Judas Priest

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BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL: Postpones 2020; Adds Extra Day To 2021

Posted by aliblackdiamond on May 4, 2020
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Following the continuing government recommendations on mass gatherings and social distancing this summer, BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL has issued the following statement:

“Dear Bloodstockers,

Following the ongoing government guidance on mass gatherings and social distancing, we are extremely disappointed to announce that this year’s BLOODSTOCK will no longer be going ahead. We respect the government’s mandate and recognise it is made with the best intentions, in order to protect the health & safety of not only our audience, but our staff, crew, musicians, and other contractors who work on site at BLOODSTOCK. Safety remains of paramount importance to us.

We know you have been concerned about what the developing Covid-19 situation would mean for BLOODSTOCK and will be as disappointed as we are at this tough decision, but we hope you can appreciate it is the right choice to make at this time. We had been working tirelessly to ensure we could still offer the top quality BLOODSTOCK experience you trust us to provide, year on year – and this year more than ever, when we invited you to celebrate 20 Years of BLOODSTOCK with us. We do not – and never will – take this trust in us for granted.

We have been reading your comments on our social media, and many of you have said that in this circumstance, you would like the option to roll your 2020 ticket over to 2021’s event – and we can confirm that you are able do that. Rest assured that BLOODSTOCK will return with an almighty vengeance, better and stronger than ever, so to that end and to help assuage your disappointment, next year BLOODSTOCK will be adding an extra day!

The festival will be 5 days and start from Wednesday, as opposed to Thursday; the dates for 2021’s event will be 11th – 15th August. This will be at no extra cost to those who have already purchased weekend tickets for 2020 and wish to roll them over. We will also freeze prices at the ticket store until later this year, when prices will then increase by just £10 and a new, longer 6-month instalment plan will launch to make that option even easier to manage. The on-sale date for day tickets and any returns on previously sold out ticket categories, such as camper vans, will be announced in due course.   We are happy to report that many artists on this year’s line-up have already reconfirmed for 2021 and we look forward to sharing further plans with you soon. Meanwhile, you can watch an updated trailer for the festival here and a special message from metal overlord Rob Halford, from headliner Judas Priest, (below).

Should you prefer a refund, we also wish to state that full, face value refunds will be available to everyone who has already purchased a BLOODSTOCK 2020 ticket from official sellers and assure you of our best efforts to process those refunds within 28 days, where possible. We have a lot to sort out, so please bear with us – everyone who has purchased a ticket already from Seetickets will be emailed in the next 7-14 days.

We are also updating our website and have launched a new page to answer your questions about refunds & the roll-over process here.

While we understand the current financial climate is difficult for many, we sincerely hope you will decide to join us to celebrate BLOODSTOCK next year.  As an independent, family run festival, we wish to extend our deepest appreciation for your continued and loyal support.

We know we are privileged to have such a strong BLOODSTOCK community, and as a united family of heavy metal fans, we WILL prevail.

Vicky, Adam, Rachael, Paul, and all at Team BLOODSTOCK.”

Official Facebook Page 

Official Website 

EXTREMA Cover JUDAS PRIEST’s “The Ripper”; Download Proceeds To Covid-19 Relief

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 30, 2020
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Extrema-2019

During their studio sessions for their latest album “Headbanging Forever”, Italian groove thrash metallers EXTREMA recorded a cover version of Judas Priest‘s “The Ripper”.

Today, the band is sharing its video for that cover with its premiere via  MetalInsider.net HERE.

Adding to the cover track’s release, with their home country of Italy hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic, EXTREMA will be donating all profits from downloads and streams to the Italian Civil Protection, who are the frontlines in the battle against this virus,  coordinating the nation’s pandemic response with Italy’s Ministry of Health.

Digital download available on Apple Music.

Mastermind and guitar player Tommy Massara comments:

“Our cover of ‘The Ripper’ was originally conceived as a bonus track of ‘Headbanging Forever’ for the Japanese market. As we did not find the sought license in Japan, the song was closed in a drawer. To me, Coronavirus is like Jack the Knife hitting you from behind, so I felt the need to release the song as a digital single. All the royalty’s proceeds will be donated to the Italian Civil Protection. I discussed it with Gabri, Frullo, and Tiziano, and they accepted enthusiastically. I hope you enjoy our version of this timeless Judas Priest’s classic hit”.

