The Real Steel of Judas Priestess
The Real Steel of Judas Priestess
Judas Priestess is an all female tribute band to Birmingham, England’s own Metal Gods, Judas Priest. Based out of New York City and endorsed by none other than Judas Priests original and now reunited front man Rob Halford and founding guitarist K.K. Downing, these ladies do an exceptional job of delivering ‘Diamonds and Rust’ every time they play. The band covers material spanning from the legendary “Sad Wings of Destiny,” to “Painkiller.”
The ladies were good enough to give indiemusic.co some of their time, and explain how they developed their show.
JUDAS PRIESTESS/NYC
MilitiA, Vocals
D Mercedes, Lead Guitar, co-founder
Gyda Gash, Bass, co-founder
What was the moment you fell in love with Judas Priest?
M: As a kid I remember hearing the name and thinking, ‘Holy f#ck, that has got to be the greatest band name in existence.’
D: When I first heard the name Judas Priest. It was, and remains, the greatest and most badass unforgettable name ever for a rock band!
G: Years ago I played in the seminal doom metal band Angel Rot, with ex-White Zombie axeman Tom Five. We actually covered and recorded ‘Rapid Fire’. I fell in love with the relationship between the pounding bass and the incessant drums in that song. Performing it live was like shooting speed! It led me to seek out more more more Priest.
When did you first get the idea to put the band together?
G: The story goes like this: D and I were playing on the same bill at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom: she in Girls Girls Girls (Motley Crue trib) and myself in Queen Bitch (David Bowie trib). We each took a look at each other’s performances and decided “THAT’S the guitarist/bassist I wanna play with!!!” So we sat down and decided to form a new band – a smokin’ all-girl metal band. I wanted to do Black Sabbath, D wanted to do Priest. Priest won. The rest of the gals just came to us. We were extremely fortunate – we had some kind of good magic.
D: After 2 ½ years of being in Girls Girls Girls, the world’s 1st & best all-girl 
tribute to Motley Crue, it was time to start this up. It was my belief that all the women necessary to complete the new group were out there somewhere and would be found because Judas Priestess HAD to happen now.
Once you put your mind to it, how hard was it to put a line up together?
D: Having teamed up with Gyda from the start that made it easier as we worked out some songs before looking for anyone else. It was not going to be easy. There are not many women who play metal like true warriors for a band like this. Finding the perfect singer in MilitiA was destiny, as there is no other way to explain it. She has worked with major superstars like Nancy Sinatra, Cyndi Lauper, Dee Snider, and chose to join up with us. We have had lineup changes for the usual reasons and are currently having to work with other drummers b/c JoJo is currently on a medical leave for prior injuries that includes years of head banging. In any all-female band, especially a metal outfit, to have to find, or replace a member is a huge & horrible challenge.
How were you initially received once you started to gig out?
M: We were very well received by the public and the press. Of course, there were some people who were skeptical at first… There are still the occasional haters who come to our shows to laugh because think it’s some sort of demented joke or lame gimmick. Then they see the show and go home 
surprisingly happy.
G: Our first gig was at the legendary Stone Pony to an extremely enthusiastic crowd. Good crowd and good press. We were off!
D: With great enthusiasm from both fans and the press. Judas Priest fans are very passionate about who defends the faith, and we had to show ’em we could do it.
Do you have a favorite song or part of the show to perform?
G: I love revving up the set to Painkiller, which is always at the end of playing for about an hour and a half non-stop. By the time we get to the PAIN …KILLAH we are sweaty and burning with fire. We explode in this number.
M: We usually open with Rapid Fire and that really jumpstarts the whole experience like a steel-toed boot to the head. It’s so tough and it’s so metal, it feels amazing to sing and play with all that power and energy spiraling out. It’s like flooring it in a killer set o’ wheels.
D: From start to finish I adore playing Judas Priest. But I do always look forward to VICTIM OF CHANGES and so does the audience. Grown men had wept at our shows during this song. It is one of the most powerful and beautiful songs ever written.
Is there a song from Judas Priest catalog you wish you could work into the live set?
M: Lately, I’ve been craving Beyond The Realms of Death, Judas Rising and Hellrider.
D: I’ve recently felt the urge to include BEYOND THE REALMS OF DEATH, one of their most dramatic and heart-wrenching early works (1978). That would be incredible for us to do.
G: Freewheel Burning. I can taste that one! It’s delicious.
Do you have a favorite Judas Priest b-side/obscurity?
M: Saints in Hell.
G: Deep Freeze/Winter from JP’s first album Rocka Rolla. Priest doesn’t even acknowledge that album – they were experimenting with different styles and the music on this LP is very (Pink) Floydian. It’s very stoner. We have reworked it and segue to Dissident Aggressor. It has become one of the highlights of our set.
How does it feel to have the blessing of Rob Halford and the band?
M: Amazing! What’s better than a seal of approval from the band that you’re paying tribute to?? For me, having the encouragement from Rob at the gate definitely took the fire in me to the next level. It’s made me work ten times harder to honor his legacy as one of the greatest vocalists of all time and pay hommage to the entire band, the metal gods!
D: It is still the highlight of our short career to have met Rob Halford at That Metal Show in 2009. He was very awe inspiring and gracious and it made us work all the harder to please him. Getting personal acknowledgement from KK Downing was a great honor, as was receiving compliments from Al Atkins. For a tribute band to get any props from those who originally wrote that music is gratifying. To get props from members of the almighty Judas Priest is mindboggling!
G: Very very cool – we also have the blessing from KK Downing (Steel Mill) and recently received a Facebook friend request from Al Atkins, original member of Priest first lineup and co-author of one of Priest’s most classic tunes “Victim of Changes”. We sent him the youtube of us performing Victim and he wrote us “You women rock….fantastic version of Victim…” It doesn’t get any better than that!
Strangest comment/compliment you’ve received?
D: When Gyda and I put out our 1st ad to start looking for other members, we got a weird message from the singer of some other Priest tribute band from the area. It read “LMFAO! you have GOT to be kidding” and included some dreadful videos of his band playing to an empty room, seemingly trying to intimidate us — the nervy women who would dare try to play Priest. It seems Judas Priestess drove them out of business. On a personal note, I am called ‘heavy metal Cher’ at about every show.
M: “Wow, you’re a great singer! How’d you get into metal? Were you like a gospel singer before this?” LMFAO. Ughhh…
G: Fans try to touch my hair to see if it’s fake. It is not. I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.
Can you still listen to Judas Priest as a fan or does your brain always make you think of it as a performer?
M: I think of every song I hear as a performer- not just Priest. I can’t help it – occupational hazard. But at the end of the day, I’m still a Priest superfan.
G: Very difficult to separate the two. I’m always drawn to the bass line: I picture myself playing it not to mention what stage moves I would throw in. LOL!
D: First and always, I listen and appreciate as a fan, and wonder: how the hell did they write that incredible song???? That will never change, nor can anyone ever top the original creators of anything. However, it is always a very powerful feeling when our band has completed its version of a particular favorite like PAINKILLER, VICTIM, or DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR. By being in a tribute, it is necessary to imagine oneself performing onstage while listening to the recordings that you know would be perfect to play out with the band. Those songs scream out DO ME!!!
JUDAS PRIESTESS NYC
