Judas Priest Rock a Red-Carpet Anniversary Party in New York

Metal is rarely a red-carpet institution, but the Hard Rock Cafe in New York's Times Square rolled it out last night for a party celebrating local radio personality Eddie Trunk's 25th anniversary in broadcasting. Members of Black Sabbath, Anthrax and Twisted Sister, comedians Jim Norton and Jim Breuer and former New York Met Mike Piazza paid tribute to the longtime metal advocate, followed by a performance from the evening's house band, Judas Priest. Decked out in street clothes and toning down the theatrics, Rob Halford and Co. delivered a quick, hits-packed show to an invite-only crowd. The relaxed atmosphere didn't call for a "leave it all on the stage" level of performance, but happy takes on songs like "Electric Eye" and "Breaking the Law" made the band's 50-minute set a thing of glee.

Judas Priest, along with Heaven and Hell (the Ronnie James Dio-fronted incarnation of Black Sabbath), Motorhead and Testament kick off the Metal Masters tour tomorrow night in Camden.

Set List:
"Electric Eye"
"Metal Gods"
"Devil's Child"
"Breaking the Law"
"Hell Patrol"
"The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)"
"You've Got Another Thing Comin'"

Encore: "Hell Bent for Leather"

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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