On this day, 24 Jan 1978, Heavy metal rock band Judas Priest played Cardiff’s Top Rank on the band’s Stained Class Tour in support of the band’s album of the same name. It was part of a 61 date tour which included North America and for the first time Japan.
Twelve years after its release, Stained Class was the subject of a 1990 civil action brought against the band by the family of a teenager, James Vance, who entered into a suicide pact with his friend Ray Belknap after allegedly listening to "Better by You, Better than Me" on 23 December 1985. Belknap succeeded in killing himself, and Vance was left critically injured after surviving a self-inflicted gunshot to the facial area, eventually dying of a methadone overdose three years later. The suit alleged that Judas Priest recorded subliminal messages on the song that said "do it". The suit was eventually dismissed. The song was originally written and performed by the band Spooky Tooth.
Judas Priest
Rob Halford – vocals
K. K. Downing – guitars
Glenn Tipton – guitars
Ian Hill – bass
Les Binks – drums
Setlist
"Exciter"
"White Heat, Red Hot"
"The Ripper"
"Sinner"
"Beyond the Realms of Death"
"Victim of Changes"
"Better By You, Better Than Me" (Spooky Tooth cover)
"Genocide"
Encore 1:
"Tyrant"
Encore 2:
"Starbreaker"
