JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST GLENN TIPTION TELLS EDDIE TRUNK, “I DON’T BELIEVE IN LIFE WITHOUT METAL”
Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton was a guest on Eddie’s Sirius/XM’s Trunk Nation radio show on October 27th. Highlights from the interview appear below and has been transcribed exclusively for EddieTrunk.com.
Discussing the legacy of Defenders Of The Faith, which is celebrating its 30 anniversary:
“I think with the success of Screaming For Vengeance, you look at our other albums and you tend to think that perhaps they didn’t reach the market screaming. But in retrospect, a lot of people came back and said, Ram It Down was a great album, Defenders was a great album. Everyone of our albums, I think has some gems on there. The album itself might not be the strongest of all the Priest albums, but its got good songs to offer. A good example is Point Of Entry. I know people weren’t sure about that album when it first came out but it’s got Hot Rockin’ on there, its got Solar Angels and its got Desert Plains. So, if we didn’t experiment a little bit, we wouldn’t have those Priest classics. So, it’s all about trying to push the borders and boundaries further apart and that’s what we have always tried to do.”
Speaking about Turbo being very experimental at the time when it was released in 1986:
“Yes, Turbo, again, was experimental which is what we love to do and we brought in synth guitars. People didn’t exactly condemn us for that, but they didn’t quite understand what we were trying to do at that time. Not everybody, but some people sort of said, ‘Oh, we’re not sure about the synth guitars.’ But then, of course, other people started to use them. When you hear us play Turbo [Lover], even now, and we’re playing it in the set at the moment, it’s one of the strongest songs in the set and everyone sings along with it. So, you’ve got to keep on experimenting and trying different things and going down different paths. But…the songs will always have the character of Judas Priest and that’s the most important thing.”
Talking about Rob Halford’s voice still being strong after all these years:
“It’s amazing….Rob couldn’t be singing better. I don’t know how he does it, really. He’s not a youngster anymore, but he can still hit those high notes. His voice is as strong as ever. But working with him on the album [Redeemer Of Souls], I noticed how strong his voice still is, it’s phenomenal how his voice has held up throughout the years. He’s in tremendous form.”
On where the next generation of iconic, great classic bands will come from:
“I think probably naturally evolution will solve that problem. There’s a lot of great bands out there. I do believe that everything goes in circles and I see a return to that classic style of metal. I think everybody..branches off, they experiment and they try different paths to go down and that’s great offshoots of metal. Even if you go back to Punk, Death Metal or Black Metal, it’s just people experimenting, but it usually finds its way back to the mainstream of what is [classic] heavy metal. Actually, there are some very talented musicians out there and great bands. I think maybe some of them have yet to find themselves and it does take some time to do that sometimes. But, I am sure that void will be filled…I don’t believe in life without metal.”
Answering whether or not he saw K.K. Downing’s recent comments wishing the band luck:
“No, I didn’t no….[But], that’s really nice. It’s really nice of him.”
Discussing what he will do if and when the band ever decides to retire:
Glenn: “I like to travel a lot. I am also a home[body]. I love the country life. I like the countryside. I like animals. I’ve got lots of interests. I even make and crash model airplanes…I’ve got a few weird interests Eddie.”
Eddie: “Wait, you make airplanes and then crash them??”
Glenn: “Well, I’m trying to fly them and then crash them….model helicopters. I am not a successful pilot, I’m afraid. They don’t usually last many seconds. Hours of work for seconds of destruction. There’s a good title for the next Priest album….”
Freewheel Burning, Jawbreaker, Rock Hard Ride Free, The Sentinel. Love Bites, Eat Me Alive, Night Comes Down, Heavy Duty/Defenders of the Faith. It takes a long time to find a weak track on this album. It deserves the same respect as British Steel and Screaming for Vengeance.
Yes, it definitely does deserve the same respect as British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance. The fact is that it was the follow-up to Priest’s biggest album, so maybe that’s why it isn’t name checked as much. Point Of Entry kind of suffered the same way because it follows British Steel but Point Of Entry is a great album to. Defenders Of The Faith is a monster album. Freewheel Burning is one of the best album opening tracks ever. And the back and forth solo break between Glenn and KK on the Sentinel is jaw dropping even to this day. A true underrated classic album in the Priest catalog.
Amen Dave! I love Defenders! I would have taken The Sentinel over Jawbreaker on this tour but I am not complaining….
Judas priest put on a amazing show in k.c….the midland theatre kicks ass.. K.C was buzzing due to the world series.. Setlist for the priest better live than on paper..90 minutes of fast and furious metal judas priest style… The priest seemed amazed by the kanas city crowd..who loud and all in and I”m from St Louis Missouri… K.C kicks ass and gets concerts that St. Louis does not..judas priest in small awesome sounding venue priceless… K. C. May be the most fun on tour for metal gods.. Who put on a DVD quality show.. Spent 300 American to travel from St. Louis to K.C. To see judas priest.. Worth every penny.. Was hoping to hear crossfire live.. Judas priest look like they were having a blast in K.C and one more time I”m St. Louis Missouri.
I haven’t listened to all the priest albums each album has it’s own statement and not one album is like the other. 17 albums in hard to just choose one.
Redeemer of souls.. Make workout cd.. Listen to it 4 to 5 times a week. Since it”s release.. Other judas priest CDs…it does not get any better than stained glass and unleashed in the east from start to finish period..
Seriously, I’m done. Too many crazy people on here. Not all of you, the Red Rocker is a good egg. Adios folks.
I know exactly how you feel Shannon, I wasn’t sure myself if I wanted to post anymore either after I came back, but because of the good ones like yourself, Louis, James K., Mike B., the “original Elliot” LOL, Joe In The Cuse, and of course, our moderator/referee (LOL) Dana, I decided to continue to post, for now. Forgive me for not remembering all the other names right now, the other good ones who know how to post without being insulting, offensive, and know how to respectfully agree to disagree! I’m moving over to the Red Rocker page, I just noticed a new story on Sammy, hope to see you there Shannon.