KK’s Priest + Paul Di’Anno + Tailgunner @ KK’s Steel Mill 6th July 2023
We saw the world debut of KKs Priest including – of course – the legendary Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing at his own venue and what a night it was at a sold out KKs Steel Mill.
Tailgunner
First up were UK rockers Tailgunner, who are certainly upholding the tradition of British Heavy Metal, their set mainly contained songs from their forthcoming album Guns For Hire. They kicked off with the title track of the new album, with frontman Craig Cairns looking magnificent in full 80’s garb, white boots, spandex leggings and with a brilliant presence and voice to match. Next up was White Death then Beast In The Night and the crowd were loving it, followed by a brilliant Warhead. Then a rocked up version Edvard Grieg’s Hall Of The Mountain King before their fabulous set ended with Crashdive then Don’t Talk To Strangers.
Paul Di’Anno
Next up was legendary frontman of the original Iron Maiden – Paul Di’Anno – and despite his well-documented battles with illness he wants to keep performing live and he sang his set from a wheelchair. The crowd were delighted to see him and couldn’t wait for them to start and they didn’t disappoint. The set was made up of songs from Iron Maidens first two albums, kicking off with Sanctuary, with the crowd singing and joining in through every song. Next was the awesome Wrathchild then Prowler and the KK’s audience was in full nostalgia mood.
Di’Anno thank the crowd for their support and love before Murders In The Rue Morgue then Remember Tomorrow. His voice was in fine form and his band were pitch perfect. It was a fantastic set and am sure we will see a lot more of him.
KK’s Priest
It was time for the main event, with the video screens giving us a cinematic introduction to the proceedings. KK Downing ran up to the top of one of the two walkways then started the introduction to Hellfire Thunderbolt with the band running onto the stage accompanied by smoke bombs and plenty of pyro. This was an explosive a start to a gig as you could get. They went straight into new single One More Shot At Glory with plenty more pyro and fireworks. Former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens has an immense vocal range as demonstrated by their first Judas Priest classic of the evening The Ripper. The packed KKs crowd were loving it, enraptured by the proceedings – then was into Reap The Whirlwind then the first of a trio of songs from the Judas priest Painkiller album – Night Crawler.
Although playing Priest classics and their own songs, the band had their own identity, which was amazing considering it was their live debut, nowhere better shown than the title track of KK Priest debut album Sermons Of The Sinner.
Next up we were back in time for Beyond the Realms of Death from the Stained Class
album, then another from Painkiller – Hell Patrol both songs were rapturously received.The rest of the band, guitarist A.J. Mills, bassist Tony Newton and drummer Sean Elg absolutely looked and sounded the part.
Brothers of the Road from Sermons of the Sinner was next, then we were treated to a quartet classic of Priest tracks, Metal Meltdown from Painkiller, a brilliant version of The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown), the classic Breaking the Law which nearly blew the roof off KKs.
The set finished with Victim of Changes from Sad Wings of Destiny and they left to a deafening roar. The band returned for an encore of Raise Your Fists from Sermon Of The Sinner before thanking the crowd and leaving the stage.
This was an amazing night and if you can – go and see them on tour in the autumn.
Review and Photographs: Andy Shaw