Bryan Rolli of Ultimate Classic Rock reports:
Rob Halford confirms that the recording is finished for Judas Priest‘s new album, with the exception of his vocals…
…He says the band once again worked with Firepower co-producer Andy Sneap, who has also served as the band’s touring guitarist since 2018 when Glenn Tipton’s Parkinson’s disease forced him off the road…
…Judas Priest will also be honored at this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where they will receive the Musical Excellence Award. Their team has been in touch with former guitarist K.K. Downing and former drummer Les Binks — both of whom are also being inducted — and Halford says “everybody’s been very cool and agreeing. There’s just been [an attitude of], ‘Let’s just relish this opportunity and jam and put everything on 11.'”
Neither Halford nor Judas Priest’s representatives could confirm yet whether Downing, or Binks, will be joining the band onstage during its Rock Hall performance, but Halford says both former members will be involved in some capacity, as well as late drummer and fellow inductee Dave Holland.
“We are gonna play live because there is all this roar: How are we gonna do it? Because we want to try and make the best things happen,” the singer says. “So the best things to happen are to bring in all of the people that are included in the induction — which includes, obviously, K.K. and Les, and Dave. So, we’ve been able to work things out, so we will be playing live. We’ve got, like, eight minutes and 24 seconds and a half-second to play live.”
He adds, “We’ve got a couple of cool things that are gonna take place on the night that will be held under wraps like most people do because you don’t want to give everything away. But yeah, look: A bunch of guys from the U.K., from the West Midlands, a Birmingham band of heavy metal, is being inducted into this great institution. So we’re gonna make the most of it and have a great night out and live a lot of metal memories.”
Aside from his Judas Priest itinerary, Halford has also kept busy with the preparation of his second book, Biblical: Rob Halford’s Heavy Metal Scriptures, which comes out on November 1st. It iis available for preorder now, and features opinions, and anecdotes, on all aspects of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle – including touring, tattoos, drugs, devil horns and more.
Read more at Ultimate Classic Rock.
23 Responses
Awesome news.
A new Priest release!! Lately I have been playing Battle Cry and wow I can’t say enough about the sound of the band on this live release! Great live cd!!! The track are not just the greatest hits. I would like to see them continue on their deluxe releases with Point of Entry. My favorite Priest cd.
First time I`ve heard anyone say point of entry was there favorite priest album . I remember getting that one from columbia house and saying this is pretty weak . I decided to give Priest another chance when screaming for vengeance came out which turned out to be my favorite priest album . You just made me want to revisit point of entry though . There`s been several albums from back in the day that I didnt care for that I have revisited many years later and found that they were pretty damn good after all .
Ray,
Screaming is hands down my favorite, always has been, always will be.
Point of Entry is a good album, however, it gets judged harshly because it is sandwiched between two phemoms: British Steel and Screaming For Vengeance.
Ha, it’s like when Eddie says people say “For Those About To Rock” is weak but how do you follow Back in Black??
I’ve always said the same thing, POE always gets lost in the shuffle! I’m happy JP is FINALLY getting some recognition that they so rightly deserve, but what about another great band – Alice In Chains?! I am so sick and tired of hearing about Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Pearl Jam, fk them!! In my opinion, Alice In Chains was not only the best “grunge” band to come out of the ’90s, but the best band PERIOD to come out of the ’90s! And they were/are so much more than just grunge…
Doug R., I agree Alice in Chains are much more than grunge, they’re just a great rock band.
But my favorite band from the 90’s is easily Children of Bodom.
Nothing like Priest news to get the comments going. I would love it if they performed with K.K. They should play Bloodstone and blow everyone away.
Yankee Rose,
Bloodstone is one of my all time favorite songs, from my favorite album. 🙂 GREAT tune.
That is what is so great about this site. I dont know how many times that I revisited music just by reading some of the postings! The only down side is I get locked out a lot by hitting the wrong password letter, then I forget what I was going to post when it lets me sign in the next day.
Point of Entry is also about the time way back then. Things were simpler and younger and MTV was new, playing Hot Rockin and Head out to the Highway constantly. Don’t Go is something that is raw and just a taste of what is to come next. You want to crank that up and you do need a great pair of speakers just for that song!
Great question Dana! Well I heard they have like 8 minutes so I am thinking maybe 3 song or so medley. Maybe 4?? Your guesses are probably close! Unfortunately I bet no Painkiller or Firepower mixed in there but let’s see! Cheers!
🙂