One of heavy metal’s all-time greats, Judas Priest will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with a world tour coming to the U.S. in the fall. The 50 Heavy Metal Years tour will also feature Sabaton as openers and is being fueled by the highest-charting album of Priest’s career, Firepower, which peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.
“Judas Priest are primed and ready to deliver the goods with our 50 Heavy Metal Years anniversary celebration stage show spectacular,” the band said in a statement. “Performing a blistering cross section of songs from our lives in metal — we can’t wait to raise horns with you again at this once-in-a-metal-lifetime event.”
Judas Priest 50 Heavy Metal Years tour dates:
Sep. 9 – Oxon Hill, MD @ MGM National Harbor
Sep. 11 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
Sep. 12 – Ledyard, CT @ Foxwoods Casino Arena
Sep. 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Mann Center
Sep. 15 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
Sep. 17 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
Sep. 18 – Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fair – Rebel Rock Fest
Sep. 21 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
Sep. 23 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
Sep. 24 – Youngstown, OH @ Covelli Centre
Sep. 26 – Chicago, IL @ Rosemont Theatre
Sep. 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory
Sep. 29 – Milwaukee, WI @ Miller High Life Theatre
Sep. 30 – St. Louis, MO @ Saint Louis Music Park
Oct. 2 – Oklahoma City, OK @ The Zoo Amphitheatre
Oct. 3 – Dallas, TX @ Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Oct. 5 – Austin, TX @ HEB Center
Oct. 6 – San Antonio, TX @Freeman Coliseum
Oct. 8 – Albuquerque, NM @ Resort and Casino
Oct. 09 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
Oct. 11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
Oct. 13 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre
Oct. 15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Microsoft Theater
Oct. 17 – Las Vegas, NV @ Zappos Theatre at Planet Hollywood
Judas Priest originally formed in 1970 in Birmingham, England (an area that many feel birthed heavy metal). The original nucleus of musicians – Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, KK Downing & Ian Hill (along with several different drummers over the years) would go on to change the face of heavy metal. Throughout the 70’s Priest were responsible for helping trail blaze metal with such classic offerings as Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) Sin After Sin (1977) and Hell Bent for Leather (1978) as well as one of the genre’s top live recordings Unleashed in the East (1979) among others.
But it was during the 80’s that Priest conquered the world, becoming a global arena headliner on the strength of such all-time classics as British Steel (1980) and Screaming for Vengeance (1982), as well as being one of the first metal bands to be embraced by the then-burgeoning MTV, plus performing at some of the decades biggest concerts (1980’s Monsters of Rock, 1983’s US Festival, and 1985’s Live Aid) and being the first to exclusively wear leather and studs – a look that began during this era and would eventually be embraced by metal heads throughout the world. Priest’s success continued throughout the 90’s and beyond with the addition of drummer Scott Travis, as evidenced by such additional stellar offerings as Painkiller (1990) Angel of Retribution (2005) and A Touch of Evil: Live (2009) the latter of which saw Priest win a Grammy Award for a killer rendition of the classic Dissident Aggressor.
In 2011 new guitarist Richie Faulkner came in to replace K.K. Downing who had left in 2010 – the move seemed to have reinvigorated the band, as evidenced by a show-stealing performance on the American Idol TV program that also served as Faulkner’s debut performance with the band (also in 2011 was the release of a new compilation The Chosen Few which included Priest classics selected by some of metal’s biggest names) and the Epitaph concert DVD in 2013.
Priest’s next studio effort would arrive in 2014 Redeemer of Souls which was supported by another strong tour.
In 2017 (and again in 2019) Judas Priest received a nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and got ready to unleash their latest studio album Firepower (produced by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom) which received global success and critical acclaim.
Few rock or metal acts remain as much of a must-see live attraction as Judas Priest. And the forthcoming 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour will undoubtedly drive this point home.
23 Responses
I think KK should be a part of this anniversary celebration…..maybe his “KK’s Priest” band will be the opening band…..just kidding about the “opening band” comment, but I do think KK should perform with Judas Priest on this tour.
With Glenn Tipton’s likeness included in the promo picture, I hope this means he will be able to perform with the band in some capacity.
I agree with your comment, as a founding member of the band, K.K. should be involved, but sadly, I don’t think that will happen. Hopefully, something will change between now and September, but who knows?
Hope they hit the Pac NW again. Maybe not since we got spoiled with them 2 years in a row.
At least KK could come on for the closer with Tipton. Now wouldn’t that be cool and a sign that they’re moving on?
What is up with the KK stuff? Has it gotten that bad between them? Didn’t KK lose a bunch of money on a golf course and then was forced to sell his publishing or something? I am sure I have a lot of the details wrong.
Dana, what is your take?
I must confess that I do not know the ins and outs of this falling out. I do think K. K.’s book, which I have and yet to read, only added fuel to a smoldering fire.
