Mercenaries of Metal Tour

1988 concert tour by Judas Priest

Mercenaries of Metal TourTour by Judas Priest

Associated album| Ram It Down
Start date| 7 May 1988
End date| 23 October 1988
No. of shows| 105
Judas Priest concert chronology

*   * Fuel for Life Tour
(1986)
*   * Mercenaries of Metal Tour
(1988)
*   * Painkiller Tour
(1990–1991)

The Mercenaries of Metal Tour was a 1988 concert tour by English heavy metal band Judas Priest, in support of their most recent release, Ram It Down. Unlike their other tours of the 1980s, no official Judas Priest release includes any live recordings from this tour. It was the final tour the band did with longtime drummer Dave Holland. The week before the tour started, the band visited Stockholm, Sweden for full production rehearsals at Hovet. Before the official tour start, the band played a few warm-up shows including one in a club in Amsterdam, Netherlands in early April 1988, where the footage for the Johnny B. Goode video was shot. On 24 September 1988, just before the band was about to perform a show in Dallas, Texas, they were greeted backstage by the sheriff with a subpoena, leading to the infamous subliminal message trial in the summer of 1990.

## Setlist

[edit]

The average setlist for the tour is as follows,[1] though it varied, such as the addition of "Johnny B. Goode" at several shows in Europe,[2] "Turbo Lover" at several shows in North America,[3] and "Beyond the Realms of Death" at various shows.[4][5] The setlist also saw the return of "Sinner", which had been a live staple since 1977, but had been dropped like all other pre-Killing Machine songs, except for "Victim of Changes", during the Fuel for Life Tour.[6]

1. "The Hellion / Electric Eye"
2. "Metal Gods"
3. "Sinner"
4. "Breaking the Law"
5. "Come and Get It"
6. "I'm a Rocker"
7. "The Sentinel"
8. "The Ripper"
9. "Beyond the Realms of Death"
10. "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll"
11. "Turbo Lover" (added on July 20, 1988)
12. "Ram It Down"
13. "Heavy Metal"
14. "Victim of Changes"
15. "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)"
16. "Johnny B. Goode" (dropped after May 26, 1988)
17. "Living After Midnight"
18. "Hell Bent for Leather"
19. "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"

## Tour dates

[edit]

The venues and events for the tour were located in Europe and North America.[7][8] They were supported by Bonfire on the European and British legs, Cinderella on the British and North American legs and Slayer on the North American leg.[7]

