CINCINNATI, OH- The Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH, played host to one of the most anticipated rock tours of the summer, an event that seemed to unite generations of rock fans under one roof. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the venue buzzed with the kind of anticipation that only true legends can command. It was a headbanger’s dream come true, with leather jackets, vintage band tees, and horns held high in the air as fans prepared for a night led by two titans of rock: the Metal Gods themselves, Judas Priest, and the ever-theatrical Godfather of Shock Rock, Alice Cooper. Both acts have built careers on spectacle and power, each shaping the sound and style of hard rock and heavy metal in their own distinct ways. For longtime devotees, this tour represented more than nostalgia; it was a celebration of resilience, musicianship, and a shared legacy that continues to thrive decades later.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers announced the co-headlining run earlier this year, and the pairing immediately felt both inevitable and inspired. Alice came in riding high on the success of a relentless spring and summer touring schedule, while Judas Priest carried the torch forward from last year’s massive shows supporting their nineteenth studio album, Invisible Shield. Together, they delivered a package that was both theatrical and thunderous, blending macabre theatrics with virtuosic metal precision. For fans young and old, it was a reminder that while trends come and go, true rock and roll endures, louder and more defiant than ever.
With an early start time, Corrosion of Conformity kicked things off with a high-energy set that got the crowd fired up. Led by Woody Weatherman on guitar and vocalist Pepper Keenan, the band’s seven-song performance didn’t disappoint longtime fans. Bassist Bobby Landgraf was first to walk on stage, smiling as he greeted the crowd and dove into the opening bass line of “Bottom Feeder,” backed by Jason Patterson on drums, filling in for Stanton Moore on this tour.
Behind them hung two striking backdrops, one red featuring a two-headed vulture in a zen posture, and the other blue with a crowned two-headed eagle, the band’s name emblazoned across the top. Corrosion of Conformity powered through a tight, well-received set focused mainly on their two best-known albums, closing with fan favorites “Albatross” and “Clean My Wounds.” Those who showed up early were rewarded with a blistering opening act that set the tone for the night.
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You come to expect a lot from Alice Cooper, even for someone like me who had never seen him live before. The man has been performing for over 50 years, so a spectacle is practically guaranteed. They don’t call him the “Godfather of Shock Rock” for nothing, and he didn’t disappoint. For this tour, Cooper unveiled “Alice’s Attic,” a production overflowing with props, mannequins, and eerie stage fixtures. The lighting and video projections were perfectly executed, and the show opened dramatically with Alice emerging from a giant book bearing the tour’s title.
His band was, as expected, world-class, a powerhouse lineup that included the incredible Nita Strauss, who, alongside Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen, formed a triple-guitar threat trading riffs and solos with thrilling precision. Anchored by bassist Chuck Garric and drummer Glen Sobel, Cooper prowled the stage with the command of a dark ringmaster guiding us through his twisted theatrical nightmare.
Across his nearly two-hour set, Cooper weaved through hits and deep cuts with ease. At 77 years old, he’s not just standing still, he’s acting, reacting, and playing off his bandmates and cast of characters: aliens, his wife Cheryl (in the role of the dancer and victim), the straitjacket, Frankenstein, and of course, the infamous guillotine. Every moment was a piece of rock theater brought to life.
The setlist was packed with favorites: “I’m 18” (featuring an appearance by original bassist and co-writer Dennis Dunaway), “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Muscle of Love,” “Feed My Frankenstein,” and “Poison,” which led into a blistering guitar solo by Nita Strauss. Deeper cuts like “House of Fire,” “Caught in a Dream,” “Dangerous Tonight,” “Brutal Planet,” and “Cold Ethyl” offered something for die-hard fans too. Cooper closed with “Only Women Bleed,” “Second Coming,” and “Going Home,” capped off by the iconic guillotine sequence where Cheryl licked his severed head, a gruesome but crowd-pleasing finale.
He returned for the encore in a white top hat and tux tails for “School’s Out,” seamlessly blending in a snippet of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2),” with Dunaway returning for one last bow. Decades into his career, Alice Cooper remains a master showman, sharp, theatrical, and backed by a phenomenal band that helps him deliver every ounce of spectacle his fans expect.
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The buzz for Judas Priest was electric as the stage was prepped for the Metal Gods. They emerged amid thunder and lightning visuals before launching full throttle into “All Guns Blazing” and “Hell Patrol,” both from 1990’s Painkiller, immediately setting the hard-hitting tone for the night. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” arrived early as the first radio-friendly crowd-pleaser, and the setlist mixed deep cuts with timeless anthems.
Rob Halford led the charge with the same piercing precision that made him a legend. The Birmingham-born frontman, alongside longtime drummer Scott Travis, tore through eighty-six minutes of pure metal fury. Original bassist Ian Hill anchored the low end, while guitarists Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap handled the dual-lead duties once occupied by K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, both doing the legacy proud. This was Judas Priest at their most raw and authentic.
They delivered the goods with “Painkiller,” “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” and “Hell Bent for Leather.” Celebrating the 35th anniversary of Painkiller, one of the heaviest albums in their catalog, the band played five tracks from it during their 14-song set, each one executed flawlessly. They also spotlighted material from their nineteenth album, 2024’s Invisible Shield, including “Giants in the Sky,” a tribute to fallen heroes like Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister, Eddie Van Halen, and Ronnie James Dio, whose images flashed across the screens.
After the main set closer, Halford returned to the stage astride his signature motorcycle, revving it up before launching into “Hell Bent for Leather” and closing the night with the enduring “Living After Midnight.” Judas Priest proved once again why they stand unmatched, pioneers of heavy metal, still powerful, still precise, and still giving everything to their fans. Here’s to many more years of music and mayhem from these legends.
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