Review and Photos by David Kasiorek
October 1st was not your typical way to bring in a new month when Judas Priest and Alice Cooper came to town to kick the asses of the masses with their legendary music and presence. The last show of the season at Starlake and a co headline tour with special guests Corrosion of Conformity getting things started with their gritty sabbath style riffs and southern hard rock vibes was a great way to warm up the crowd for the insanity to come.
The mighty Judas Priest took the stage when the sun went down in support of their new album “Invincible Shield” and in celebration of 30 years of the “Painkiller” album on the Shield of Pain tour. The show opened in full throttle with “All Guns Blazing” as Rob Halford took center stage to belt out the opening vocals before the whole band kicked in with power and might. Without letting up Priest kicked into the hard hitting “Hell Patrol” followed by 1982s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” (one of my top Priest songs). As I stood in the pit taking pictures I just couldn’t help myself but to be completely absorbed by Judas Priest style heavy metal and all the power it brings – it was a surreal moment for me as a photographer to be so close to such a legend in Rob Halford, a true metal god and one of the last few that remain in this world. As I returned to my seat to the epic sounds and speed of “Freewheel Burning” it was time to go break that law and get the crowd going with “Breaking the Law” straight off of 1980s “British Steel”. Returning to the Painkiller album on the next two tracks “Touch of Evil” and “Nightcrawler” saw that band in absolute kill mode with dueling guitars, solos of monstrous proportion and the mind blowing timeless vocals of Rob Halford. Up next was a deep cut that Priest dusted off for this tour, “Solar Angels” from 1981s “Point of Return” with the classic hard rock vibes and strong guitar chords. Priest opened the “Gates of Hell” from their new record, a song that would fit perfectly in the 80s priest tracklist followed by the dimming of the lights and the intro tape of “The Hellion” to a roaring crowd eager for seeing the show through our “Electric Eye”. Rob pulled a chair up stage left to talk to the crowd about how every year we lose more rock and metal royalty, including the metal god Ozzy Osbourne who we lost a short time ago. In honor of those that we lost what better song to play than “Giant’s in the Sky”. Scott Travis (drummer) kicked off the next song with the title track “Painkiller” with the amazing, insane and unworldly screams of Rob Halford who at 74 years old is just out of his mind and on another level as a vocalist. The encore saw Rob revving up his harley and strolling out the thrashing of “Hell Bend for Leather” followed by the commercial hit “Living After Midnight”. Judas Priest came to melt the faces off of those in attendance and set the stage perfectly for Alice Cooper.
What better way to bring in the month of October with the OG shock rocker Alice Cooper, entering the stage filled with fog and a backdrop of a haunted castle scene it was time to get spooky. Churning out quick renditions of “Who Do You Think We Are” and “Spark in the Dark” followed by “No More Mr. Nice Guy” it was just a continuation of an epic night of music and art. As the show powered on and songs like “I’m Eighteen”, “Feed My Frankenstein” and “Dirty Diamonds” which saw the use of props and a giant Frankenstein walk onto the stage and pick a fight with guitarist trio (Ryan Roxie, Nita Strauss, and Tommy Henriksen). The band had some fun on “Hey Stoopid” as well when a fake photographer rushed on stage and tried to get in the face of the band before Alice stuck a sword through his chest and kicked him out. He next two hard hitters were “Dangerous Tonight” and “Poison” with their crunchy and edgy guitars and powerful choruses. Nita Strauss stood alone on stage ripping through an amazing guitar solo as the band joined her to perform “Brutal Planet” with extended guitar solos from each of the trio. Alice Cooper was then forcefully brought to the stage for his signature beheading skit as the band played an instrumental version of “Second Coming” and “Going Home” with the band on vocals. Ending the night was the cult classic “School’s Out” with a snippet of “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd.
If you have a chance to catch this tour before it ends don’t hesitate to go. This is a night of legends. Legends that rock so hard that you’re left shell shocked and amazed by what you have just witnessed. There is no greater feeling than live music and the power it brings. What a night!