Date  | City  | Country  | Venue

|
|
|

Warm-up gig
3 April 1988 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Roxy Club
European leg
7 May 1988 | Stockholm | Sweden | Isstadion
8 May 1988 | Gothenburg | Frölundaborg
9 May 1988 | Oslo | Norway | Skedsmohallen
10 May 1988 | Copenhagen | Denmark | K.B. Hallen
12 May 1988 | West Berlin | West Germany | Deutschlandhalle
14 May 1988 | Zwolle | Netherlands | IJsselhallen
15 May 1988 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National
16 May 1988 | Paris | France | Le Zénith
18 May 1988 | Toulouse | Palais des Sports de Toulouse
20 May 1988 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau dels Esports de Barcelona
21 May 1988 | San Sebastián | Velódromo de Anoeta
22 May 1988 | Madrid | Auditorio de la Casa de Campo
23 May 1988
26 May 1988 | Milan | Italy | Palatrussardi
27 May 1988 | Florence | Palasport
29 May 1988 | Lausanne | Switzerland | CIG de Malley
31 May 1988 | Würzburg | West Germany | Carl Diem Halle
1 June 1988 | Ludwigshafen | Friedrich-Ebert-Halle
2 June 1988 | Munich | Olympiahalle
4 June 1988 | Jübek | Sandbahn-Stadion
5 June 1988 | Oldenburg | Weser-Ems Halle
7 June 1988 | Offenbach am Main | Stadthalle Offenbach
8 June 1988 | Ulm | Halle 10
9 June 1988 | Böblingen | Sporthalle
10 June 1988 | Cologne | Sporthalle
12 June 1988 | Birmingham | England | Powerhouse
13 June 1988 | London | Hammersmith Odeon
14 June 1988
16 June 1988 | Leicester | De Montfort Hall
17 June 1988 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Playhouse
18 June 1988 | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | Newcastle City Hall
19 June 1988 | Manchester | Manchester Apollo
21 June 1988 | Newport | Wales | Newport Centre
22 June 1988 | Sheffield | England | Sheffield City Hall
North American leg
20 July 1988 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum
22 July 1988 | Toronto | CNE Grandstand
24 July 1988 | Ottawa | Ottawa Civic Centre
26 July 1988 | Worcester | United States | Worcester Centrum
27 July 1988 | Middletown | Orange County Fairgrounds
28 July 1988 | Uniondale | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
29 July 1988 | East Rutherford | Meadowlands Arena
30 July 1988 | Uniondale | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
31 July 1988 | Providence | Providence Civic Center
2 August 1988 | Philadelphia | Spectrum
5 August 1988 | Saratoga Springs | Saratoga Performing Arts Center[9]
6 August 1988 | Rochester | Rochester Community War Memorial
7 August 1988 | New Haven | New Haven Coliseum
8 August 1988  | Binghamton | Broome County Arena
10 August 1988 | Hershey | Hersheypark Stadium[9]
11 August 1988  | Buffalo | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
12 August 1988 | Landover | Capital Centre
13 August 1988
14 August 1988 | Hampton | Hampton Coliseum
15 August 1988 | Columbus | Ohio Center
16 August 1988 | Dayton | Hara Arena
17 August 1988 | Richfield | Richfield Coliseum
19 August 1988 | Toledo | Toledo Sports Arena
20 August 1988 | Auburn Hills | The Palace of Auburn Hills
21 August 1988 | Charlevoix | Castle Farms
23 August 1988 | Indianapolis | Market Square Arena
24 August 1988 | Chicago | Rosemont Horizon
26 August 1988 | Milwaukee | Mecca Arena
27 August 1988 | Minneapolis | Met Center
28 August 1988 | East Troy | Alpine Valley Music Theatre
29 August 1988 | Bonner Springs | Sandstone Amphitheater[9]
30 August 1988 | St. Louis | Kiel Auditorium
3 September 1988  | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Civic Arena
8 September 1988 | Greensboro | Greensboro Coliseum
9 September 1988 | Charlotte | Charlotte Coliseum
10 September 1988 | Nashville | Starwood Amphitheatre
11 September 1988  | Birmingham | Boutwell Auditorium
13 September 1988 | Memphis | Mid-South Coliseum
14 September 1988 | Atlanta | Omni Coliseum
16 September 1988 | Jacksonville | Jacksonville Coliseum
17 September 1988 | Lakeland | Lakeland Civic Center
18 September 1988 | Pembroke Pines | Hollywood Sportatorium
20 September 1988 | Shreveport | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
21 September 1988 | New Orleans | Lakefront Arena
23 September 1988 | Houston | The Summit
24 September 1988 | Dallas | Starplex Amphitheatre
25 September 1988 | San Antonio | HemisFair Arena
27 September 1988 | Austin | Frank Erwin Center
28 September 1988 | Lubbock | Lubbock Municipal Coliseum
29 September 1988 | El Paso | El Paso County Coliseum
30 September 1988  | Reno | Lawlor Events Center
1 October 1988 | Salt Lake City | Salt Palace
2 October 1988 | Denver | McNichols Sports Arena
4 October 1988 | Albuquerque | Tingley Coliseum
6 October 1988 | Chandler | Compton Terrace
7 October 1988 | San Francisco | Cow Palace
8 October 1988
9 October 1988  | Sacramento | Cal Expo Amphitheater
10 October 1988 | Mountain View | Shoreline Amphitheatre
11 October 1988 | Fresno | Selland Arena
12 October 1988 | San Diego | San Diego Sports Arena
13 October 1988 | Los Angeles | The Forum
14 October 1988
15 October 1988 | Laguna Hills | Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
16 October 1988
18[9] October 1988 | Spokane | Spokane Coliseum
19 October 1988 | Seattle | Seattle Center Coliseum
20 October 1988 | Portland | Portland Coliseum
22 October 1988 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum

## Personnel

[edit]

