S.L.R. Magazine

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LIVE REVIEW: Alice Cooper and Judas Priest co-headlining North American Fall tour, on September 26th, 2025

Two immensely huge legends in their own right has joined the forces this fall to rock the cities across North America. British heavy metal legends Judas Priest and American hard rock legend Alice Cooper. Sixth show of the tour took place in Holmdel, New Jersey at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Written by Andris Jansons…

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Two immensely huge legends in their own right has joined the forces this fall to rock the cities across North America. British heavy metal legends Judas Priest and American hard rock legend Alice Cooper. Sixth show of the tour took place in Holmdel, New Jersey at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

Concert poster featuring Judas Priest and Alice Cooper with tour dates listed.

Written by Andris Jansons

Both legends are supported by Corrosion Of Conformity, an American heavy metal band with distinct sludge / stoner metal sound. I first heard of them back in 1994 and their hit song Abatross, and first time I saw them live was six years ago. They are special band that does not follow any blueprint but constantly carves their own path, and with that earned right to open for these two undisputed legends.

It was all leather from here !

When it come to bands and musicians that defined the genre and have been at the top of the game for many decades, it is hard to write a “review”. You know what you will get when you buy a ticket to the show to see them.

Judas Priest have been around for 56 years. With the core of bassist Ian Hill, lead singer Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton and drummer Scott Travis, the band is not slowing down. “Recent” additions / replacements, Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap on guitars complete and complement the group.

Judas priest has influenced many big and small metal artists and bands, and have been credited to spearhead many different metal subgenres, as well as being the trailblazers of metal fashion, especially the leather outfits.

Judas Priest, was a bit out of my generation playlist, they were my dads band, and that is how I got to know them. Listening to old reel-to-reel magnetic tapes (for those who remember that concoction). Yet, today, their classics like You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’, Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight are added to my Apple Music streaming playlist. Some change in technology, huh.

This time was my first experience of Judas Priest live. I certainly hope that not the last one, as they show no signs of age and put on the loudest and heaviest show that some newer bands. Rob Holford is simple a heavy metal God that just happens to be walking around the stage and singing those amazing metal anthems. Of course he drove out on his motorcycle as well. During the Giants In The Sky the large screen behind them displayed image of late Ozzy Osbourne. It was surreal experience to see them live even after some forty years after hearing their music for the first time.

Their set consisted from these songs – All Guns Blazing, Hell Patrol, You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’, Freewheel Burning, Breaking the Law, A Touch of Evil, Night Crawler, Solar Angels, Gates of Hell, The Hellion, Electric Eye, Giants in the Sky, Painkiller, Hell Bent for Leather and Living After Midnight.

Judas Priest links

https://judaspriest.com

ABOUT JUDAS PRIEST

Judas Priest, hailing from Birmingham, England, have been at the forefront of heavy metal for over 50 years. With iconic albums like British Steel, Screaming for Vengeance, and their newest release Invincible Shield, the band’s legacy is cemented by their Hall of Fame induction and unparalleled live performances.

Full gallery of Judas Priest performance below. Photo all rights reserved by Andris Jansons.

