JUDAS PRIEST BRING THEIR INVINCIBLE SHEILD TOUR TO A PACKED PH LIVE IN VEGAS!

Judas Priest are icons in the world of Heavy Metal. They have been around now just over 50 years and have seen it all, being one of the cornerstones of the Birmingham, England metal scene along with fellow icons Black Sabbath.

I first saw the band at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana on the World Vengeance Tour back in 1982 and I was hooked. I thought back on the years as I got ready to go to PH Live in Las Vegas for yet another visit to the Priest for a reup on my ‘metal blessings’ and I was NOT disappointed in the evening at all!

From the moment Ozzy’s voice came thru the speakers as Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” played with the crowd singing along you knew we were going to be in for the perfect night of metal- it soon faded into “Invincible Shield”, the curtain, with the meaning behind “Invincible Shield” blazed upon it, dropped and there they were, perched on the steps of the drum riser- breaking into “Panic Attack”… and the metal faithful in attendance screamed in approval, singing along loudly to most of the music that night which was an amazing mix of classics such as Priest’s perfect cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Green Manalishi” (yah folks it was a Fleetwood Mac song originally- look it up) and newer material such as the title track of the latest album Invincible Shield to “Victim of Changes” off of their 1976 album Sad Wings of Destiny (fabulous record) and featured clips of beloved guitarist Glenn Tipton, who can no longer tour due to health reasons (he is however on the records), up on the screens that served as a backdrop; to fan favorites like “Love Bites” and “Sinner”… Guitarists Richie Falkner and Andy Sneap, who also produced Invincible Shield, do a fine job on stage bringing an electric energy night after night, while Scott Travis remains solid on drums where he has been since 1989 replacing the late Dave Holland and Ian Hill, original bassist, founding member and constant in the band remains rocking out toward the back of the stage as always.

I have to say that anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, who tries to tell you that Rob Halford has lost his vocal prowess should be slapped soundly and sent to a music appreciation class. I know of no other vocalist who has been doing this for as long as the Metal God (who incidentally is now 73 years young) and still retains that level of skill in their vocals. Not one. He still hits those highs and still commands the low growl better than vocalists half his age- such blasphemy should not stand if you hear it. Rob sits and chats with the crowd a bit about halfway thru the set and his commenting to a young girl in the front that she wasn’t even born yet when he was telling the crowd about Vegas in 1978 made me chuckle a bit. The old wise priest talking about life with the faithful…

The entire evening flew past entirely too quickly it seemed, coming out one last time to “Hellion”/ “Electric Eye”, and wrapping up the night with their anthem “Living After Midnight”, that has remained so since it was first played to the masses who embraced it back in 1980. There were songs I wish they would have done most certainly, “Desert Plains”, “Diamonds and Rust”, “Metal Gods”, “Heading Out To The Highway” to name but a few… but it was sadly time to leave and bid the metal masters a thunderous adieu until next tour, I walked out of the venue properly blessed, wrapped in my invincible shield and excited for what this legendary band will bring in the future… I remain among the faithful who are ready for it!

JUDAS PRIEST SET LIST 16, OCTOBER, 2024 AT PH LIVE

1. War Pigs(Black Sabbath song)
2. Invincible Shield Tour Anthem
3. Panic Attack
4. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
5. Rapid Fire
6. Breaking the Law
7. Riding on the Wind
8. Love Bites
9. Devil’s Child
10. Saints in Hell
11. Crown of Horns
12. Sinner
13. Turbo Lover
14. Invincible Shield
15. Victim of Changes
16. The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)(Fleetwood Mac cover)
17. Painkiller
18. Encore:
19. The Hellion
20. Electric Eye
21. Hell Bent for Leather
22. Living After Midnight

Gallery.

PHOTO CREDIT: Live photos by Stephy Hayward- Muzio of Live Wire Photography for ZRockR Magazine – (c) 2024 – All Rights Reserved.