I can link all the relevant stories that I can locate in the backend below, and you can reread what was reported in the press. Some stories may be buried elsewhere, but I will try my best to find as many as possible.
K.K. DOWNING ON WHY HE LEFT JUDAS PRIEST: “I JUST WASN’T ENJOYING IT ANY MORE..IT HAD RUN ITS COURSE”
JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST GLENN TIPTON THOUGHT THE BAND WAS “FINISHED” WHEN K.K. DOWNING LEFT
FORMER JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST K.K DOWNING DISCUSSES WHY HE LEFT THE BAND, “REDEEMER OF SOULS,” AND WHETHER HE THINKS HE WOULD EVER JOIN THE BAND ONSTAGE FOR A ONE-OFF SHOW
FORMER JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING DISCUSSES WHY HE LEFT THE BAND, POSSIBLY RECORDING A SOLO ALBUM AND RELEASING HEAVY METAL FRAGRANCES
JUDAS PRIEST FRONTMAN ROB HALFORD ON ORIGINAL GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING: “I’D LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT THE FRIENDSHIP IS STILL THERE”
ROB HALFORD RESPONDS TO K. K. DOWNING’S STATEMENT
K.K. DOWNING POSTS THAT HIS ORIGINAL STATEMENT ABOUT JUDAS PRIEST WAS “REGRETFULLY MISINTERPRETED”
THE RIGHTS TO 130 JUDAS PRIEST SONGS UP FOR SALE AFTER K.K. DOWNING’S GOLF COURSE INVESTMENT DOES NOT PAN OUT
ROUND HILL MUSIC ACQUIRES K.K. DOWNING’S SHARE OF JUDAS PRIEST’S MUSIC CATALOG
GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING DISCUSSES HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, AND WHY HE LEFT JUST PRIEST, SAYING “I LIKE TO THINK THAT DEMOCRACY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY AND THERE WASN’T ENOUGH OF IT”
JUDAS PRIEST FORMER GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING POSTS THAT HE WAS “SHOCKED AND STUNNED” THAT HE WASN’T ASKED TO JOIN THE BAND AFTER TIPTON ANNOUNCEMENT
K.K. DOWNING SAYS IAN HILL’S COMMENTS AS TO WHY HE WAS NOT ASKED REJOIN JUDAS PRIEST ARE A “COMPLETE LOAD OF BOLLOCKS”
FORMER JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING AUCTIONING OFF SOME GEAR AND CLOTHING
GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING SAYS THAT HE AND FORMER JUDAS PRIEST BANDMATE GLENN TIPTON “NEVER HAD A BOND AS A BAND SHOULD”
GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING SAYS HIS FORMER JUDAS PRIEST BANDMATES ARE NOT INTERESTED IN INCLUDING HIM FOR THE BAND’S FORTHCOMING 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
I chalk this up to just really bad communication between KK, management and Glenn…his book is great but it’s only his point of view…look at the dynamic between KK and Glenn objectively: For so long people thought KK was the lead guitarist…he was on the magazine covers, he was talked about as the lead guitarist…and all the way up to Live Aid the camera was on him during the solos and he’s throwing out power chords the whole time…lol…who is that guy actually playing lead then? why..it’s Glenn! Glenn just probably had a few drinks and went into his manager’s office and tore into everbody…”I am wrting a lot of this music…that’s me playing lead ….and nobody knows who I am!” from then on…that’s Glenn holding the twinkie in the Locked IN video. ..he’s the one who’s featured in the Live Priest video..and he’s the one who takes the lion’s share of the lead breaks after Defenders…but, it’s not all his fault..lol…and if him and KK and management could’ve just worked this out…KK was probably blindisided by this wholesale change in attitude and just didn’t speak up enough..it wasn’t his fault either…he didn’t tell the TV guys to put the camera on him every time Glenn took a lead break….and then this bad feeling compounds for a few decades…
Gee, I had opposite opinion. Even thought they are co-lead guitar players, as tend to trade off on solos, on many songs. I always thought Tipton was the lead guitarist, as did everyone else I knew.
but you were a real fan and knowledgable as probably your circle was too.
Credits in the “liner notes” always said “Lead Guitar” or “Co-Lead” but any true fan always knew Glenn was the lead. I think KK got the fame and popularity from his looks – he has more of a Rock Star Persona then Glenn portrayed.
Funny, I always thought Glenn was more handsome.
anyone who says rock is dead should see judas priest.
I’m with you on that, Elliot! I saw JP on Firepower tour with Saxon and BSR, fantastic show. I’m really looking forward to JP’s next album. While I like KK, I love how young gun Richie has injected a shot of energy in these guys.
thanks doug. i’m sorry they haven’t worked out things with kk to this point, but priest is still kicking ass. glad to see and they are still bringing it 50 years on (live and with new material) and not huffing and puffing to the finish line. this summer will make it my third time seeing them in the last 2 1/2 years. i’m starting to get spoiled. god bless judas priest!