6/29: PRIEST, DICKINSON, METALLICA, PANTHER, MUCH MORE.

Two big stories this week swirling around the metal scene and they both revolve around Judas Priest. First the item on Bruce Dickinson and his comments on Halford and Metallica (see the story in the news section on this site). I don’t agree with Bruce and his criticism of Halford for using a prompter if indeed he does. Honestly who cares? If it doesn’t impact the show what’s the difference? Most artists that use prompters (and many do), rarely use them. They are there as a safety in case they lose their place in the song. Axl, Steven Tyler and many others use them. But I have stood on stage while both of these guys perform and they run all over the place and rarely look at it unless they forget where they are for a second. Not a huge deal. As for Bruce’s feeling that Maiden is better than Metallica that is simply opinion, and what would you expect him to say about his own band? Of course he will think that! But this all speaks to a bigger issue that is a huge problem I think in today’s world. You see Bruce has always been an outspoken guy. In this super PC hyper sensitive world we are in where everyone is looking to pounce over an opinion or wrong choice of words I like people that speak their mind even if I don’t agree with it. I am a fan of Bill O’Reily and Bill Maher. Don’t agree with all that they both say but damn it is nice these days to have at least some people that aren’t afraid to say what they feel and not give answers from some pre prepped PR rep one sheet! It always amazes me when people hammer me non stop for my opinion on an album or band on Twitter and then when I give it honestly they start the hate campaign because it’s not the answer they wanted. Almost impossible to win these days. But honest opinions when asked are refreshing to me, even if I don’t agree with them. Doesn’t mean you hate the person or band or subject. It is just your opinion and if given in a respectful way everyone should be entitled to that. So as a result when anyone says anything remotely opinionated it gets blown up and becomes news, and I think that sucks. It will continue to discourage open dialogue and debate and make the media world we are in even more boring and predictable.

Along these same lines much debate about the announcement that Steel Panther will be opening act for Priest. Contrary to what many think I have no hate for Panther. I know the guys, nice people, talented, good at what they do. But what they do is parody. That can not be argued. Want proof? The bands albums chart on the comedy charts! It is an act that is a spoof on 80’s hard rock. It is stunning to me how many people don’t see that! They have had amazing success, especially in the UK and Europe. Good for them. They have worked hard to build this from their roots as a cover band playing weekly gigs in LA. But I will admit for me I would have much rather seen Priest take a “traditional” metal band. A new or old band with the same real core commitment and values to metal they have had. Think of how many bands are out there that could use the help? Last tour Priest had BLS and Thin Lizzy. When so many bands are out there looking to package up it feels like a bit of a lost opportunity to give an hour slot to a band that for the most part goofs on a scene that Priest was not really a part of, but had a huge amount of success during. I’m going to see Priest regardless of who is opening, and I wish both bands well on the tour, but I do feel that there were so many bands that would have been a better fit and compliment to the metal Gods. It just feels like a disconnect for me to see icons like Priest taking what is basically the modern day Spinal Tap on tour.  I mean who knows how many tours they have left in them at this stage of the game? The up side? Maybe Halford comes out and jams a Fight song with Russ AKA Satchel during the Panther set!? “Nailed To The Gun” anyone?

More on this plus Blitz from Overkill and members of Night Ranger in studio tomorrow live on SiriusXM 39 6-10P ET. TrunkNation!

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  • Sheila on

    Eddie,

    I really like this article. It’s so true what your saying about Bruce and the PC remarks. What happened to being able to have an opinion and have open communication. I think people are so easily spoonfed what the media tells them is correct and what’s not, that they forget to have their own thoughts. I want to have a voice in what I want to say or what I like, but really don’t take if other’s are agreeing or not, it’s my opinion. For instance I grew up in L.A. during the whole hair metal genre, so everyone assumes because I like Metal and from L.A. that I automatically like Hair bands. I actually hated hair bands and the bands that were coming out of L.A.. I was following Metal in England and Europe in the early 80s. Not Motley Crue, Ratt and the others. Do I take offense to this? Not really. I just simply correct their judgement of my tastes and say to each his own. Why does it have to be a big deal?

    On teleprompters, hell most bands use them now. What’s the big deal? If they had teleprompters back in the 60s, 70s and 80s, those frontmen would have been using them too. If you have a catalog of songs as vast as most of these bands have, you need a little help from time to time.