https://linktr.ee/andrisjansons

Two musicians performing on stage, one playing a guitar and the other holding a microphone, dressed in black leather outfits.
A guitarist playing a white and blue electric guitar while another musician with a beard and sunglasses raises his arms in the background during a performance.
Live performance of a rock band featuring two guitarists in edgy outfits and a dramatic background.
Two musicians performing on stage, one holding a microphone and the other playing a bass guitar, with a dramatic backdrop featuring collapsed buildings.
Musician performing on stage with long hair, passionately playing a guitar with an energetic pose.
Guitarist performing on stage with dramatic backdrop featuring buildings and colorful lights, wearing black leather outfit.
A lead singer with a long beard wearing sunglasses and a black studded coat performing on stage, with a guitarist in the background.
A musician passionately performing on stage with long blonde hair, wearing a black vest with studs and playing a blue electric guitar.
Close-up of a male guitarist with long blonde hair playing a blue and white guitar on stage, with concert lights in the background.
A live performance scene featuring a rock band on stage with vibrant lighting effects and a large screen displaying a drummer in action.
A performer in a long, embellished black coat with sunglasses, bowing on stage during a concert, with a colorful backdrop and drumming setup visible behind.
Judas Priest performing live on stage with vibrant lighting and large screens in the background.
A performer wearing sunglasses and a black coat sings passionately on stage with a colorful drum set in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage, dressed in black leather outfits, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician with a white beard and sunglasses performs on stage wearing a black studded coat, with a colorful backdrop of instruments and lights.
A musician performs on stage wearing sunglasses and a black studded jacket, with drums and colorful stage lights in the background.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair and a distinctive triangular guitar, while another musician stands behind him in a dramatic pose, set against a vibrant background.
Drummer performing on stage with a colorful backdrop during a live concert.
A musician performing on stage, playing a black electric guitar, wearing a black leather outfit with studs, and long hair, with a colorful and blurred background.
Musician performing on stage with long hair, wearing a black leather outfit and playing a blue electric guitar.
Musician performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a black leather jacket and long hair.
A male guitarist performing on stage, dressed in a black leather jacket, with long hair and a guitar, in front of a colorful background.
Guitarist performing on stage, wearing a black leather outfit with studs, hair blowing in the wind.
Musician performing on stage with a bass guitar, wearing a leather jacket and leather pants, with an intense expression and flowing hair against a colorful backdrop.
A musician with long, messy hair performing on stage while playing a bass guitar, wearing a black leather outfit and surrounded by vibrant stage lighting.
Musician performing on stage with a bass guitar, surrounded by colorful lighting and a vibrant background.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair, wearing a black leather outfit and playing a blue electric guitar, set against a colorful backdrop of stage lights.
A male guitarist with long hair plays an electric guitar on stage, wearing a black leather outfit with metallic studs, set against a colorful background.
A musician performing on stage, wearing a black jacket with studs and holding a microphone, with a vibrant colored background.
A musician with a white beard and bald head performing passionately on stage, wearing a black jacket adorned with studs, with a blurred background featuring stage lights.
Close-up of a performer singing into a microphone, with a focused expression and one finger raised, wearing a black leather jacket and gloves.
Close-up of a singer performing on stage, wearing a black leather outfit with silver accents and gloves while passionately singing into a microphone.
A guitarist with long hair performs on stage, wearing a black leather jacket adorned with studs. The background features vibrant, colorful lighting, creating an energetic concert atmosphere.
Drummer performing on stage with vibrant lighting during a concert.
A performer in a black leather outfit with studs, raising their hand on stage under concert lights.
A musician with a white beard and a leather jacket performing on stage with a vibrant background.
Close-up of a male singer performing live on stage, wearing a black leather jacket with studs and holding a microphone.
A musician performing on stage with long blonde hair, playing a blue guitar, wearing a black sleeveless outfit with silver studs, in front of a colorful shield backdrop.
A performer with a bald head and a white beard, dressed in a studded black leather jacket, passionately singing into a microphone on stage.
A guitarist performing on stage with long hair, wearing a black leather outfit, in front of a vibrant backdrop featuring colorful graphics.

And then we went to Alice’s Attic !

While Judas Priest was my dads band, Alice Cooper was already my cup of tea. Hey, I was in the school when School’s Out was blasting on the radio, and you know I liked not only the music but the lyrics! And Poison … I was twelve at the time and the music video made puberty hit me like a freight train.

Alice Cooper emerged on the stage from the door placed on the floor and marked with the writing Alice’s Attic, referencing his long running radio show. Looked a bit like a book cover, probably because show is also about stories not only music.

Opening Song was a 1989 banger Spark In The Dark. While spotlight was mostly on Alice Cooper the guitar solo part was equally shared by all guitarists giving them time to shine – Ryan Roxie, Tommy Henriksen and Nita Strauss. Alice Coopers band also had Chuck Garric on bass and Glen Sobel on drums. Of course his set had all my favorites No More Mr. Nice Guy, Poison and School’s Out. None the less all of the performance was amazing. I will refrain mentioning his age, but oh boy, I really wish to be like him if I live that far. No sign of fatigue or age, juts purely driven by rock’n’roll and passion for music. Just amazing show and performance all around from Alice and his band, including amazing guitar solo from Nita.

Speaking of the show. There were multiple theatricals, like giant zombie looking Alice walking around the stage, Alice himself changing outfits including Dracula cape and restraining jacket walking around with doll. And if I am not mistaken his wife Sheryl Cooper as a performer, and she had him beheaded. Don’t worry, he miraculously appeared unharmed for the finale!

