TAMPA – There’s loud, leathery argument to be made that Judas Priest is the most influential metal band in history. Huggably demonic howler Rob Halford & Co. are the progenitors of myriad hard rock offshoots both speedy and hairy. They've fought epic censorship battles. And in a testosterone-jacked genre, they have an openly gay frontman who'd win any barfight.
But although these were all swell reasons to review the British metal gods’ show at the St. Pete Times Forum on Sunday, they’re not why I joined a small, spaztastic crowd of 5,531 in an awesome, tinnitus-inducing assault on the senses.
You see, the Priest was my very first concert – 1988, Hershey, Pa., the “Ram It Down” tour. A poofy haired, straight-edge teen, I was terrified and titillated. And when my mom absconded with my profane concert tee the second I got home, my destiny was sealed. I was in love with live shows.
So I came to pay my head-banging respects to the Birmingham blokes who set me on my path. And like the good sports they are, they dutifully ripped my bleepin' face off with 90 pure minutes of thunderous rock and plenty o' strobes, smoke and lasers. Man, metal shows are so much fun.
In town to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their epic "British Steel" album -- which they played in its entirety, front to back, "Rapid Fire" to "Steeler" -- the Priest set a furious clip, not a lot of chit-chat with these dudes.
Their tourmates in Whitesnake were a late scratch from the bill. But no matter. We weren't here for them. As the twin-guitar assault of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing stood front 'n' shredding, the 57-year-old Halford stalked the stage with a slow, determined gate. With his smooth-pated dome, wicked goatee and endless layers of leather, denim, studs and buckles, he remains a captivating sight.
And for a guy who who sings as if he hates his throat, Halford can still hit and hold all the operatic hell-hound notes that make metalheads swoon. He growled through "Breaking the Law," rattled the rafters during "You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise" and chanted party anthem "Living After Midnight."
After working through "British Steel," the band kept going: the sneering fun of "The Ripper," the goofy sorcery of "Prophecy." Upholding tradition, Halford eventually roared his Harley onstage for "Freewheel Burning." They closed the night with their best song, the threatening fist of "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."
In a curious note, I remember my first Judas Priest show to be a lot louder than this one. Did the guys turn down the volume? Or have years of reviewing shows damaged my hearing? Yikes. That's not good. After all these years, Judas Priest apparently still leaves me terrified and titillated.
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