As 2019 draws to a close and we are about to enter the new decade, the ‘20s, I have been pondering and contemplating what my musical highlight of the year has been. I have been to some truly incredible gigs this year, The Eagles at the MandS Arena in Liverpool were mind blowing, Living Colour in Manchester were exceptional and seeing vocalist Corey Glover sing acapella and un plugged to an awestruck crowd was certainly something, but the gig of gigs has to be seeing KK Downing back on stage playing live in Wolverhampton this November.
You really got a sense in the build up to the show that we were in for something special. There was a real buzz on social media, fans had travelled from all over the world. In fact, I met a couple who had travelled from Brazil, just for that show. This is what KK Downing and his legacy means to Judas Priest fans.
The supporting cast of musicians KK had on stage with him were also just as aware of what a special night this was. Megadeth’s David Ellefson was so excited and after playing his own full set a mere 20 minutes before, he returned excitedly to the stage to pick up bass duties. ‘Stained Class’ and ‘Killing Machine’ Drummer Les Binks was on the kit and Tim ‘The Ripper’ Owens was on vocal duties. They had Priest pedigree running through their veins, with Ellefson stating that he might not even have got into music without the Judas Priest influence. Completing the stellar line up was AJ Mills, a guitarist whom KK has worked with many times over the years and someone who was well and truly up to the task.
From the moment the band came on, the SteelMill was absolutely bouncing. The crowd didn’t stop for the near hour and a half that the band played, saying that, the whole band were darting all over the stage. KK Downing looked youthful on stage and exerted more energy than some 20 year old guitarists do! One of the criticisms of latter day Priest shows was a lack of energy on stage. Well, that certainly was not the case here! The whole band were on fire. This was Priest how Priest should be played. Energetic, fast and robust!
What an amazing display of musicianship and a real treat for the fans to hear some of the seldom heard Priest tracks from the back catalogue. We were also treated to some Ripper era stuff, which was great and certainly a fan highlight. ‘Before The Dawn’ was an extra special treat too, as it had never been played live and as I said in my review of the night, I thought it was better than the album.
The effects were great too, we had the full hit; fire, lasers and smoke. This show and these musicians would be just as at home in an arena playing to 15,000 people and it would be just as great!
But, what made this gig so special? For me, as a Judas Priest fan, seeing the original guitarist playing those songs again was incredible. KK Downing belongs on that stage playing those songs. Add to that Tim ‘The Ripper’ Owens plus Les Binks, well the names alone are etched in Priest history. But, it was more than that. When the three got on stage together and we throw AJ Mills and David Ellefson into the mix, the results were electric. One of the famous Priest songs is ‘Metal Gods’ – a Priest anthem and these five guys are well and truly worthy of that title.
The energy that both the band and audience shared as well was something really special. In my review I said the gig was ‘more Priest than Priest’ and I stand by that. It really was electric. We all shared such an affinity and history was written that night. One of the encore songs was ‘Take on the World’ and I really got a feeling that this group of musicians will do just that. Judas Priest in 2020 are celebrating their 50th anniversary as a band, but in my opinion the celebration has already started, in Wolverhampton on one cold rainy night in November.
