Saxon reaffirmed his position in Latin America as one of the most important – and underestimated – names of heavy music
More than four decades have passed since the ascensions of the English groups Iron Maiden and Saxon and the vocalist of this, Biff Byfordto this day you need to explain why your band has not burst like the first. The 74 -year -old singer, who still plays his classic compositions in an original and enviable disposition, has some theories. For him, Maiden had a much better behind -the -scenes team and focused on expanding in the United States at the right time.
However, both have something in common beyond nationality and musical genre. Byford also recognizes: both its saxon and Iron Maiden are worshiped in South America, with the proper proportions.
Under this extremely favorable scenario, Biff and his colleagues – Nigel Glocker (battery), Doug Scarratt (guitar), Brian Tatler (guitar, replacing the tours Paul Quinn) and Nibbs Carter (bass) – This Saturday, 3, began his ninth national tour with presentation for a full Bangers Open Airat the Latin America Memorial, in São Paulo. Then they still go through Belo Horizonte (04/05) and Porto Alegre (05/06). They were in the country recently in November 2023, but as the quintet is worshiped here, being able to watch them again is never too much.
Save three songs from the most recent album Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024) – title track at the opening (where it didn’t fit well), “Madame Guillotine” and “1066” – The 13 song setlist was strongly anchored on the classic records WHOELS OF STEEL (1980), Strong Arm of the Law (1980), Denim and Leather (1981), Power & The Glory (1983) and Crusader (1984). To stay in the most acclaimed, classic examples like the accelerated “Motorcycle Man”Hard Rocker “Wheels of Steel” And the always curious “747 (Strangers in the Night)” “Owner of one of the most peculiar choruses of the metal,” they ripped from the audience headed, fists up and some corner together.
This same audience, three times, shouted “Olê, Olê Olê Olê, Saxon, Saxon” to the point of Biff Byford and his colleagues stop to look and contemplate. A demonstration of respect for one of the most underestimated bands in the history of heavy metal, although, for the sake of truth, its complete discography did not maintain the level of the work of the first half of the 1980s.
Respect, it is said, is reciprocal and an attitude at first trivial serves as proof. Fans played two jeans, just before “Denim and Leather”which deals with how this fabric and leather show the union and camaraderie in heavy music. Byford dressed one of them, with the names of his group and AC/DC and Diowhile Tatler, also icon of the Diamond Head And perhaps one of the most accurate hires of metal in recent years has been dressed, with covers of various albums of the band. They could have thrown to the side, but they enjoyed the gift received there, who knows who.
How long will the Brazilian fan still have a chance to see Saxon, active for 50 years and with such energetic performance as usual? As this question lacks the answer, one should not waste the opportunity to see them live. However, based on what was accompanied during the Bangers Open Air, Biff Byford and the Nigel Glocker battery playing machine, the only seventies of formation, have not signs that they want to stop – nor their three younger colleagues. Long life to the wronged who, at least in Brazil, find some justice.
Setlist – Saxon at Bangers Open Air 2025:
1. Hell, Fire and Damnation
2. Power and the Glory
3. Motorcycle Man
4. Madame Guillotine
5. HEAVY METAL THUNDER
6. Strong Arm of the Law
7. 1066
8. Denim and Leather
9. And the Bands Played on
10. 747 (Strangers in the Night)
11. Wheels of Steel
12. Crusader
13. Princess of the Night
Check out photos and setlists from other shows of the second day of Bangers Open Air, clicked by Igor Aleixo exclusively for Rolling Stone Brazil.
Burning Witches
1. Dance with the devil
2. Maiden of Steel
3. Nine Worlds
4. Wings of Steel
5. Hexenhammer
6. The Spell of the Skull
7. The Dark Tower
8. Lucid Nightmare
9. Burning Witches
Pictures of Igor Aleixo @aleixoox for Rolling Stone Brazil:
Viper
1.
2. PRELUDE TO OBLIVION
3. Cry from the edge
4. Coming from the inside
5. Dance of Madness
6. Wasted / The Shelter
7. Dead light
8. Rebel Maniac (in honor of Pit Passarel)
9. Evolution
10. The Spreading Soul (in honor of Andre Matos)
11. Under the Sun
12. Living for the night
Pictures of Igor Aleixo @aleixoox for Rolling Stone Brazil:
See this photo on InstagramA publication shared by Rolling Stone Brasil (@rollingstonebrasil)
Heat
1. DISASTER
2. Emergency
3. Dangerous Ground
4. Hollywood
5. Rise
6. BEG BEG BEG
7. Back to the rhythm
8. Bad time for love
9. 1000 Miles
10. One by One
11. Living on the run
Pictures of Igor Aleixo @aleixoox for Rolling Stone Brazil:
Ritual Matanza
Pictures of Igor Aleixo @aleixoox for Rolling Stone Brazil:
See this photo on InstagramA publication shared by Rolling Stone Brasil (@rollingstonebrasil)
PowerWolf
1. Bless’ in with the blade
2. Incense & Iron
3. Army of the Night
4. Sinners of the Seven Seas
5. AMEN & ATTACK
6. Dancing with the Dead
7. Armata Strigoi
8. Sainted by the Storm
9. Heretic Hunters
10. Fire and Forgive
11. Werewolves of Armenia
12.
13. Blood for Blood (Faoladh)
14. Sanctified with Dynamite
15. We Drink Your Blood
Pictures of Igor Aleixo @aleixoox for Rolling Stone Brazil:
Sabaton
1. Ghost Division
2. The Last Stand
3. The Red Baron
4. Bismarck
5. (Unidentified music)
6. Stormtroopers
7. Carolus Rex (Swedish version)
8. Night Witches
9. The Attack of the Dead Men
10. FIELDS OF VERDUN
11. The Art of War
12. Resist and Bite (with excerpt from Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”)
13. Soldier of Heaven
14. Christmas Truce
15. Smoking snakes
16. Cousin Victoria
17. Swedish Payans
18. To Hell and Back
Pictures of Igor Aleixo @aleixoox for Rolling Stone Brazil:
+++ Read more: The Gothic and Decoted “nuns” rock band that stole the scene in the bangers
+++ Read more: Glenn Hughes challenges logic and his own age with a show at Bangers Open Air
+++ Read more: Kerry King talks to RS about show in Brazil, solo career, slayer and more
+++ read more: a chat with Heat, a hard rock band that may surprise – again – in the bangers
+++ Read more: Doro Pesch talks to RS about show in Brazil, tribute to Lemmy and memories with Kiss
+++ Follow Rolling Stone Brasil @rollingstonebrasil on Instagram
+++ Follow journalist Igor Miranda @igormirandasite on Instagram
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
