What to Expect at Rock’s Biggest Weekend

After months of anticipation, the Energy Journey competition has arrived.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, six of the largest names in rock and heavy steel will descend upon the California desert. The lineup is formidable, with Weapons N’ Roses, AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Device taking the stage. In contrast to different festivals, which often see artists taking part in abridged performances, every act will ship a headlining-length set of fabric.

Including to the intrigue, many of those artists have historical past with each other. May Axl Rose bounce onstage with AC/DC, whom he memorably fronted in 2016? How a few collaboration between Weapons N’ Roses and Metallica, who famously toured collectively in 1992?

Energy Journey shall be held on the Empire Polo Membership in Indio, Calif. Music followers know this greatest because the annual website of Coachella. The situation additionally hosts nation music’s Stagecoach competition and was the positioning of the well-known Desert Journey occasion in 2016 (which featured Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and extra).

Right here’s what to anticipate from every band on the Energy Journey lineup (so as of efficiency).

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden will get issues began with a set at 6:45PM on Friday night time. They’ve been trekking everywhere in the world as a part of their Future Previous tour, however Energy Journey marks the band’s first present on U.S. soil in 2023. Maiden final performed in America on Oct. 27, 2022, the ultimate cease of their Legacy of the Beast tour.

Frontman Bruce Dickinson has hinted that they could have one thing new to announce as soon as their Energy Journey dedication is full. “One thing else will occur. I am unable to let you know what. However you will be pleased,” Dickinson cryptically famous in a video message to followers.

Weapons N’ Roses

Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan and Weapons N’ Roses will return to the desert for night time one of many competition. The trio initially received again collectively in 2016 at this location, headlining two weekends of Coachella. Issues have gone so nicely since then that Weapons N’ Roses has remained on the highway, performing over 200 exhibits since asserting their reunion.

With renewed civility has come new materials. Weapons N’ Roses launched the songs “Absurd,” “Onerous Skool” and “Maybe.” These have been demos that the band revisited with contemporary ears and their reinvigorated lineup. Weapons N’ Roses have been mixing this new materials into their set lists, so it will be fascinating what they’ve in retailer for the Energy Journey highlight.

Judas Priest

Rely Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill amongst those that are enthusiastic about Energy Journey’s six-headliner setup. “I believe it’s a superb idea as a result of everybody’s excited to see six bands on three completely different days,” Hill instructed The Press Enterprise. “It might be tough with bands of this stature. You couldn’t get all of them on one invoice or in someday anyway. There wouldn’t be sufficient time and there wouldn’t be sufficient room for egos, in all probability, on who would prime the invoice.”

With a brand new album reportedly within the works, Judas Priest might have some unheard materials of their arsenal once they take the stage on Saturday. The band was a late addition to the lineup after Ozzy Osbourne withdrew due to ongoing well being points. “It’s a good thing to get requested to be part of,” Hill admitted. “We’re sorry Ozzy couldn’t do it. He’s not in the perfect place in the meanwhile. However I do know Ozzy; he’s constructed like a tank. He’ll be again at it one time or one other.”

AC/DC

No artist on the Energy Journey lineup has had an extended layoff than AC/DC. This set shall be their first efficiency since Sept. 20, 2016. Lots of issues have occurred within the seven years since then, most notably the demise of rhythm guitarist Malcolm Younger. His alternative, nephew Stevie Younger, shall be available at Energy Journey. Drummer Matt Laug can also be taking up for Phil Rudd. Energy Journey will mark AC/DC’s first gig because the launch of their 2020 LP Energy Up, suggesting that a number of songs might even see their dwell debut on the night time.

Saturday may even show to be one thing of a reunion: AC/DC takes the stage after Judas Priest, and the 2 bands beforehand toured collectively within the early ‘80s. “We had a good time with them again then, nevertheless it was the ’80s, a good time was had by all within the ’80s,” Hill added. “We’d exit on the times off within the evenings and we’d journey a bit on their bus often. I’m wanting ahead to seeing them once more.”

Device

The younger weapons on the Energy Journey invoice are in Device, regardless that they’ve been round for greater than 30 years. Frontman Maynard James Keenan admitted it was humbling to see his band on a lineup with these rock legends. “It is overwhelming to be put in the identical listing with these individuals,” he not too long ago confessed. “All you’ll be able to actually do isn’t fear about it — simply type of do what you do and attempt to do it the perfect you’ll be able to in order that you do not appear like a clown subsequent to those superstars.”

Bassist Justin Chancellor additional revealed that the band could be very conscious of who’s taking part in after them on Sunday night time, and can alter their set listing accordingly. “We’ll attempt to accommodate the Metallica followers a bit bit,” Chancellor instructed The Press Enterprise. “They’ll be like ‘Ugh, come on, get off! Metallica!’ We’re contemplating that a bit bit as a result of we don’t need to drag them down our wormhole too deeply.”

Metallica

Lars Ulrich was within the crowd for Desert Journey in 2016 and observed how completely different it felt from different festivals. “Desert Journey was simply the headliners on one stage,” he instructed the Los Angeles Occasions. “It’s an excellent website, with plenty of music historical past. Subsequently, there was some chatter about doing a tough rock model; the supply lastly got here in six or 9 months in the past. As a fan of laborious rock, I’m going to be there the entire weekend and see each band.” Metallica can have the glory of closing the three-night occasion.

The band has been touring throughout the globe for his or her M72 world tour, however Energy Journey will supply a unique expertise. The M72 gigs have discovered Metallica taking part in two exhibits with completely different set lists in every metropolis, whereas this competition shall be a one-and-done affair. Though Metallica has the closing slot, Ulrich admitted he can’t assist however admire the opposite acts on the invoice. “Clearly, AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest have been enormous influences,” he stated. “These three bands are a big a part of the rationale that we wished to be in a band. So to get everyone collectively in the identical area is a bit awe-inspiring.”

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