…Introducing…Judas Priest – 2011

Judas Priest

May 24, 2011

Renaissance Hotel : Hollywood, CA

The Judas Priest saga continues…and luckily into my hometown.  I was lucky enough to be invited to the official debut of Judas Priest 2011.  The addition of new guitarist Richie Faulkner and exit of founding member K.K. Downing was the initial focus of the gathering, but discussions of the band’s upcoming farewell tour – The Epitaph Tour – and the future of Judas Priest soon took over.

The band blended very well with the K.K. Downing / Point Of Entry looking Faulkner, who seems to be bringing some well needed energy and youthfulness to the Metal Godfathers.  It will be interesting to see what 2011 brings us – it has already brought Judas Priest into our living rooms last night via American Idol.  Long live Metal! What’s next?

K.K. says Bye Bye

K.K. Downing

Long Beach Arena, CA

November 21, 1982

I thought I was bummed out when Judas Priest announced late last year that the band was planning to hang up the towel and retire.  Then, the news was released that the band had rethought their decision and had plans to record a new album and possibly play some select dates around the world.  Now, this past week, founding member, K.K. Downing, has announced that he has made the decision to leave Judas Priest.

The hard rock world is in shock by this news.  Judas Priest released a press release on April 20^th that explains that the band plans to continue on without K.K. Downing and announced Richie Faulkner as his “perfect” replacement. You can check out the Official Press Release below – straight from the band.

But something just does not seem right, something is wrong here.  It seems that K.K. was the main force in an attempted end to Judas Priest.  Now that Priest has decided to move on without Downing it is apparent that the band may have never really wanted to retire in the first place, it may have been a move and pressure by Downing alone.

We will have to wait and see if more official word is released by Halford and the boys.  I am shocked and disappointed to say the least.  I was never fired up with the Halford-less version of Judas Priest and I cannot see myself getting excited about Priest without K.K. – it just can never be the same.

I wish the band much luck, bit in all honesty, Judas Priest has already secured themselves in Rock N’ Roll History and have nothing to prove.  I would hate to see the band go out in a disappointing form.  Perhaps it is time for JP to hang up the leather.

California Steel

Judas Priest
Gibson Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, CA
August 2, 2009

Hard to believe that it was nearly 30 years ago that Judas Priest released their groundbreaking LP British Steel.  And yes, as Rob Halford told the crowd, it was an LP.  From beginning to end, Priest ripped through the legendary album in its entirety and through in a few fan faves…it was Metal History.

Set List:

Rapid Fire
Metal Gods
Breaking The Law
Grinder
United
You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise
Living After Midnight
The Rage
Steeler
The Ripper
Prophecy
The Hell Patrol
Victim Of Changes
Freewheel Burning
Diamonds And Rust
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming

Photographed with my Canon 5D with a 70-200mm f 2.8 lens and my Nikon D300 with a 24-70mm 2.8 lens.

In The Beginning…

Judas Priest – Long Beach Arena : November 21, 1982

One thing that seems to surprise people is the fact that I started shooting rock bands when I was a young teen. So this is for the old school fans…a look into my early roots. I am sure this will be the first in a series. This shot is from one of my all-time favorite concerts. I will never forget the way the arena exploded when the band opened with Electric Eye. Rob Halford stood raised above the drum riser – laser lights shooting recklessly. There was such a mad energy from the crowd that night. I remember thinking to myself, Heavy Metal music is about to explode. I am proud to say that I was right.

Photographed from my seat with my trusty, smuggled in Canon AE-1, an 80mm-300mm zoom lens with a 2x tele-converter attached.