'American Idol' Finalist JAMES DURBIN Performs Acoustic Versions Of SKID ROW Classics (Video)

June 27, 2011

Video footage of James Durbin the 22-year-old rocker from Santa Cruz, California, who was eliminated from "American Idol" last month but who made a return appearance during the Season 10 finale of the Fox singing competition performing acoustic versions of the SKID ROW classics "18 And Life" and "I Remember You" can be viewed below.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach got a chance to "hang" with James Durbin on June 13 and revealed in an online post that "[Durbin told] me he wanted to sing '18 And Life' on 'American Idol' but was told he's not allowed to, it's 'not cleared.'" Bach added, "Who makes these decisions and why? How? He was told he could do a BON JOVI song but not SKID ROW. Very interesting. And shitty."

Durbin performed JUDAS PRIEST's classic songs "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking The Law" with the British heavy metal legends themselves during the "American Idol" finale.

Durbin sang the JUDAS PRIEST classic "You Got Another Thing Coming" on the March 1 edition of "Idol". His rendition marked the first time, according to AEROSMITH singer and "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler, where a JUDAS PRIEST single was performed on the "Idol" stage.

Asked if there was any trepidation about letting Durbin take on their 1982 hit, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton told MTV, "None whatsoever, I mean, if you look at what James has done for heavy metal, you've got to say thank you, you know? It's just bringing metal to the front, making it, metal, accessible for people. It's a good thing."

As for whether there will ever be a collaboration between the fourth-place finalist and the British band, PRIEST singer Rob Halford was optimistic, saying, "Yeah, anything's possible."

"We just wish him all the best," he added. "He's got such an extraordinary voice. He's got such a genuine and lovable personality. He's the real deal, James, and we wish him the best. Good for you, James!"

Durbin told USA Today that he is planning to record an album, with what he described as a "[DIO] 'Holy Diver', [BLACK SABBATH] 'Neon Knights'-type" feel. "I potentially heard my first single yesterday," he said, adding that it "still has a heavy edge and is radio friendly." He has also just written a song with James Michael (SIXX: A.M., SCORPIONS, MTLEY CRE) and frequent AEROSMITH collaborator Marti Frederiksen.

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