On a Friday night in the Capital, two icons of rock Alice Cooper and Judas Priest put on a masterful display how to entice, absorb and entertain an arena full of
Sometimes you don’t realise the impact that someone has had in this world into they are gone. You only have to go back a couple of weeks to see the artists that flew from all across the world into Birmingham to perform, some just for 10 minutes to honour one of the true greats. So on Friday night in London with a stacked lineup, three day’s after his passing, Ozzy Osbourne’s presence was felt throughout. Each artist paying tribute, the songs through the speakers between sets belonged to him.
Alice Cooper @ The O2
It was an early start with Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons taking to the stage just before 7pm. “So London how the fuck are we? Are we ready for some old school rock and roll?” Yes, the crowd were. Opening with We’re The Bastards the first song of the 2020 album of the same name, old school rock and roll is what the crowd got.
Following Ian Fraser Kilmister’s – aka Lemmy – death in December 2015, which unsurprisingly led to the disbandment of Motörhead, guitarist of 30 years Phil Campbell started a new group full of people close to him. Very close to him in fact, three of his actual sons to be exact to carry the torch of performing rock and roll that, as Neil Young once sang, will never die. They move into their first Motörhead cover, 1991’s Going To Brazil. “A big fuck you to all the corrupt politicians out there” growls Joel Peters. I don’t think there were any in attendance tonight but it got a big roar, as the band went into High Rule.
“Before we do this next one everyone raise your middle fingers and point them at the bass player Tyler Campbell” the enigmatic frontman and only non-Campbell in the band demands. “And after three I need you to say fuck you Tyler Campbell.’ On the count of three, the crowd obliges into a giant and as if in response, Tyler starts that unforgettable baseline intro to Motörhead’s Ace Of Spades which the ever-increasing crowd scream along.
Due to the stacked lineup at London’s O2 Arena, it’s a shame that Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons weren’t afforded more than the 25 minutes of their set as their short stint comes to an end, with Strike The Match the frontman points to the sky paying respects to those in the rock community that we’ve lost.
Cooper’s discernible silhouette appears through a giant newspaper front page that spans the full height of the stage. The headline reads “Banned In England! Alice Cooper, Trial Set: For Deeds Against Humanity.” He tears through the paper with his trusty sword and dives into Lock Me Up from 1987’s Raise Your First and Yell before showcasing superb cane-ography during Welcome To The Show.
It was one superbly crafted and intricately choreographed hour of entertainment. Between fake paparazzi coming on stage and being (fairly realistically) stabbed and a public execution where Cooper’s head is decapitated, a master of the shock-rock genre, he has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. Despite nearing 80, his energy is unparalleled. Him and his band demand your attention, making it difficult to look away. Hits from a 50+ year career sound powerful in such a big space. I’m Eighteen the anthem about the confusion of youth is sandwiched between No More Mr Nice Guy and Hey Stoopid; the latter of which had backing vocals sung by the Prince of Darkness Ozzy on the 1990 recording, all sung in unison by the thousands in attendance.
The band manage to match the intensity of their band leader and is highlighted by a fantastic guitar solo by Nita Strauss. Standing atop one of two staircases placed at either end of the stage, Strauss seduces the audience with her intricate whilst fellow guitarists, Ryan Roxie and then Tommy Henriksen follow Strauss battling it out for killer solo of the night. 80’s glam metal pop Poison; one of Cooper’s biggest selling singles received a rapturous singalong.
Killer and I Love The Dead are performed with Cooper off-stage taking a well-deserved breather but also a costume change as he returns to the front of stage. The show which was non-stop action roaring through 16 songs, hit an emotional crescendo when fellow Hollywood Vampire and “some guy we found down an alleyway” Johnny Depp joined the band on stage for a cover of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Cooper, now adorning an Ozzy Osbourne T Shirt, gave a powerful vocal performance to one of rock and metal’s most recognisable songs.
