My evening with the “Metal Gods”…
Rocktober has begun!
Judas Priest live at Cable Dahmer Arena.
On Tuesday night (Oct. 1), amidst our home team’s Wild Card Series madness, I finally got to see the legendary Judas Priest in concert. The show at Cable Dahmer Arena was awesome.
Photo Credit: Anthony Woodard
Judas Priest performing “Breaking the Law”.
Video courtesy of Anthony Woodard
At age 73, lead singer Rob Halford showed us all that he still has a great set of pipes.
Oct. 1, 2024: Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford performing live at Cable Dahmer Arena.
Photo Credit: Mike Dotson; Source: thepitchkc.com
Lead guitarist Richie Faulkner owned the stage with his fiery fretwork and made all of us shredders proud.
Richie rips into the solo for “You've Got Another Thing Comin'“
Video courtesy of Anthony Woodard
Priest is one of my favorite traditional Heavy Metal bands. As a guitarist, I appreciated the iconic dual-guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and original lead guitarist K.K. Downing. Fun fact: My first electric guitar was a Hamer Chaparral. Hamer guitars were played by Tipton during the band’s heyday.
Image (L to R): Faulkner, Halford, Tipton
Painkiller
Video courtesy of Anthony Woodard
In 2011, Richie Faulkner replaced Downing and has since become the band’s sonic focal point. His sound and style are somewhat reminiscent of both Zakk Wylde and the late Randy Rhoads; one of his (and my) primary influences. In fact, Richie recently stated that he was going for a “Randy Rhoads-style flavor” on Priest’s newest album “Invincible Shield” (2024).
Oct. 1, 2024: Judas Priest lead guitarist Richie Faulkner performing live at Cable Dahmer Arena.
Photo Credit: Mike Dotson; Source: thepitchkc.com
Richie Faulkner is arguably one of today’s best Heavy Metal guitarists and I am a fan. Shockingly, we almost lost Richie three years ago when he suffered a complete aortic dissection while performing “Painkiller” at the 2021 “Louder Than Life” festival in Louisville, Kentucky. He later explained how the cardiac event was a complete surprise, as he had no history of a bad heart, no clogged arteries nor high cholesterol. Richie’s near-death experience reminds all of us that life is fragile and precious. Enjoy today.
P.S. Congratulations to our 2024 Kansas City Royals for winning the American League Wild Card Series. Let’s Go Royals!
