Judas Priest July 24 GM Place

It hasn’t been good times lately so I wanted to treat myself to a concert. What better band to see than Judas Priest once again. They were playing GM Place and they had open general admission seating on the floor. My first task was to score a ticket. I put an ad in Craigslist for a single ticket below cost. They sold for $85 retail from ticketmaster, I scored one for $50 so I was pleased with my approach.

I went out with a few people from work first to have a few drinks beforehand. Me and a couple of the guys snapped back a can of MGD on the street before heading into Chill Winstons in Gastown. I didn’t like the place. No MGD, Stella, Canadian, Coors, Corona or anything else remotely like that. Needless to say, I didn’t pound them back. Their calamari is pan seared and not fried, not a fan. From there I parked near tinseltown across from a park. Scary area, as I was getting out of my car, a homeless dude on a bike full of cans and bags did a complete wipe out next to the sidewalk. This guy was out cold and wasn’t moving. I’m afraid to say that I didn’t inquire about his health, I took off. He landed on grass so it couldn’t have been too bad. I just didn’t know if it was a setup or not.

Got in 45 minutes before the show. This is a change for me as I usually get there late but I thought I would check out the opening band Testament. Nah, didn’t need to after all. Not my band of choice. After Testament I started to trek to the front railing. Lots of jockeying for position but by the time Priest came out, I was right behind a guy at the railing front and center. He was a solid guy and not going anywhere so I was happy where I was.

I saw priest 3 years ago and loved them. They were at the coliseum and I had row 2 seating – no pushing a shoving like this. They opened up with Prophecy from the latest Nostradamus CD which was good but not old school like the next song, Metal Gods from British Steel. The crowd was pumped and the mosh pit was brewing. They did a few more new songs but had some killer oldies which I loved. Hell Bent for Leather, Painkiller, Green manalishi, electric eye, sinner, eat me alive and a couple of my favs, Breaking the Law and they closed out with You Got Another Thing Coming.

The band is still playing great and Rob still sounds awesome hitting those high notes. They are aging though and seeing them in their leathers is cool and retro but not necessary. Rob’s back must be bothering him a lot as he’s less limber now than 3 years ago. He used a cane a few times and even sat in a large throne chair for a break. The other guys moved around a bit but I guess in your late 50’s and early 60’s, what can one expect. I am still happy they tour and play their classics. I’m always going to see them when they come to town, just like Ozzy and Maiden. It’s what I do.

REST IN PEACE DAD

We Will Always Love You

We Will Always Remember You

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little--but not too long

And not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that we once shared,

Miss me--but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone.

It's all a part of the Master's plan,

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss Me--But Let me Go!

Billy Idol July 4

I bought Linda tickets to see Billy at the Red Robinson Theatre just down the street from us for our 14th wedding anniversary date. She bought me Cirque de Soleil Corteo tickets, I bought Billy. Our seats were row 4 on the aisle so they were going to be great. He was Sold Out. I bought them as soon as they went one sale through ticketmaster. There was no opening band and Billy came out right on time.

I’m a front row center guy so I grab Linda and we rush the stage right away as did others. We were right there in the front holding onto the railing. The best place to be. Billy came out and he looked old. He seemed completely out of it. He opened with Cradle of Love and then afterwards said to his band members and audience “I shouldn’t have smoked that before coming out”. This made sense why he was white and seemed out of it. He was stoned. After a couple of songs though he was right back into and rocking and sounding great.

He played all the hits we know him for and a couple of new ones off his greatest hits CD. Rebel yell, Flesh For Fantasy, Mony Mony, Dancing With Myself, Hot In The City, White Wedding and one of my favorites, his rendition of the doors LA Woman.

The audience was mostly women. They love this 53 yr old who still looks good, is in shape and has this bad boy image. The girl next to me (not Linda) was swooning for him and almost in tears. Billy would come close to us and shake all the ladies hands but would skip over me. I guess guys aren’t welcome at the front. That’s OK, Linda and him touched. Linda also got a drumstick and guitar pick.

It was also the Steve Stevens show. Lots of solos and Steve was front and center as well. I like Steve, he an awesome player and entertainer. Just a bit odd though, a bit too much makeup. He smokes a heck of a lot too. Good venue, good sound, wished the show was 3-4 more songs but it was worth it. We had a babysitter so it was time to go home anyways.