Judas Priest and Queensrÿche took the crowd by a storm on day one!
Judas Priest is a legendary heavy metal band that is still going strong after all these years.
They are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and they have a huge tour planned to celebrate, the 50 Heavy Metal Years tour. Luckily for us, the band added San Antonio to their tour and of course we couldn’t miss this.
The last time they visited the Alamo city was back in 2011, so this was a big event for the local metal fans. They did not disappoint! The show was amazing, and the fans had a great time!
Judas Priest History
One of the most influential heavy metal groups of all time, Judas Priest emerged at the dawn of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Decked out in leather and chains, the band combined the gothic doom of Black Sabbath and blazing speed of Led Zeppelin with the inventive art rock of Queen, powered by the dynamic banshee wail of Rob Halford and the vicious dual lead guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing. Joined by Alan Atkins and drummer John Ellis, the band played their first concert in 1971. After a solid year of touring the U. K., Atkins and Campbell left the band in 1973 and were replaced by vocalist Rob Halford and drummer John Hinch. Before recording their debut album, Judas Priest added guitarist Glenn Tipton the group quickly gained a following on the U. K. club circuit with their brand of theatrical hard rock.
Their debut record, “Rocka Rolla”, was released in 1974 and immediately became a hit in the U. K. However, the group failed to catch on in the U.S. market until the release of “Sin After Sin” in 1976. This became the band’s gold album. After releasing “Hell Bent for Leather”, the band recorded the live album “Unleashed in the East” (1979) in Japan; it became their first platinum album in America. The band continued to release platinum albums throughout the 1980s, including “Turbo” (1980), “Screaming for Vengeance” (1982).
Judas Priest made their first tour of continental Europe in early 1974 and they returned to England that April to sign a recording deal with the label Gull. Gull suggested adding a fifth member to fill in the band’s sound; they took on as a second lead guitarist Glenn Tipton, whose group The Flying Hat Band were also managed by Iommi’s agency.
After many years of success on 5 November 2022, Judas Priest was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Queensrÿche warming engines!
Opening at the Tech Port Center in San Antonio was Queensrÿche.
The veteran heavy metal band kicked off their performance with a few classics, like “Queen Of The Reich“, “Warning” and “En Force“.
The crowd roared with excitement as they played these timeless hits! After performing a few of their most popular songs such as “Behind The Wall“, “Empire” and “In Extremis” the band members took a few minutes to reconnect with the crowd. They acknowledged everyone there for being there to see them play and they let everyone know that it wasn’t over yet!
Meanwhile, fans cheered wildly, and others lined up to grab merchandise from the merch booth set up at the front of the venue. The band returned with more energy than before and played a few more favorites from their extensive catalog. They finished up their set with the hit song “Eyes Of A Stranger” and the fans were ecstatic! It was an amazing show and the fans could not have been more appreciative of the band’s performance.
Judas Priest is here to rock all ages!
The band came on strong and they sounded great! They played all their hits as well as some deep cuts that only true fans would recognize. The entire crowd was in rock mode, and everyone was enjoying themselves! They never fail to put on a great show and this one was no exception!
People of ALL AGES came out on day one to see Judas Priest celebrate its 50th-anniversary tour which make us very happy! It is great to see how new generations enjoy this kind of music, there’s still hope for rock and roll in this world.
Along the way, Judas Priest is wowing fans across North America. One of the best stage productions, lighting, sound, and performances.
Before taking the stage a large Judas Priest cross front and center on the stage rising up and glowing bright red in the blue lights shining down like an ominous backdrop for the apocalyptic vibe that would follow this night of heavy rock tunes. An overload of heavy metal senses. Sound loud and so powerful.
Screaming For Vengeance!
Judas Priest is proving that they are still at the top of their game. Incredible setlist with Classic rock that cannot be beat. So many people from all over San Antonio came to see the band on Day One. Crowds went absolutely crazy the moment Judas Priest took the stage. Fans headbanged, played air guitar, and screamed along for nearly two hours. Denim and leather gear far as the eye could see. Judas took the stage decked out in matching black outfits.
The lead singer, Rob Halford, had on a black jumpsuit. The rest of the band also wore matching outfits, including matching black head-to-toe body suits. The audience was immediately drawn to the stage, and the entire room was filled with screaming fans!
Hard to believe at 71 years Rob Halford is still rocking as hard as ever! It was incredible to witness such an incredible performance by such a legendary band. The show kept the crowd captivated from start to finish! The crowd sang along to every word, and there was never a dull moment. The legendary band did not disappoint! They truly put on a performance of a lifetime! There were metal stairs, electric wires, and smoking barrels on the elaborate stage set, which was designed to look like a metal works factory.
Set List at The Tech Port Center
Electric Eye
Riding on the Wind
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Jawbreaker
Firepower
Never the Heroes
Beyond the Realms of Death
Judas Rising
Devil’s Child
Genocide
Steeler
Between the Hammer and the Anvil
Halls of Valhalla
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)(Fleetwood Mac cover)
Screaming for Vengeance
Encore 1:
Hell Bent for Leather
Breaking the Law
Encore 2:
Living After Midnight
We cannot thank enough the team at the Tech Port Center for their support to make sure we cover this event in a very safe and fun way!
The THS team