For the finale, original Alice Cooper band members Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, and Michael Bruce emerged on stage joining the tour band and Depp to perform a wild rendition of the ultimate requiem of youth: School’s Out. A song so visceral that 12,000+ people were transformed back to their teens screaming the words describing the end of term, which being the last Friday in July, ironically for a lot of schools, today was the end of the school year. A number of giant balloons were also released from the stage into the crowd, half of which were popped by Coopers’ sword. After introducing everyone who was now on stage, the band segued into a verse of an equally powerful education rebellion song Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 before closing one on last chorus of School’ Out closing out an pulsating set.
As soon as the band leave the stage, Osbourne’s Crazy Train plays over the PA and whilst hoards of crowds flock to use the facilities, everyone is singing with every fibre of their being.
For years, Judas Priest have entered the stage to Sabbath’s War Pigs. Tonight was no different. But also, it was different. Those in attendance sang every word, mimed every drum and air-guitared every riff. For Ozzy. Then, a cacophony of thunder and lights preceded Priest taking to the stage. They had a tough act to follow but the Birmingham rockers were more than up to the task.
Frontman Rob Halford sports a magnificent black leather jacket encrusted with silver jewels. He prowls round the stage during the opener All Guns Blazing from 1990’s Painkiller. In fact the whole band are clad in leather, a signature look they’ve rocked their whole career. “The Priest is back, are you ready?” the imitable frontman roars. 15 months on from their last London show which Rockshot Magazine covered at Wembley Arena. The stage has a back drop of screens where videos often of apocalyptic scenes appear and the main video screens are separated with the iconic Priest trident.
Hell Patrol and fan favourite You’ve Got Another Thing Coming whip the crowd up, with thousands belting out the famed 1981 single. Priest are a band that have continued to record new records across half a century and whilst the height of their fame came in a 10 year stretch through the mid 70’s-80s, they have continued to produce high quality records and maintained their popularity. In fact their latest album; 2024’s Invisible Shield reached number 2 in the album charts marking their highest charting album in their 50 year career.
Gates Of Hell from their latest record combines distinguishable Priest riffing with some terrific melodic guitar phrasing including that of Richie Faulkner with an iconic flying V guitar. Scott Travis’ kept momentum going with a pulsating display behind the drums as seen on Breaking The Law which felt a little quicker than on the record but added to an urgency of the performance whilst Halford let the crowd sing the illustrious refrain.
The unique frontman, who had several jacket changes throughout the night – all leather and all jeweled – looks so focused. He sounds as good as ever, hitting the highest of high screams and never missing a note. Between The Hammer And The Anvil follows, a song about the court case in the late 80’s where Priest were accused of including subliminal messages in their songs. The title referencing the veritable rock and hard place they felt they were in at the time. If anything the case added to their lore and catapulted them to new heights.
The faces of Lemmy, Freddie Mercury, Taylor Hawkins, Christine McVie, Chris Cornell and Ozzy Osbourne among others who we’ve lost through the years were displayed on the screens as Halford delivered the last chorus to the poignant Giants In The Sky from their latest record. A touching tribute during a beautiful song.
After a short break, Halford comes roaring back on stage in a Harley Davidson before beginning the first encore of Hell Bent For Leather. No loss of energy, the 73 year old cracks a a leather whip at his guitarists as fans were still in a frenzy late into the night. Long-time guitarist Glenn Tipton who has been living with Parkinsons for many years joined the band on stage, culminating in Living After Midnight, in what capped off an evening of reflection, reunion and celebration.
In an emotional week for rock fans around the world, two legendary acts with over a 100 years in the business showed the lasting effect of music. Songs will live on forever, memories are cherished by so many of us. But if there’s an artist that has made an impact on you, do not hesitate and go and see them live. Because you never know when will be their last time.
Live review of Alice Cooper and Judas Priest @ The O2, London by Chris Lambert on 25h July 2025. Photography by Louise Phillips.
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