Spencer Kaufman of Consequence Of Sound reports:
When Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax came together for a series of shows as The Big 4 of thrash, it made heavy metal history. Rob Halford told us he was hoping to do the same for the giants of UK metal…
…At one point we brought up recent comments by Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill, who told Audio Ink Radio that he’d like to see Priest and Iron Maiden tour together “before some of us die.”
…“I think both bands would look to do that,” Halford told us. “It’s all about the timing of doing such a thing. We’re good friends.”
Halford, who has a home in Arizona, added, “When we talk about rivalry, healthy rivalry, it’s like the Arizona Cardinals and the Raiders or the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. It’s that kind of rivalry, a good rivalry. It’s a fun rivalry. But I think both bands have admired each other throughout the metal years, and it would be a spectacular event — Priest and Iron Maiden together.”
The Priest singer actually had grander aspirations at one time, hoping to mimic The Big 4 thrash shows with four of the biggest UK metal acts.
“My dream had always been to have like The Big 4 of the UK, without turning this into a kind of depressing way,” Halford remarked. “I’d always dreamed of Black Sabbath and Motörhead and Priest and Maiden as The Big 4 doing something in the UK.”
The vocalist went on to lament the passing of Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister and the retirement of Sabbath, saying, “Sadly, two-fourths of that has gone, but the music lives forever. That’s the main thing.”
But when it comes to Priest and Maiden touring together, Halford echoed bandmate Hill’s sentiments, exclaiming, “Please, before we all die.”
Read more at Consequence Of Sound.
In other Metal God news, the singer released his Christmas album, Celestial, on October 18th and his autobiography, Confess is expected to be released in October of next year.
10 Responses
A Priest/Beast tour? All that British Steel in 1 night? Book me on Flight 666! 😉
It would be nice to have a decent opening band for Iron Maiden. No doubt an awesome show.
Yeah, no.
Priest came first, clearly influenced Maiden and would be the headliners. I am fairly certain even Maiden would acknowledge that fact. That would be like expecting Black Sabbath to open for Maiden?!
The other possibility, would be switching who closed the show, every other night. However, there is no way Priest would ever be just an opening act, what an insulting statement.
Agreed, Judas Priest is NOT an opening band! Unless maybe, maybe it was for Black Sabbath? But that’s about it! If this tour happens I’m sure it would be billed as co-headliners.
Since Sabbath and Motorhead can’t make it, top up the 4 with Purple and Heep!
Yes, Purple would work, but I would also make a case for Def Leppard and Whitesnake.
I saw Priest in ’09 with Whitesnake…and it was such a great show I went in to my job that next week and quit..
I will only see priest with kk – after watching clips of his show this past November 3rd – it should now be obvious
Not only to the members of priest but all the fans as well – he belongs in priest –
Dana, I was just funnin’ with ya. I knew the insinuation that JP would open for IM would elicit a righteous defense. However organized, it would be an amazing show.
Okay, and I agree it would be a great show.
PS- Next time use an emoji, so I know you are kidding, tone in text is sometimes hard to decipher without an emoji or a jk (for just kidding).