Well, some of us might have not been quite sure about this combination of rockbands. Because stylistically they do not have too much in common. On the other hand, - why not - it's only Rockmusic nothing else. And mind you, this is the only show in Germany here at Munich's Zenith. And of course it's sold out. And that again mean 6.800 fans from all parts of Germany and the neighbour countries, who came to check out their heroes yet another time and one of them for the very last time. 
But this evening doesn't start without any problems. Because organizers have set the start of the concert to an early 7.30 p.m. Still half of the audiance is not inside the venue and cueing up to get in or struggling within the traffic jam onto the parking slots including myself.
The thing is, here are two popular bands, and none of them is taking a support role. 

So when Mr.Coverdale and his Whitesnake 2011 play first it demands a full stage time....


And now we are curious.. because we all remember Whitesnake's last tour together with Alice Cooper, which went pretty much down the drain. But as we say so: everybody deserves a second chance, so let's wait and see, what David Coverdale. meanwhile 60 years young, is offering his grandchildren and the whole audiance tonight. - Some things have changed within the band line up again. But that doesn't matte, as Whitesnake is David Coverdale and Coverdale is Whitesnake. It's as easy as that... New on bass is Michael Devin instead of Uriah Duffy. On Keyboard is Brian Ruedy instead of Timothy Dury, and on drums - Brian Tichy instead of Chris Frazier. The rest has stayed the same, Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich on guitar and the boss himself.  
And unfortunately also this time the slogan is: how to destroy a legend... Jes.... I've always loved this band honestly, most of all the older stuff, and I really hate to say the following things, as I do like Mr.Coverdaly personally very much and always got on with him well.

But whatever comes out of Coverdale's mouth is more or less sad. Where is the back then smokey sexy voice gone. This has nothing anymore to do with his oral output in the past, though it's definately live and not playback. Fortunately he's got some great musicians with him on stage, who help him around on difficult parts as good and much as possible. 

At the song choice it gets clear, no songs older than 1980 are shown on the setlist. And I do miss tracks such as 'Don't Break My Heart Again' and 'Hot Stuff'. But maybe some legal things play a certain role here - who knows. 
With 'Here I Go Again'  Whitesnake had their biggest hit so far. And yes, my personal fave 'Gimme All Your Love Tonight' is included as well. 
Apart from that Whitesnake do receive a polite echo from the audiance. Many fans are sort of dissappointed about the voice lack. But the mere of the audiance are anyway Judas Priest fans waiting for their show. 
The last song of Whitesnakes shows the full disaster clearly. I won't say much more, just watch the clip below.... then you maybe know what I mean.... 

Just let's hope, that Mr.Coverdale gets the idea soon, to do it like Priest, - such as only record albums but not playing live anymore. I mean the new album is pretty good, and in the studio you can still play around with techniqs. But everything else live on stage would be another step to the destroyment of a legend  - sad but true.
http://www.whitesnake.com/

So, and now we are at the point, where I have to shoot quickly the next bullet, that it is indeed Judas Priest, who are celebrating here their fairwell from live work and concentrate on making records only in the future... But they certainly don't do this because of any weakness.

Rob Halford is defending his reputation as the god of metal 5 times red underlined. Halleluja and our ears get 3 times bigger than before. We feel Robby's tenor same as clear bells in heaven. This is very nice indeed. Judas Priest as always and in absolute bestform. They are starting off with 'Rapid Fire' in the truest sense of the word, and work themselves through a real classic set, not leaving any request behind.
And all goodies are included. Also the new guy playing the second guitar gets introduced - Richie Faulkner, 26 years young and almost a double of old guitarist K.K.Downing. No clue whether this choice had been also depending on this same look as well. But watching this boy, the thought is very close to that. 
At 'Turbo Lover' the first high point is reached. And still not many fans know, that the track 'Green Manalishi' has been actually written by Peter Green. The enthusiasm is endless within the 7.000 freaks here and gets so big, that Mr. Halford leaves the complete singing of 'Breaking The Law' to his audiance. He himself, with some teardrops in his eyes, pays tribute to the audiance with a brilliant 'Painkiller' (see Videoclip below) 

Showing love and devotin can't be biggern than here. And don't give a damn that Robby Boy reads his lyrics now and then from a hidden teleprompter... better that way and good, as without mind help and  bad or even playback simulated. 

Judas Priest give everything and prove once again, that also the elderly rockers still can rock like hell without any aging lacks. 
What a pity, that this group puts their live activities on ice.. Because since tonight even the last blind and deaf fan knows, that in these two bands cases, it should be the other way round. But well, as we say so: never say never again. And Priest wouldn't be the first one's to celebrate a live reunion one day... Okay time will tell...
Last but not least and with the famous bike 'Hell Bent For Leather' gets celebrated....

..... and with ‘Another Thing Coming’ continued. And now it should be finished.... but ... no! Thanks god, what many of us might have feared - but fortunately there is a very last Amen in the cathedral here - with the nonstop evergreen and noted seperately on the setlist - ‚Living After Midnight’. That's it finally - and the end.... 
or maybe not??? Well, let's wait and see...
To be continued so or so....

http://judaspriest.com/