review Judas Priest 20 Feb 2012 Singapore Fort Canning Park

Rupanya ada jugak yang lain relaks lenggang kangkong je jalan pelan2 naik bukit ke Taman Fort Canning tu walau Lamb Of God dari jauh dah boleh dengar tengah main..Mungkin cam aku ngan kawan aku la, datang nak tengok Judas Priest aje.
Siap pergi tengok2 jual tshirt, harga $45 gitu beberapa design, tapi takde yang pengsi la. Lagipun aku memang plan tak mau beli pun. Apa pun, Ni ulasan merapu yours truly.

So I got to see a portion of the Lamb Of God opening act,

okay la, better then coming early for Whitesnake and see two Indonesian girls being called on stage to dance along to a dangdut number. Slank or something. well... to each, their own, but I am happy when LOG complete their set..Because at last, I got to see Judas Priest live ( though with no KK Downing ) and another luminary is added to the list of rock bands that played at Fort Canning from Mr Big to Toto to Deep Purple to Helloween to Megadeth among others.

Like I say in a recent blog post, lots of my personal fave songs is not going to be played, but still the setlist is full of Judas Priest more famous and popular songs.


So here is my observations of the small little things that interest me and the proceedings for Judas Priest first and last time in Singapore 20 February 2012 at the open sloping fields of Fort Canning Park.


The intro tape used was Black Sabbath's War Pig, which cuts abrupt into Battle Hymn introduction and RAPID FIRE and METAL GODS is first two songs. The crowd is like maybe hits 5000 at least from my estimate. ( I think there are a lot of Lamb Of God fans still in school who may have problems with the ticket price, furthermore its a Monday and LOG starts playing early, and Foo Fighter is coming next change ahaks. )

Although Rob Halford has a few costume changes the whole night but Glen Tipton wins best dresser hands down. His red pants is so ROCK MAMPOS!.

I am not so into Rapid Fire song but Metal Gods is nice, love the ending Heavy Metal Gods addition in the chorus.I came more to see Rob Halford, Glen Tipton and Ian Hill in action as they are the Priests that I know so of course I am standing more in the right direction.But by 3rd song, I enjoy watching Scott Travis and Richie Faulkner too. For me the sound improves by the 3rd song too.

Now next song is I smiled the widest from ear to ear. HEADING OUT TO THE HIGHWAY. At least one personal favourite is played tonite.

JUDAS RISING is next. Nice live song, even if we dont have Angel song tonight from the same album. Followed by STARBREAKER.
VICTIM OF CHANGES slows things down. Seeing Judas Priest at last live, at least now I know how busy Ian Hill is with his pedals especially near the end of this song. Ian Hill always stay rooted at the same spot but very aggressive. Very the Slayer style haha.


So then Rob Halford talk about Rocka Rolla, talk about taking risk on the album, about the riff coming straight out from Birmingham. The thing is on some of the songs, the background screen displays the album the song is from.So its the song NEVER SATISFIED.

Then the acoustic guitar is set up on the Richie side and Rob starts to talk about California , beautiful lady Joan Baez and their latest interpretation of the song DIAMOND AND RUST. I so like the intro this time and I like Scott Travis entertaining himself on his drum riser on the slow part of this song and of course when it speeeedddd up.

I am not a huge fan of Judas Priest so its a nice surprise to see Rob Halford costume changes thru the whole show.PROPHECY is next with the Nostradamus background, and Rob was wearing some very glittering shiny robe and holding the Judas Priest long fork on one hand.
I never hear this album, I really cant be bothered, but I like this song last night.
Then the screen starts to play some lightning strikes and we get NIGHTCRAWLER.

The next song was funny. TURBO LOVER has all the laser beams, but the background screen shows some gears rotating and some pistons and cylinders in action. So its very sexually related to the song, and some guys near me were like creating action jokes out of it. Very happy atmosphere.


Rob talks about Judas Priest always being a classic heavy metal band even they go thru different phases. And he introduce the next song as a ballad. BEYOND THE REALMS OF DEATH.Super duper fantastic song now that I hear and see it live.

SENTINEL is next with the Derita Bangsa Juara Juara Rock II intro,so at last I see how the GLEN/KK/GLEN/KK/GLEN/KK/BOTH solos live that is always listed on their cassette tapes inlays. Only this time its GLEN RICHIE GLEN RICHIE GLEN RICHIE BOTH with Rob moving from side to side as to the guitarist who solo.
Goosebumps on the " now facing one another.. " part.
I always think Defenders Of The Faith has so much great songs and to have only one representative is a bit letdown for me.

BLOOD RED SKIES follows, very epic very dramatic song. Live with the burning sun on the screen is very nice. Then the the whole stage turns green, and we got GREEN MANALISHI WITH TWO PRONG CROWN or whatever. I always got problem with the title of this song.


Rob says hello to British Steel, and he talks about The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and he says they were there before anybody else.
BREAKING THE LAW is completely 100% instrumental with Rob not singing even a word because he expects the audience to sing. Sorry I dont know the words of the verses I only know when it reach " you dont know whats its like..." part haha.Very very happening moment anyway.
Then Scott Travis starts a drum solo with Rob backstage joining in some OI!! OI!! and I was thinking why waste time with drum solos when they can add another song,then I realise its just a short one and its actually the start of the PAINKILLER song. Oh, okay then haha. I think a lot of people like this song very much.

Then the intro tape of HELLION and the band plays ELECTRIC EYE. Last night lack the ' audience singing the guitar parts melodies ' among the audience which is starting to become the norm among heavy rock bands audience.

Then Rob rides his Harley on stage, with a nice costume and sings HELL BENT FOR LEATHER all the way sitting on his bike. At least he can have a good rest, seems his legs last night is not good? I dont know but age is catching up fast.

Then Rob Halford comes on with the flag of Singapore drapped around his shoulders and he talk about finally they come to play and bla bla bla.


Then the longest most extended Rob and audience sing along chants I ever hear before YOU GOT ANOTHER THING COMING. Reminds me of those Freddie Mercury Queen Live at Wembley moments.
I dont know how the gadgets help him with those high screams all through the show but this part shows he still is awesome singer.
This song has a spotlight on Richie solo in the middle. Wasnt it this song that has Richie and Ian Hill both exchanging their instrument while the song is played.
The songs end with the Rob and audience chants again.
I think this is the best version of You Got Another Thing Coming since the live cassettes tapes and cds and bootlegs and Rob's solos.

Then the band bades farewell. But of course its not possible without LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT. Scott Travis takesover the mic to urge the crowd to make loud noises before the start of the song. The song is played with the background of Judas Priest UNITED. Reminds me of a certain football club with all the redness in it.
This song has quite a long audience portion singing of the chorus. Nice happy rock song.

The show ends. Rob came out with his tattos all on display, and seems he got problem walking and he needs the cane. I dont know. He leads the crowd to shout Judas Priest and thats all. Outro tape was " We Are The Champions " by Queen.

Very worth it for the price of the early bird ticket.
I think for the fans of both LOG and Priest , it must be beyond worth it haha.

So at last its nice to see Judas Priest live for the first and last time with their Judas Priest style heavy metal though not the full band that I enjoy growing up but I think the Richie guy brought so much energy with his movements on stage, but its always have to be standing more on the Right Side as its where Glen Tipton and Ian Hill are.
Judas Priest was on stage for like 2 hrs 20 mins.