A Priestly Heep
On Oct. 5, 1973, with a complexion like chocolate chip cookie dough smeared over the face of a drowning victim, and hair I thought looked like Rod Stewart’s but probably more resembled a thatch of weeds growing out of a bog, I saw Uriah Heep for the first time at Memorial Auditorium in Dallas. They were out on their pre-“Sweet Freedom” tour. I tried to get backstage and made an idiot of myself.
On March 27, 1978, with a slightly less-rotted visage and pot-savaged scarlet eyes, I saw Judas Priest for the first time at the Waco Convention Center in Waco on their “Stained Class” tour. I met vocalist Rob Halford backstage before the show. He had two women with him and a bottle of whiskey. I made an idiot of myself.
All these decades on, I interviewed Halford last year on the phone before Priest, on their “Firepower” tour, played the Mohegan Sun Arena. I made an idiot of myself.
Last year, I interviewed Uriah Heep guitarist and sole original member Mick Box in advance of the “Living the Dream” show they did at the Wolf Den on Feb. 23. Before the gig, I spotted Box as he was going to eat at Tuscany. Like a 14-year-old fan, I raced up to him to giggle and say hi. I made an idiot of myself.
Tonight, in the Sun Arena, Judas Priest AND Uriah Heep perform. I’ll be there — now with a face like a Halloween mask of Mister Burns — and, yes, I’ll probably make an idiot of myself. That’s how great these bands are (to me, anyway). Judas Priest and Uriah Heep, 7:30 tonight, Mohegan Sun Arena; $49-$69; 1-800-7453000.