* Rob Halford – lead vocals
* Glenn Tipton – guitar
* K. K. Downing – guitar
* Ian Hill – bass
* Dave Holland – drums
* Jim Silvia – tour manager

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Judas Priest Average Setlists of tour: Mercenaries of Metal | setlist.fm Archived 19 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
2. ^ Judas Priest Covered Songs and Artists – Mercenaries of Metal | setlist.fm Archived 19 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
3. ^ "Judas Priest – Turbo Lover – Live in New Haven 1988" Archived 16 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. YouTube, 26 June 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
4. ^ "Judas Priest – Beyond the Realms of Death, San Diego 1988" Archived 15 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine. YouTube, 29 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
5. ^ "Judas Priest – Beyond The Realms of Death Live Edinburgh 1988" Archived 27 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. YouTube, 1 September 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
6. ^ Krannila, Ville. The Fuel of the Furnace Part 1 – Sinner Archived 3 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
7. ^ a b Tourdates From The Past[usurped] on jugulator.net. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
8. ^ The French Metallian – 1988 tour dates Archived 2 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
9. ^ a b c d chmetal bootlegs – Judas Priest Tour Dates 1988. 26 September 2008 (last updated). Retrieved 8 January 2012.

* v
* t
* e

Judas Priest

* Ian Hill
* Rob Halford
* Glenn Tipton
* Scott Travis
* Richie Faulkner

* Al Atkins
* K. K. Downing
* Alan Moore
* John Hinch
* Simon Phillips
* Les Binks
* Dave Holland
* Tim "Ripper" Owens

Studio albums|

* Rocka Rolla
* Sad Wings of Destiny
* Sin After Sin
* Stained Class
* Killing Machine / Hell Bent for Leather
* British Steel
* Point of Entry
* Screaming for Vengeance
* Defenders of the Faith
* Turbo
* Ram It Down
* Painkiller
* Jugulator
* Demolition
* Angel of Retribution
* Nostradamus
* Redeemer of Souls
* Firepower
* Invincible Shield

Live albums|

* Unleashed in the East
* Priest...Live!
* Priest, Live and Rare
* '98 Live Meltdown
* Live in London
* A Touch of Evil: Live
* Battle Cry

Compilations|

* The Best of Judas Priest
* Hero, Hero
* Metal Works '73–'93
* The Best of Judas Priest: Living After Midnight
* Genocide
* Metalogy
* The Essential Judas Priest
* Single Cuts
* The Chosen Few
* The Complete Albums Collection

Videos|

* Live in London
* Electric Eye
* Rising in the East
* Live Vengeance '82
* Epitaph
* Battle Cry

Singles|

* "Diamonds and Rust"
* "Better by You, Better than Me"
* "Exciter"
* "Take On the World"
* "Evening Star"
* "Rock Forever"
* "Living After Midnight"
* "Breaking the Law"
* "United"
* "Heading Out to the Highway"
* "You've Got Another Thing Comin'"
* "Electric Eye"
* "Freewheel Burning"
* "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll"
* "Turbo Lover"
* "Johnny B. Goode"
* "Painkiller"
* "A Touch of Evil"
* "Burn in Hell"
* "Bullet Train"
* "Revolution"
* "Panic Attack"

Other songs|

* "Run of the Mill"
* "Victim of Changes"
* "Dreamer Deceiver"
* "Dissident Aggressor"
* "Beyond the Realms of Death"
* "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)"
* "Judas Rising"

Tours and concerts|

* British Steel Tour
* World Wide Blitz Tour
* World Vengeance Tour
* Metal Conqueror Tour
* Fuel for Life Tour
* Mercenaries of Metal Tour
* Painkiller Tour
* Operation Rock & Roll
* Reunited Tour
* Retribution Tour
* Nostradamus World Tour
* Epitaph World Tour
* Redeemer of Souls Tour
* Firepower World Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Members
* Andy Sneap
* The Flying Hat Band
* Fight
* Two
* Halford
* Elegant Weapons
* KK's Priest
* Sermons of the Sinner
* The Sinner Rides Again
* Heavy Metal Parking Lot
* A Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends of Metal
* Hell Bent Forever: A Tribute to Judas Priest
* A Tribute to the Priest

* Category:Judas Priest

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