HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We got some of metal’s finest names to wish the Brummie legends a happy 50th
46 METALHAMMER.COM
MHR341.priest_tributes.indd 46 29/09/2020 01:18 JUDAS PRIEST
“Massive congratulations on 50 “Judas Priest has and will always Priest are still out there kicking ass! A part of years of heavy metal! An incredible be a big inspiration for Helloween me will always be that little kid from back accomplishment, and something from the first minute on. No other then, admiring my heroes. Congratulations to be very proud of. Judas Priest band embossed classic heavy and Happy 50th Birthday, Judas Priest!” defined everything that was cool metal with such a fantastic, WOLF HOFFMANN, ACCEPT about metal for me. Over the top, intense, fast, unique and at the same time very melodic raging guitars, epic lyrics about strength and style like this British band. Halford is one of “I do a podcast now about the overcoming, hell… I must have stared at the the best and most innovative, emotional history of heavy metal and cover of Unleashed In The East for at least 48 singers ever in this genre. K.K. and Tipton, I emphasise the importance of hours of my life thinking, ‘This is the coolest world-class twin guitars. Without those guys Priest. Their Exciter song did more band I’ve ever seen.’ All Hail Priest!” heavy metal would probably be sounding a lot for metal than the World Steel ROBB FLYNN, MACHINE HEAD more boring! Happy birthday to the heroes!” Association! Happy Birthday, Judas Priest.” MARKUS GROSSKOPF, HELLOWEEN FENRIZ, DARKTHRONE “We were supposed to celebrate Judas Priest’s 50th anniversary “We raise our hammers high and “Happy birthday, Judas Priest! on tour with them across the salute one of the greatest and One of my fondest memories States, and were really looking most influential bands in heavy associated with Priest is the date forward to doing that with a band metal history. If someone were to October 23, 1979: they played the that influenced not just us but the entire ask me how I would define heavy Santa Monica Civic, on tour in genre we live and love. Then this stupid metal music, I would simply put on Painkiller support of Unleashed In The East. When Priest virus came along and ruined that. Death to and let the music do the talking. My best hit the stage, we were mesmerised. They corona, long live Judas Priest.” memory is still when I got to see them live stormed through their classic songs – Sinner, PÄR SUNDSTRÖM, SABATON on the same tour on February 2, 1991 in Victim Of Changes, Genocide and White Heat, Red Stockholm. Little did I know that after that Hot were some standouts – and each song “The first time I saw Judas Priest we’d get to share the stage many times, and pushed us closer to an audio orgasm! We was in 1980. I was just starting I treasured every single time.” noticed Eddie Van Halen on the side of the out with my first band and I was JOACIM CANS, HAMMERFALL stage and so did Glenn, who smiled at him truly blown away. They became and played the intro to Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love. my favourite band and Rob “Having loved Priest for close to Rob Halford is the best heavy metal singer Halford was my idol. Little did I know that this four decades, it’s wonderful to see of all time and the guitar duo of Glenn and would be my first big tour with Warlock in this metal leviathan hitting 50! K.K. is the major influence on any guitar 1986. When my manager said that we’d be the I’ve seen them numerous times tandem that followed.” support act for Priest on the upcoming Turbo over the years. The last time was JOHN BUSH, ARMORED SAINT tour, I almost fainted and I immediately ran to five years ago at Brixton Academy – they my boss and told him I would quit my job. He sounded immense! Rob Halford was possibly “I discovered Priest on Sad Wings was speechless, but I knew I was doing the the best I’ve ever heard him and it was also Of Destiny in ’76, and then Stained right thing. Going on tour with my favourite the first time I’d seen them with Richie, who Class. I saw them live a few times metal band, my heroes. It was the best tour of is a fantastic injection of energy into the live around the local venues in my life and to thank Priest for this amazing show. It was such a great gig. I definitely sang Yorkshire, Sheffield and a few experience, I recorded Breaking The Law – my my heart out with the crowd and had a few other places on the Stained Class tour, so I was favourite song – on our Classic Diamonds beers! Happy Birthday indeed, Judas Priest.” a big fan of Judas Priest before I actually met album. One night, when Priest played in my AARON AEDY, PARADISE LOST them. Our first tour was with Judas Priest in former hometown in Germany, Rob took my Europe in 1980. It was their British Steel tour hand and said, ‘Let’s do this one together.’ “I believe I stand with the majority and we were on the Wheels Of Steel tour – two I’ll never forget this feeling of absolute metal of anyone even remotely steels! Both albums were in the charts. Playing bliss! Congratulations Judas Priest for these connected to metal when I say the sold-out shows everywhere and watching incredible 50 years of true metal, power and Priest is part of my musical DNA! them play every night was inspiring stuff. tremendous inspiration! You’re the real thing! Fronted by the undisputed God of We’re playing with them next year, all being We love you!” Metal, they have influenced and reinvented well, so I’m looking forward to seeing them DORO PESCH the hard rock culture for several decades and again and congratulations for making 50!” moved generations of fans and musicians alike. BIFF BYFORD, SAXON “Congratulations on your 50th I have found great inspiration in the immense anniversary! Ever since we diversity of their output, from the mellow, “Heavy Birthday to Judas Priest! collaborated together four years progressive elements of Sad Wings Of Destiny, We celebrate your many metal ago and you told us to ‘stay metal’, through to the synth-laden Turbo and the moments of your monumental your words have always stuck overpowering Painkiller, and they’re still at the metal music pioneering and with us and it gave us the courage to believe in top of their game with Firepower. Hats off, huge defining eras. Hail The Metal our music. We hope to see you again soon!” thanks and big congrats on the anniversary!” Gods! With vivid detail I can still recall our first SU-METAL, BABYMETAL IHSAHN support to Priest in the Netherlands. Rolling up to a magnificent 800-year-old countryside “A big congrats to Judas Priest on “Flashback to 1981: Accept are on venue, it was a sight to behold, especially by all your 50th anniversary! I vividly their first ever ‘real’ professional of their iconic stage leathers airing out in the remember our first encounter was tour, supporting Judas Priest all Dutch sun on a barbed wire fence… there were at a festival and the band was over Europe. We are just a bunch fans climbing up to suck out the sweat! The immensely kind to us. It’s always of wide-eyed, clueless kids in our show they played that night still chills me to such an honour to see the legendary Metal God early 20s, watching our heroes’ every move my bones. Like an armoured tank division and we can’t wait to see what the future has in from the side of the stage each night. They they are still unstoppable, full of firepower and store for the band! We love Judas Priest!” were larger than life! True professionals. Well, very, very heavy. Here’s to another 50!”
PRESS MOAMETAL, BABYMETAL here we are, nearly 40 years later, and Judas JOEL O’KEEFFE, AIRBOURNE
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MHR341.priest_tributes.indd 47 29/09/2020 01:18