KK’s Steel Mill – 03/11/19
I arrived at the Steel Mill Sunday night and it was absolutely packed. The VIP meet and greet was in full swing and we all excitedly waited for the Q and A session, hosted by writer Mark Eglinton, auther of KK Downing’s ‘Heavy Duty’ book. Two hundred people having the chance to listen to not just KK Downing and David Ellefson, but also David’s partner Thom Hazaert and Judas Priest alumni Tim ‘The Ripper’ Owens and Les Binks. KK also introduced us to his guitar partner for the night, AJ Mills. Everybody knew what a special night this was going to be and it gave the fans, some of whom had travelled from all over the world, Malta, Brazil and Japan to name but a few, the chance to ask their own questions.
After the Q and A, everybody made their way into the main venue, the show had already started, with Blaze Bayley and band. A perfect warm up for what was to be an epic night. Blaze Bayley’s vocals were fantastic, he joked with the crowd saying he’d like to invite us all to the unofficial meet and greet with him at the merch table after the set. He confessed he is completely independent and has no label support, and it is in fact the fans continued support that allows him to continue living his dream! What a great opening set, and I really must see more of Blaze Bayley!
Next up, David Ellefson and Thom Hazaert graced the stage and performed their ‘More Live With Deth’ show. They are on a European tour and this was their first night. Opening up with two Megadeth songs, ‘Wake up the Dead’ and ‘The Conjuring’, Thom was on vocal duties. What a voice. Perfectly suited to that Megadeth style. He well and truly got the crowd going! Up next, was a song from David’s solo album ‘Sleeping Giants’. I really liked it, I’d not actually heard any of the Sleeping Giants stuff and all I can say is that it works a treat and Thom’s voice works perfectly with the material! David then stepped up to the mic and sang If You Were God, a great song with a real powerful riff. They continued through the excellent set and finished with the song ‘Peace Sells’ with Hostile’s Jay Mills joining Thom to share vocals. What a killer night, and it’s not over yet. David Ellefson at the end of the song shouts out to the crowd ‘Be right back’.
And now, for what we were all waiting for. KK Downing returning to the stage to play a full Priest set, something he’s not done for nearly 10 years. The crowd were so excited and as the lights went down and Les Binks stepped up to the very impressive drum kit, complete with double bass drum the crowd went wild. David Ellefson, AJ Mills, then Ripper entered the stage, followed by the man himself, KK Downing.
Kicking things off with ‘Riding on the Wind’ from the 1982 album Screaming for Vengeance. It was straight away clear that this wasn’t just going to be a greatest hits show. There were going to be some real gems from the back catalogue. Both KK and AJ really got a chance to show off their incredible guitar skills. AJ is an almighty guitarist. KK Downing was back home!
Up next, The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown), Tim’s vocals really suited this song. He absolutely nailed it. Again, musically it was spectacular. The lasers, the smoke, all brilliant! ‘Hell is Home’ from the Demolition album was next. It was great seeing Ripper singing his own stuff. What a song and Ripper of course nailed the vocals! KK and AJ are working so well together and all is topped off by a great rhythm section with David Ellefson, who by the way, looks like he’s having the time of his life up there, and Les Binks.
We are hit with excellent renditions of ‘Beyond the Realms of Death’, ‘Exciter’ and ‘Metal Gods’. KK Downing and the band are going all out tonight. This is more Priest than Priest! Its loud, it’s pure power and the energy on stage is incredible. Ripper then says that he has sung a few Judas Priest songs tonight that he had never sang. Then he goes on to say the next song, no version of Judas Priest has ever played live. This is a first. They launch into a stunning rendition of ‘Before the Dawn’, possibly better than the album. KK Downing and Ripper start the song off and then mid way through the band join in, what a great song and to hear it live is a real treat. Slower than the album version, this is pure class and what an incredible solo by Mr Downing too, it was played with so much passion. I loved it!
‘Between the Hammer and The Anvil’ was next and talk about blowing the roof off the place. The audience sang the chorus back with so much vigour. Another rendition that topped the original record I think. KK Downing’s solo was perfection, AJ Mills pulled out all the stops and delivered a great solo too. I must mention Les Binks as well, who was just a machine. Absolutely brilliant drumming!
The final two songs ‘Hell Bent for Leather’ and ‘Living After Midnight’ set the crowd into such a frenzy, it was amazing. Band and audience were feeding off one another. And then it was all over. All too quick, but no one was leaving without an encore. Tim invited Thom Hazaert and the rest of David Ellefson’s band on stage for a bit of fun. Thom and Ripper shared vocals on ‘Take on the World’. This was a real stand out moment. A statement of unity. At the end of the song, Thom says ‘we’re making history tonight’, no truer word was spoken! Then the final song, of course was ‘Breaking the Law’. Again, Ripper and Thom shared vocal duties, the crowd went wild and then it was done!
We witnessed musical history in the making at the Steel Mill on Sunday, it was such a special night. KK Downing hasn’t lost anything, he is still the incredible guitarist he always was and he shows no signs of slowing down. He and the band, Les, AJ, David and Tim absolutely rocked. The sound was incredible, the effects were stunning, lasers, pyro, smoke and seeing KK grace the stage once more was something else. It seems a lot of work for just one night though, there has been such a cry from fans in the States, in fact all over the world, for the band to tour this project. I wonder what the future holds…
