band , which resulted in no encore and the crowd caused £10k worth of damage. Full SAXON setlist played tonight... Hell, Fire and Damnation Motorcycle Man Sacrifice There's Something in Roswell And the Bands Played On Power and the Glory Madame Guillotine Heavy Metal Thunder Dallas 1 PM (Crowd choice over Crusader and Strong Arm Of The Law) 747 (Strangers in the Night) Denim & Leather Wheels of Steel Princess of the Night JUDAS PRIEST arrived on stage at 9.20pm for their 95 mins. All three bands have loads of lights, but only Judas Priest as the headliners have the full monty stage production with use of the big screen mixing live footage and pre-recorder footage. Rob Halford is now aged 72, but can still hit those high note screams , as he parades around the stage looking like Grandad from Only Fools and Horses due to his long grey beard. He wears a succession of long coats throughout the set. A few new album tracks and lots of Priest classic anthems. You can see the show is performed to perfection each night. Great to see ex guitarist Glenn Tipton’s come on for the last two songs only after his Parkinson’s diagnosis and subsequent retirement. The show was a visual and aural treat . A great evening of three classic rock bands. Full JUDAS PRIEST setlist played tonight... Panic Attack You've Got Another Thing Comin' Breaking the Law Rapid Fire Sword of Damocles Love Bites Saints in Hell Crown of Horns Turbo Lover Invincible Shield Sinner The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover) Painkiller Encore: The Hellion Electric Eye Hell Bent for Leather (Rob arrives on his motorbike) Metal Gods ( with Glenn Tipton) Living After Midnight ( with Glenn Tipton)

Posted 22nd March 2024