    I agree with the whole opening band thing. I’ve seen Steel Panther, and yes they are talented in what they do as a parody, but I can’t take that serious as an opening band. This is the problem with today’s concert going experience. The package deals of putting established bands together is such a turn off for me. I found out about so many new bands from seeing them get that chance to open for a big band. I’ve discovered some of my favorite bands this way. I understand from the marketing perspective that this is what they feel draws tickets sales up. It’s just disappointing to see how the music industry has gotten away from promoting the up and coming. The KISS/Def Leppard combo for instance. I don’t want to pay $200 for a ticket to see Def Leppard, I want to see KISS play their normal set. Not two big established bands play 75 minutes. Anyway.. that’s just my two cents. Good report today.


    • JB on

      Unfortunately Sheila, big packages are what most of these bands have to do now. Kiss, as big as they’ve been at various times in their career are simply at a point where they’ve got to package a tour. Motley…it’s their farewell tour and again, they’ve got to have a good package to move tickets. Few established bands (rock) barring U2 or Metallica can take on a big tour without packaging several bands. It’s just the state of the industry now which has been affected from the economy to social media and everything in between. The flipside is…at least those bands are still going out. It could be worse with bands simply not touring. I do agree with Ed, as much as I like Panther, I don’t think it’s a good pairing and I’m not really sure how much they’ll help Priest move tickets.


  • Paul Howard on

    I agree with what you’re saying Eddie, Priest definitely missed the boat on getting a stellar opening act or even make it a triple threat have panther open and have a someone like bls or hatebreed fill the middle and priest close , but like you I’m going regardless of who’s opening.


    • DC on

      Paul, Priest had BLS open for them the last tour and could still barely sell tickets. I was at the NJ show at the Izod Center and it was embarrassing how empty the place was. In fact, half the arena was curtained off, and wasn’t close to full.


  • robyn on

    I have to say this first off I love Steel Panther. I think they bring the fun back into music in a comedy way. They know this also, and they know they are more making fun of something then anything. I think that is partly why I love them so much. They are very talented and I think they sound great. But your right Eddie in they are not a good match up for a tour with a metal legend. I think it is two different styles of music. Yes panther is doing rock/metal, but it is not serious music but a play off other songs. it is suppose to be that way and that is what makes them different and stand out. I go around singing if you really really love me, and community property all the time. But eddie has a point in they shouldn’t be opening for preist because they are not the same type of music in regards to serious metal. To be honest I think panther would be best to open for one of the bands they copy from the 80s. I enjoy panther a lot, and want them to stay out there doing what they are good at. I can have the worst day and pop in steel panther and you cant help but laugh and smile with it. but it is suppose to be silly and making fun of things. I don’t think it will take away from preist this tour at all, and it will benefit panther a lot to have that exposure. but your right eddie that so many struggling bands that need that serious exposure would have been a better fit. on the other hand guess panther will get a lot more groupies to write some more songs about lol.


  • Michael on

    Eddie… I concur with your position regarding the stranglehold political correctness has on free thought and speech. Nevertheless, Bruce Dickinson is a Jackass. Don’t get me wrong… I think he is the greatest metal singer of all time. But let’s face it, without Steve Harris… he’d be another Sebastian Bach today, a masterful singer of mediocre music. And it’s very difficult to take Bruce seriously after all the tripe he said about Maiden when he left the band in ’93. Saying Maiden is better than Metallica is as informed and useful as any argument kids have on an elementary school playground. We all know they are very different species of music. Clowning on Halford for using prompters? Insipid and weak. Perhaps if Bruce referred to prompters every once in a while, he would have got wind of Nikki Sixx banging his wife…. Zing! 🙂


  • Dean DuFresne on

    I couldn’t disagree more regarding Steel Panther. I think everyone knows it’s a parody but it goes beyond that. Spinal Tap and Bad News were parodies as well but I think SP is considerably different. I’ve seen the show several times and it’s a metal show. In fact, they are about the only band out there that is openly flying the metal banner. As they have evolved, I see them less as a parody and more of a metal band with some pretty funny lyrical content. If that is what puts them in the comedy charts then so be it.

    That said, the first album was a complete parody considering most songs on that album were even styled after bands from the 80’s. However, the last two albums you can easily see that they are writing their own songs, their own way without paying homage to various bands. Sure, the lyrical content is still funny but at the same time, if they had to go a parody route to get them where they are now, all the power to them. To me, it’s genius. They simply had a formula to cut through the clutter and they nailed it.

    These guys are metal (Death to all but Metal??) through and through and I can think of no better band to open for Priest. Props should be given to Priest for recognizing this as it’s easy to see that it won’t be too long before these guys start headlining. Looking forward to catching this show in October.

    Keep up the good work…..Up the Irons….


    • Jay on

      Exactly! Thank you Dean! SP are a great live act and I think this tour will change a lot of minds about them. Their lyrics are great and no different from all the “Bang your Head” or “We’re Not Gonna Take It” songs from back then. C’mon folks it’s ok to smile at a Metal Show.


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