The setlist for this concert consisted from the following songs – Spark in the Dark, No More Mr. Nice Guy, House of Fire, I’m Eighteen, Muscle of Love, Feed My Frankenstein, Dirty Diamonds, Caught in a Dream, Hey Stoopid, Dangerous Tonight, Poison, Brutal Planet, Ballad of Dwight Fry, Cold Ethyl, Only Women Bleed, Second Coming, Going Home and School’s Out.

Alice Cooper links

https://alicecooper.com

ABOUT ALICE COOPER

Alice Cooper is widely recognized as the godfather of shock rock, combining horror theatrics with classic hard rock anthems. With a career spanning over five decades, he continues to tour globally, delivering elaborate stage shows that defy expectations. From Love It to Death to Detroit Stories, Cooper’s influence on rock, film, and culture remains unmatched.

Full gallery of Alice Cooper performance below. Photo all rights reserved by Andris Jansons.

https://linktr.ee/andrisjansons

Alice Cooper performing on stage in a dramatic red and black outfit, singing into a microphone with passionate expression.
A performer in a mask and dark clothing peeks from behind a large decorative backdrop on stage, illuminated by dramatic lighting.
Drummer performing on stage with a drum kit, surrounded by colorful lighting effects.
A guitarist performing on stage with a dramatic light background, dressed in a sleeveless outfit and hat. A drummer can be seen in the background.
A musician playing a white bass guitar on stage, with tattoos visible on arms and a focused expression, set against an illuminated background.
A musician performing on stage with a white bass guitar, wearing a sleeveless black vest, surrounded by colorful lighting.
A woman playing electric guitar on stage, singing into a microphone, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A performer on stage wearing a tall black hat and a long red coat, holding a microphone amidst a smoky backdrop.
A performer in a top hat and red coat sings passionately on stage, wearing black leather pants and holding a microphone. The atmosphere is dramatic with smoke in the background.
A performer in a top hat and a red and black coat singing into a microphone with dramatic gestures, while a guitarist in the background plays a red guitar.
A musician playing a white bass guitar on stage, wearing a black vest and showcasing visible tattoos.
A guitarist performing on stage, wearing a black hat and sleeveless shirt, playing a silver electric guitar with an intense expression.
A performer wearing a tall hat and a red velvet coat, holding a microphone on stage with a dramatic background.
A performer in a flamboyant costume and top hat singing into a microphone on stage, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A guitarist performing on stage, wearing a black hat and sleeveless top, with a drum set visible in the background.
Female guitarist performing on stage with dramatic lighting, wearing a rock-inspired outfit and playing an electric guitar.
A female guitarist performing on stage with intense stage lighting, dressed in a leather outfit, showcasing a dynamic pose.
A performer dressed in a flamboyant outfit, featuring a black top hat and a red jacket, singing into a microphone on stage.
A guitarist performing on stage, wearing a black hat and leather attire, playing a guitar with a colorful design. Drummer visible in the background.
A musician performing on stage, playing a white bass guitar, with visible tattoos and wearing a sleeveless leather vest, in a dramatic lighting setting.
A performer in an elaborate costume with a tall hat and gloves, gesturing while speaking into a microphone on stage, with colorful lights in the background.
Guitarist performing on stage with long hair and striking red guitar, dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician with long blonde hair passionately playing a red electric guitar on stage, wearing a black studded outfit with bold stage makeup.
A guitarist passionately performing on stage, playing a white electric guitar.
A guitarist wearing a black outfit and a bandana, performing on stage with a white guitar under dramatic lighting.
Musician performing on stage, passionately playing an electric guitar with a sparkling red finish.
A musician passionately performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a black vest and a bandana, showcasing dynamic energy.
A musician performing on stage, playing an electric guitar with a colorful design, wearing a sleeveless top and a hat.
Two rock musicians perform on stage, one playing a sparkling guitar and the other wearing a top hat and elaborate costume.
A rock band performing on stage, featuring multiple musicians with electric guitars and bass, wearing stylish outfits, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A live performance by a rock band featuring a lead singer in a black top hat and a long coat, accompanied by band members playing guitars and bass. The stage is illuminated with colorful lights.
Alice Cooper performing live, wearing a top hat and a red coat, with dramatic makeup and a skull belt buckle.
Concert performance featuring musicians on stage with a dramatic backdrop of photographs and stage lighting.
Alice Cooper performing on stage in a red coat with black trim and ruffled white shirt.
