JUDAS PRIEST and WHITESNAKE at the Molson Amphitheatre (909 Lake Shore West), tonight (Thursday, July 9), 7 pm. $49.50-$89.50. 416-870-8000.
My oldest sister was a huge Judas Priest fan, spinning 1980’s British Steel on her record player for most of that decade. During the 90s, when I was a teen, the cassette version spent a lot of time in my Walkman.
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And now, here in the aughts, my preteen nieces have it on their MP3 players and can recite all the words to Living After Midnight, one of its biggest hits.
British Steel, in other words, has legs. (Or maybe my family has a curious Priest fixation.) To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the English heavy metal five-piece play it in its entirety on their current tour, which includes a stop at the Molson Amphitheatre.
“We’re proud of all our albums,” lead guitarist Glenn Tipton says from a hotel room in St. Louis, and when he earnestly lists off their names – Sad Wings Of Destiny, Screaming For Vengeance, Ram It Down, Painkiller – Spinal Tap comes to mind.
“Certain ones are landmark albums, though. British Steel is probably more significant in that sense than any other.
“It was a time when our image really locked into place with the leather and studs, which isn’t something we sat down and contrived. It just naturally evolved. The songs have great character. It really was a major stepping stone in the band’s evolment [sic].”
Tipton describes the recording sessions at Tittenhurst Park, Ringo Starr’s house at the time, as “magical.” Starr had bought the place from John Lennon, and the band set up their Marshall stacks in the room where Lennon had played his white grand piano in the Imagine video.
Tipton, now 61, says the band is more enthusiastic than ever. Last year’s concept album, Nostradamus, left him inspired and challenged, he’s seeing younger fans in the audience, and a new live album (A Touch Of Evil – Live) that captures the band’s adrenaline-rich show is set for release next month.
Additionally, iconic singer Rob Halford’s return to the fold after a 12-year absence changed the members’ outlook.
“When Rob came back in 2003, we all realized what a magical chemistry we have in Priest, both as performers and writers. We appreciate our roles in the band more than ever and love flying the flag for heavy metal.”
So if British Steel hadn’t been such a breakthrough commercial success back in 1980, would the band still be here today? They had, after all, been together for over 10 years at that point.
“Who knows?” Tipton laughs. “If it didn’t work, we would’ve gone in and done something else. I’m sure we would’ve kept going. Priest is a band that never gives up.”
music@nowtoronto.com