EXTREMA’s singer Tiziano “Titian” Spigno adds:

“This emergency, which arrived in the midst of our Italian tour, caught everyone unprepared. During these times music, books, movies, and art in general, although so badly affected, in many cases are a refuge for those people isolated at home, managing to get a few moments of serenity. Extrema want to contribute with this cover, recorded during the recording session of ‘Headbanging Forever’”.

EXTREMA tour dates have been rescheduled as follows:

September 2020
12 Bolzano  IT – Pippostage
26 Roma IT – Defrag
27 Milano IT – Milano Headbanging Fest @ Magazzini Generali

November 2020
07 Mantova IT – ArciTom

EXTREMA‘s latest album “Headbanging Forever” is available as CD Digipack Deluxe and Vinyl Gatefold Limited Coloured Edition with a signed poster. Order it here.

More about “Headbanging Forever”:

‘Headbanging Forever’ Music Video here.

‘For The Loved And The Lost’ Music Video here.

DEAF RAT Confirmed To Support JUDAS PRIEST In Sweden

Posted by metalshockfinland on March 7, 2020
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DeafRat_2019

Swedish Hard Rockers DEAF RAT will support legendary JUDAS PRIEST at their show in Dalhalla, Sweden on June 13, 2020.

Deaf Rat released the album “Ban The Light” in late 2019 which received great reviews from the metal press. The band recently confirmed a 13 show European tour together with Swedish fellow classic rock act H.E.A.T which will take off during May and bring the bands to Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland.

JUDAS PRIEST Announce 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour 2020

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 24, 2020
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JUDAS-PRIEST-Photo-by-TravisShin

Photo by Travis Shin

One of heavy metal’s all-time greats, JUDAS PRIEST will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year with a world tour coming to the US 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 #5 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! 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

JudasPriest-50metal-years-tour-2020

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 the previous guitarist 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.

CONFIRMED TOUR DATES:

9/9/2020 in Oxon Hill, MD at MGM National Harbor
9/11/2020 in Uniondale, NY at Nassau Coliseum
9/12/2020 in Ledyard, CT at Foxwoods Casino Arena
9/14/2020 in Philadelphia, PA at The Mann Center
9/15/2020 in Newark, NJ at Prudential Center
9/17/2020 in Charlotte, NC at PNC Music Pavilion
9/18/2020 in Orlando, FL at Central Florida Fair – Rebel Rock Fest
9/21/2020 in Grand Rapids, MI at Van Andel Arena
9/23/2020 in Detroit, MI at Fox Theatre
9/24/2020 in Youngstown, OH at Covelli Centre
9/26/2020 in Chicago, IL at Rosemont Theatre
9/27/2020 in Minneapolis, MN at The Armory
9/29/2020 in Milwaukee, WI at Miller High Life Theatre
9/30/2020 in St. Louis, MO at Saint Louis Music Park
10/2/2020 in Oklahoma City, OK at The Zoo Amphitheatre
10/3/2020 in Dallas, TX at Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
10/5/2020 in Austin, TX at HEB Center
10/6/2020 in San Antonio, TX at Freeman Coliseum
10/8/2020 in Albuquerque, NM at Sandia Resort and Casino
10/9/2020 in Denver, CO at The Mission Ballroom
10/11/2020 in Salt Lake City, UT at Vivint Smart Home Arena
10/13/2020 in Phoenix, AZ at Arizona Federal Theatre
10/15/2020 in Los Angeles, CA at Microsoft Theater
10/17/2020 in Las Vegas, NV at Zappos Theatre at Planet Hollywood

Former JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist K.K DOWNING Announces Details On His New Band KK’s PRIEST

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 18, 2020
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

kk-priest

Former JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist K.K DOWNING has announced, via his Official Facebook page, the details on his new band KK’s PRIEST. Read below.

