Judas Priest (Graz - Orpheum - 01.04.02)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik

It was one of those rare sunny days of April. To start our trip in Graz early at 11:30 a.m. was very clever decision, because of celebration day which caused a long queue of cars on the border in Austria direction. We waited for a two hours to get through. So meanwhile I got a serious problems with where to take a pee. I was surrounded with highway full of cars and frustrated people in it waiting to move closer to the borderline. I thought that I will explode. I finally free my mind about all those eyes that stared at me and I made it. Well don't get me wrong, but it was a question of life and death for me.

Graz at 4:00 p.m. was lazy and very boring place to be. There were no signs of life at Orpheum too, except guy who was selling high-priced tickets for 35 euro. The gates of the hall were opened at 7:30 p.m. and the gig should start at 8:00 p.m.

Local support group was something very special to me. I couldn't get even it's name. Well guitarists were twins. Same image, same moves, even same hair style and beside that the same copy of Gibson's "les Paul" guitars. They were using stoner riffs, and most of those riffs were played through wah-wah effect. So they were hiding behind wah-wah, giving us a poor melody. Even one solo could not be heard. What we could also saw, was very small non-standard basic drum set nearby interesting box. This box was drum & bass machine. This computer was used as a basic rhythm, that covered drumming. So who needs drums at all?
The guy on vocals was wearing an image of a fellow who just felt unfortunately down the escalator. All those moves he made on stage convinced me that he is very much in love with nu-metal and rap. All his "singing" (better for me to say loud spoken words in German language) reminded me on Hitler's famous ecstasy speeches somewhere a long time ago. So the audience was becoming from minute to minute more impatient and frustrated because of guys who really "hardly tried" to warm up the people. Even some screams (in all sort of languages): "Go fuck yourselves!" blazed out. And the only moment that we enjoyed in a whole gig was when they finally left the stage. Oh, what a release.

So the time for a big bang ran out. Uauu,"Metal Gods" at 21:10 p.m.! And true metal gods were with us once again. Audience went totally insane. O.k., o.k. only the front rows. Without any "Hello" they continued with "Heading Out To The Highway". I was really happy about the decision of the band to put "Heading Out..." and "Desert Plains" (both from "Point Of Entry" album) in their set list again. "Desert Plains" came later in show and was played in much faster way that could be heard as original LP version.

Ripper was really ripping. High tuned heavy screams, he shouted out even five together one after another (when you listening to original versions of tracks, there is usually one Rob's scream). When the band reached the end of "Victim Of Changes", shouted Ripper a real long and high lasting scream and proved that he is a real challenge to Rob Halford and his Judas Priest heritage (for all of you, who still think that Rob is the only choice for Judas Priest). Ripper done his job perfect. All sequences that are really hard for singing and we all know that only Rob can do it, seemed to Ripper a piece of cake. Hail to you Ripper and welcome on board again! A great communication was established between Ripper and audience with continuous shaking of hands during the show. At one point, Ripper turned to audience with: "Now we will slow down a little bit with a song from our Stained Class album!" And even before he tried to let the audience in guessing game which song is it, he got an answer: "Beyond The Realms Of Death!" Ripper satisfied with great response simply turned to Glenn and said: "Well, they've got it!" Ripper also disguised himself a few times. Well he wore a baseball cap with sign on "Ripper", belt with "Ripper" on it, even hockey sport shirt again with "Ripper" in back print, but most of all it was the leather (of course with "Ripper" sign on) that made him real.

On the stage there were two acoustic guitars that were used during "Diamonds And Rust", "Beyond The Realms Of Death" and "Hell Is Home". And beside "Hell Is Home", the band stroke with "One On One" (based on great killer intro riffing) from "Demolition" LP, too.

The sound through entire show was perfect. Only at one moment it felt a little weaker. During "Turbo Lover". Maybe because I have always in my head those keyboards (from original LP version) that are played through guitars, and "in live" there were none. Ripper could relaxed himself a little bit before great finale.

The lights went off. And a single light appeared. It was a light of Harley Davidson and we could hear: "Wroooommm, wroooooom,...! Ripper on a motorcycle enjoyed like a little kid who just got a candy. After a while Scott's double bass (with great previous rolling intro) detonated. It was "Painkiller", another Judas Priest classic. Heads were rolling again, crowd went totally mad, as the main part of a gig was over.

First encore began with "Hellion" and (of course) "Electric Eye", followed by one of surprises that night "United" and finished with classic end "Living After Midnight".

But the crowd wanted priest to came back: "Priest, priest...!" And they've got another thing coming. And this thing was "Hell Bent For Leather". Quickly played intro of a song followed by Glenn's magic hands on tremolo. For a moment I thought he will never stop all guns to blaze. After Glenn's intro, K.K. joined him side by side. In well known Judas Priest style which is almost a part of heavy metal history, the guys brought us their show to a final end.

After the concert, the whole band came to the fans in first row and shacked their hands. Even always a little bit shy and introverted Ian did. Well it was real great repertoire and most of all fantastic gig. To see Judas Priest after 35 years still at their best. Metal gods, revolution and the first name of heavy metal to me, thank you for everything and I hope to see you soon again!

Judas Priest, set list, Graz (Orpheum), 01.04.2002:

1. Metal Gods
2. Heading Out To The Highway
3. Touch Of Evil
4. Blood Stained
5. Victim Of Changes
6. One On One
7. Diamonds And Rust
8. Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)
9. Beyond The Realms Of Death
10. Burn In Hell
11. Hell Is Home
12. Breaking The Law
13. Desert Plains
14. Turbo Lover
15. Painkiller
------------------------------------------------- 1st encore
16. The Hellion
17. Electric Eye
18. United
19. Living After Midnight
------------------------------------------------- 2nd encore
20. Hell Bent For Leather
============================= taped outro
21. Lost And Found
-------------------------------------------------