Event:	Judas Priest: Epitaph World Tour
Written by:	Baz Anderson
Published:	18.07.2011
Galleries:	Judas Priest - Doncaster, England, 17th July 2011 by Baz Anderson (50)

Two years ago when Judas Priest last toured the UK, it was billed as the "Priest Feast" tour. This "Epitaph" tour is the band's last ever world tour, and served more of a "Priest Feast" than the encounter two years ago did - with the band performing for an epic, two and a quarter hours. This allowed the band to perform at least one song from each studio album (with Halford) in a setlist that simply could not have been argued with.



This strange Doncaster date of the tour was held in a leisure centre sports hall, and gave the people of the east midlands opportunity to catch this legendary band for potentially the last time. The sports hall provided only a fraction of the capacity of an arena, and was probably the smallest and most intimate show of the tour. Being almost able to reach out and touch the band was a big difference from the arena shows of the last tour.



Supporting were a couple of bands from the United States. Rival Sons are a relatively new blues/hard rock band stuck in the 70's. The audience small and dwindling in numbers didn't do this band's surprisingly enjoyable set any justice. Queensrÿche had more of an audience and played a few older songs, but it was only a couple of these older songs that were worth hearing.



Judas Priest had brought their flamethrowers, CO2 canisters, light effects and motorbike with them to Doncaster as they blasted into an opening duo of "Rapid Fire" and "Metal Gods". The first noticeable different was the lack of K.K. Downing, and Richie Faulkner in his place. This guy however did a fantastic job on guitar and was obviously having the time of his life up there with Judas Priest. His enthusiasm and life transmitted to the audience, where on the other side of the stage, Glenn and Ian especially were taking it easy.



Halford looked up for the fight mentally, but also with his large wardrobe of clothes at the side of the stage. These days his voice is constantly under the spotlight and attracting unnecessary scrutiny, but aside from with "The Sentinel", Halford's immortal shrieking voice sounded spine-tinglingly perfect on this night.



A two and a quarter hour set is ambitious and brave, but it certainly gives the audience their money's worth. With such a long set there are bound to be some songs that fly below the radar, such as "Prophecy", but it also means that some songs were taken to the stage that haven't been there for a while and given their time to shine once more. "Starbreaker" was a nice addition, as was the acoustic/metal version of "Diamonds & Rust", but also "Turbo Lover" and "Blood Red Skies" especially sounded absolutely epic live with a rawer and more metal edge.



There is nothing more Judas Priest could have done to make their show more special. The iconic motorbike, multiple encores, and brilliant setlist. It was an absolute pleasure to once again watch Judas Priest live. If this is the last time the band take to the road, then this "Epitaph" show is the perfect way to say goodbye. They would certainly be missed, but Richie may be breathing new life and enthusiasm into the band themselves also. We can only wait and find out the future of the band, but on this night Judas Priest cemented their rightful place as legends of this music we call metal.



Setlist: Rapid Fire / Metal Gods / Heading Out To The Highway / Judas Rising / Starbreaker / Victim Of Changes / Never Satisfied / Diamonds & Rust / Prophecy / Night Crawler / Turbo Lover / Beyond The Realms Of Death / The Sentinel / Blood Red Skies / The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown) / Breaking The Law / Painkiller / Electric Eye / Hell Bent For Leather / You've Got Another Thing Comin' / Living After Midnight



Written by Barry Anderson.
Photos by Barry Anderson.