Los Angeles, CA – February 18, 2020 – K.K Downing, founding member of Judas Priest, today announces the name of his new band KK’s PRIEST. This all new band features some very familiar faces. With Downing on guitar, KK’s PRIEST features ex-Judas Priest members Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals, who fronted the band for eight years and recorded two studio albums, Jugulator, featuring the GRAMMY® nominted track “Bullet Train,” and Demolition, plus two live albums, and Les Binks who was the drummer on the studio albums Stained Class and Killing Machine and the live album Unleashed in the East. They are joined by Tony Newton (Voodoo Six) on bass, and A.J. Mills (Hostile) on guitar. With the line-up complete, KK’s PRIEST is hard at work in the studio creating the band’s debut album which will be released globally by Explorer1 Music Group as a part of the partnership with K.K Downing signed early 2020. More details to come.

KK’s PRIEST is represented exclusively by Andy Gould for Explorer1, with Jim Morewood handling the band’s global bookings outside the U.S. for the K2 Agency. Extensive touring and festival dates are already being planned with KK’s PRIEST taking to stages around the world to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Judas Priest and K.K Downing’s career as a founding member. The band will deliver everything that fans would expect of Downing and his ability to deliver up everything that is Priest including newly written metal masterpieces.

“Forging ahead with KK’s PRIEST was not only inevitable, but was essential for me to perform and deliver everything that is expected from me and KK’s PRIEST” says K.K Downing. “Due to the massive demand and overwhelming support from fans around the world, I feel this is where I belong, and a set combining the true, classic songs and sound of Priest, together with great, newly forged metal tracks, is what fans can expect when KK’s PRIEST is taking to stages.”

Last summer K.K Downing made his first public appearance in almost 10 years, performing classic Judas Priest cuts at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in the U.K. In November K.K Downing called on Tim “Ripper” Owens and Les Binks for a surprise, one-off performance, featuring Hostile’s A.J. Mills on guitar and David Ellefson from Megadeth on bass. The band performed a blistering set of classic Judas Priest songs as well as deep album cuts that have never been performed live. With an overwhelming response and the instant chemistry Downing, Owens and Binks shared on stage, KK’s PRIEST was born.
K.K Downing’s genre-defining guitar style helped establish Judas Priest‘s iconic sound and helped propelled them to one of the top Heavy Metal bands of all-time, earning numerous accolades including a GRAMMY® in 2010 for “Best Metal Performance,” a total of five GRAMMY® nominations and multi-platinum and gold releases.

JUDAS PRIEST’s Rob Halford Gives A Thumbs Up To The New THREE TREMORS, Ft. Ripper Owens, Sean Peck & Harry Conklin

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 28, 2019
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RobHalford

Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford. Halford spoke about his latest Christmas album Celestial, his opinions on Judas Priest’s nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his thoughts on the NEW Three Tremors featuring Ripper Owens, Sean Peck and Harry Conklin.

Watch the interview below.

When asked why he felt the need to do another Christmas album
“This is a special one for me, I’ve got my brother on drums and my nephew on bass and a couple of respective friends on guitars Jon Blakely and Robert Jones. So we kind of wrap this up as Halford family and friends because that’s exactly what it is and it just seems like a great opportunity to work with my immediate family that I wanted to do for years. I was with my family a couple of Christmas’ ago and we were listening to Winter Songs, so I said to them let’s see what we can make in terms of music in this holiday theme together. Write some new songs and add some traditional songs and I got the green light and what a great time we had. The way the record turned out was just phenomenal.”

When asked how you go about writing new Christmas songs
“You know how metal works, as far as the music you’re constantly inspired by what you’re listening to and for us I think the inspiration came from working on these wonderful traditional holiday Christmas classics. These  traditional songs have been with us forever and are great songs and will always take a different interpretation. So when I was hearing the songs I said to the guys you know while they’re at this let’s see what we can come up with together in terms of originality. It was just a thrill to have an opportunity to have original tracks which are, Protected By The Light,  Donner and Blitzen, Morning Star and Celestial. Those were bonus moments that came out of recording the traditional songs.”

When asked if Judas Priest wins the nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who will accept the award in terms of band members (ex members)
“I feel we’re going to have to wait until the day quite frankly but it’s Judas Priest in every aspect, in every respect and to be nominated for the second time is a another thrill and an honor for everything that we love about Judas Priest and the fifty years that we’ll have you know I’ve been around as a metal band next year. So whatever turns out will be great for Priests and will be great for metal.

When asked about his thoughts on the NEW Three Tremors, which was his idea years ago
“I know about them and they are wonderful singers and they’re doing something really cool and special. I wish them all the success in the world with it.”