Eliminated 'American Idol' Contestant JAMES DURBIN Performs JUDAS PRIEST Classic On 'Leno'

May 15, 2011

James Durbin, the 22-year-old rocker from Santa Cruz, California, who was just eliminated from of "American Idol", performed a cover version of the JUDAS PRIEST classic "You Got Another Thing Coming" on this past Friday's edition of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on NBC. You can now watch video footage of his appearance below.

Durbin was considered a favorite to win the television talent competition, but was eliminated on the May 12 show.

Nearly 72 million votes were cast, a record-setting number, with Durbin receiving the fewest votes, resulting in his dismissal from the program.

Durbin admitted that he was bummed about his elimination but felt that he had done what he had set out to do, which was to "give metal a chance."

Durbin told USA Today on Friday that he is planning to record an album, with what he described as a "[DIO] 'Holy Diver', [BLACK SABBATH] 'Neon Nights'-type" feel. "I potentially heard my first single yesterday," he said, adding that it "still has a heavy edge and is radio friendly." He plans to reunite with a friend from home who will be his lead guitarist. He also hopes to work with Mike Portnoy from DREAM THEATER.

Durbin first performed "You Got Another Thing Coming" on the March 1 edition of "American 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.

"That was fucking crazy good," Tyler said. "That's the first JUDAS PRIEST song on this show. I love it that you are over the top."

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/ex-OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Zakk Wylde joined Durbin on the "Idol" stage on April 13 to perform a rendition of Sammy Hagar's "Heavy Metal".

Durbin of Santa Cruz, California was diagnosed with both Tourette's and Asperger's syndromes as a child and lost his father to drug abuse.

Durbin who sports a faux Mohawk and who has been compared to Adam Lambert was one of the final 24 contestants (12 men, 12 women) vying for the "American Idol" crown.

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