Alice Cooper performing on stage in a theatrical outfit with a red coat and white ruffled shirt.
Alice Cooper performing on stage, wearing a dramatic costume with a microphone in hand.
Two musicians performing on stage, one playing guitar and the other singing, dressed in theatrical costumes.
A female guitarist performs on stage with a red guitar, surrounded by dramatic props and stage elements.
A close-up of a male performer in dramatic makeup and a red jacket, passionately singing into a microphone during a live concert.
A performer singing passionately on stage, wearing a dramatic red and black costume with elaborate details and heavy makeup, emphasizing a theatrical rock aesthetic.
A male performer in a dramatic outfit with long hair singing into a microphone on stage, illuminated by stage lights.
A performer with long dark hair and striking makeup, wearing a red and black outfit, passionately singing into a microphone on stage.
A performer with long dark hair, wearing a red and black theatrical outfit, sings passionately into a microphone while gesturing with one hand on stage.
A female guitarist performing on stage with a red guitar, dressed in black clothing, with dramatic lighting and a backdrop featuring eerie visuals.
A performer with dark makeup and a red jacket passionately singing into a microphone during a live concert.
Alice Cooper performing on stage in a dramatic outfit with a ruffled shirt and long coat, microphone in hand.
A performer on stage with long hair, wearing a black and red costume with ruffles and a skull belt, singing and raising one hand enthusiastically.
A guitarist performing on stage with dynamic hair movement, while another musician plays nearby among theatrical stage props.
A female guitarist passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, dressed in a black outfit with red accents, under dramatic lighting.
Alice Cooper performing live on stage, wearing a white ruffled shirt and black leather pants, passionately singing into a microphone.
A performer passionately singing on stage, wearing a white ruffled shirt and black gloves, with dramatic lighting and a blurred band member in the background.
A performer dressed in a white shirt with dramatic makeup, gesturing passionately on stage with a red background.
Alice Cooper performing on stage in a dramatic pose with theatrical makeup and a white shirt.
Alice Cooper performing on stage with band members, wearing a white shirt and leather pants, engaged in a lively performance.
A musician performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a black outfit and long hair, in front of a colorful backdrop.
A musician performing on stage, wearing dark clothing and playing a guitar, with a microphone in front of him.
A female guitarist performing on stage, dressed in a black outfit with blood-like paint on her arms and face, showcasing a powerful presence.
A guitarist performing on stage, with tattoos visible on his arms, and wearing a sleeveless top. He is focused while playing an electric guitar.
A female musician performing on stage while singing into a microphone, wearing a black leather vest with yellow details and red body paint.
A guitarist performing on stage with a dramatic fiery background, wearing a black outfit with intricate details and red makeup.
A musician performing on stage with long hair and a black guitar, captured in a dynamic pose.
Female guitarist performing on stage with a black electric guitar, wearing a black outfit with gold detailing and appearing with blood-like makeup.
A rock musician performing on stage, wearing dark attire with red accents and playing an electric guitar against a fiery background.
Two musicians performing on stage with a dramatic fiery backdrop. One is playing an electric guitar and has long blonde hair, while the other, dressed in white, appears to be singing.
Musician performing on stage with an electric guitar, wearing a black hat and a sleeveless outfit, with a vibrant background.
A guitarist performing on stage with intense focus, wearing a black hat and sleeveless top, strumming a yellow electric guitar.
Alice Cooper performing on stage with a dramatic background and band members in the foreground.

Get tickets and VIP via Alice Cooper : https://alicecooper.com/tour/

Get tickets and VIP via Judas Priest : https://judaspriest.com/tour

Alice Cooper and Alice Cooper 2025 Tour:
Sep 29 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Oct 01 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Oct 02 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Oct 04 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Oct 05 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Oct 10 – Colorado Springs, CO – Broadmoor World Arena
Oct 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Oct 14 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Oct 15 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
Oct 18 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Oct 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Oct 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Oct 23 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Oct 25 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Oct 26 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

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