photos by Kurt Christensen

Judas Priest @ Izod Center

"Pop "retirements" prove to be about as reliable as political promises.

Witness the "just kidding, folks" resurrections of briefly absent stars Barbra Streisand, David Bowie and Cher.

So fans might be forgiven for rolling their eyes over Judas Priest's announcement some months back that their current road show... would be their "final" one.

"I wish we had a better word than final," says Priest singer Rob Halford. "It's not the end of the band but it is a farewell to these gigantic world tours."

In fact, Halford says they'll be back in the States for limited runs, and will record again. And so, it seems, they'll do nearly everything they ever did, just somewhat less of it.

"We've been reflecting on what's left to do and how best to do it," the singer says. "We're all cognizant of the fact that, while metal forges on, the one thing you can't hold back is the physical."-[NY Daily News]

Judas Priest played their not-final NYC area show as part of the Epitaph tour on Friday, 11/18 at Izod Center in NJ with Black Label Society, Thin Lizzy and DJ Lady Starlight. Here are some pictures from that show.

Officially retired or not, Priest was sans founding guitarist K. K. Downing (who has retired, officially and was replaced by Richie Faulkner), so unfortunately the last chance to catch KK/Tipton/Halford/Hill passed with their last tour.

More pictures of Priest, Thin Lizzy and Lady Starlight (none of BLS), with Judas Priest's Izod Center setlist, below...

Continue reading "Judas Priest played their not-final NYC area show at Izod Center w/ Black Label Society & Thin Lizzy (pics & setlist)"

Judas Priest at PNC Bank Arts Center in 2009 (more by BBG)

After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking their very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST - one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, have announced this will be their final world tour!!

However, the mighty PRIEST will certainly be going out strong as they rock the planet starting in 2011 on the massive EPITAPH tour - hitting all the major cities throughout the world they will be playing the songs that helped make the name JUDAS PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal!

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all their fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

That blurb comes right from Judas Priest's website, though note that they also wrote in June that "...we stated that it was the last major world tour for Judas Priest - nothing has changed - we didn't say it was the end of the band or that we were going to retire or the band was going to break up........... Just that it would be the last major world tour we would be doing which is still the case. We have plans for a new album...". Confusing!

Regardless, all tour dates are listed below including a NYC-area date at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on 11/18. Tickets for that show are currently on presale (code is "ACCESS") and go on regular sale at 10AM on Saturday, 9/17. Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy will open the US dates.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Judas Priest announce 'final world tour' -- dates & presale"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Neil Fallon of Clutch

Craveonline: Not to get overly personal right off, but will your new baby put a kabosh on how much touring Clutch does?

Neil Fallon of Clutch: We hadn't planned any touring regardless, baby or not. We've pulled back on our touring just because the older you get; it becomes a drag to just go on touring forever and ever. This two-month tour we're about do [with Black Label Society & Children Of Bodom] is about as long of a tour as we're willing to do... We'd actually only like to tour four weeks at a time. This one is an exception to the rule because it's a support slot and you can't really pick and choose how long you're gonna play. We also knew that after this one we were really going to focus on writing the next record so they're wouldn't be a lot of touring.

Clutch churns out new LPs on the regular, so look for that LP. In the meantime, check them on the above-mentioned tour which hit Hammerstein Ballroom on 10/20. The CMJ show was one of a scant few metal events during the festival, and the largest of the bunch (with Nevermore at Gramercy coming in second).

The sold-out BV-BBG Saturday night showcase at Union Pool was also one of those events. Pictures from that show are forthcoming, but more from Clutch and the rest of the gang at Hammerstein (some setlists included), with all remaining dates, below...

Continue reading "Clutch played Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Black Label Society & Children of Bodom (pics & setlists) "

by BBG

Goatwhore classes up Ozzfest

Die, die, die already! After 2008's Ozzfest featured just a single date and 2009 was non-existent, I figured that maybe, just maybe, Ozzfest had finally been put to bed. I was sadly mistaken. Over six dates across the US, 2010's Ozzfest will feature appearances from (I think) an almost completely missable main stage of Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Halford, Devildriver, and Nonpoint along with a semi-respectable second stage featuring Black Label Society, Drowning Pool, Kingdom of Sorrow, Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, Saviours, and Kataklysm. Ozzfest hits Hartford, CT on 8/21 and Camden, NJ on 8/22. Tickets go on sale 5/22. All dates and some videos are below.

Continue reading "Ozzfest 2010 (has a decent second stage) - dates, lineup..."