One of heavy metal’s all-time greats, Judas Priest originally formed in 1970 in Birmingham, England — where many feel heavy metal was birthed — and the original nucleus of Judas Priest musicians would go on to change the face of heavy metal. It was during the 1980s that Priest conquered the music world, becoming a global arena headliner on the strength of such all-time classics as 1980’s British Steel and 1982’s Screaming For Vengeance. Priest was ultimately one of the first metal bands to be embraced by the then-burgeoning MTV, and arguably the first of its kind to exclusively wear leather and studs. Priest’s success continued throughout the 1990s and beyond with the addition of drummer Scott Travis, and its 2009 release A Touch Of Evil: Live would lead Priest to win a Grammy Award.
Judas Priest is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a new North American fall tour. That tour, the 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour, features Queensrÿche as openers and kicked off on October 13, 2022 in Wallingford, Connecticut. Tour and related celebration aside, 2022 has also the brought the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction of Priest band members Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill and Scott Travis. Meanwhile, 2021 saw the release of the 42-CD — yes, the band has released 40+ albums — box set Judas Priest: 50 Heavy Metal Years of Music, which includes Priest’s latest studio albums Redeemer Of Souls and Firepower; many look at the high-charting Firepower as the break-out album for guitarist Richie Faulkner, who officially joined the Priest fold over a decade ago in 2011.
On October 18, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing Judas Priest live again, this time at Long Island, New York’s Nassau Coliseum. Highlights from that outing are embedded below, along with my 2022 interview with Priest bassist and co-founder Ian Hill and my 2021 interview with Queensrÿche frontman Todd La Torre. More on Priest and its current arena tour can be found here, here and here.
