First Scorpions, now Priest...

Are we reading more into this than the press release states?

Quote :

After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking its very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST — one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time — has announced plans to embark on a final world tour. However, the mighty PRIEST will certainly be going out strong as it rocks the planet starting in 2011 on the massive "Epitaph" trek — hitting all the major cities throughout the world where it will play the songs that helped make the name JUDAS PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal.

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all its fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

Re-reading this thing, all it really talks about is Priest doing one final world tour. Nothing about retiring, breaking up, no more recording, etc. This is just a statement about playing live. Am I missing something?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Are we reading more into this than the press release states?

Quote :

After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking its very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST — one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time — has announced plans to embark on a final world tour. However, the mighty PRIEST will certainly be going out strong as it rocks the planet starting in 2011 on the massive "Epitaph" trek — hitting all the major cities throughout the world where it will play the songs that helped make the name JUDAS PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal.

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all its fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

Re-reading this thing, all it really talks about is Priest doing one final world tour. Nothing about retiring, breaking up, no more recording, etc. This is just a statement about playing live. Am I missing something?

I hope you're right... maybe they will make a few more records and do some big festivals here and there.

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Are we reading more into this than the press release states?

Quote :

After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking its very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST — one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time — has announced plans to embark on a final world tour. However, the mighty PRIEST will certainly be going out strong as it rocks the planet starting in 2011 on the massive "Epitaph" trek — hitting all the major cities throughout the world where it will play the songs that helped make the name JUDAS PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal.

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all its fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

Re-reading this thing, all it really talks about is Priest doing one final world tour. Nothing about retiring, breaking up, no more recording, etc. This is just a statement about playing live. Am I missing something?

I hope you're right... maybe they will make a few more records and do some big festivals here and there.

That would be nice..... I am sure their will be some clarification in interviews. But, I think they mean this is the end. Bands just don;t make $$$ of albums like they did in the 80's - now a days the money is in touring. In the 80's, bands used to break even or lose money touring and make the big bucks off albums sales. It's reversed now.

thejokeriv wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Are we reading more into this than the press release states?

Quote :

After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking its very special brand of heavy metal to all four corners of the planet, JUDAS PRIEST — one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time — has announced plans to embark on a final world tour. However, the mighty PRIEST will certainly be going out strong as it rocks the planet starting in 2011 on the massive "Epitaph" trek — hitting all the major cities throughout the world where it will play the songs that helped make the name JUDAS PRIEST synonymous with heavy metal.

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all its fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is JUDAS PRIEST!

Re-reading this thing, all it really talks about is Priest doing one final world tour. Nothing about retiring, breaking up, no more recording, etc. This is just a statement about playing live. Am I missing something?

I hope you're right... maybe they will make a few more records and do some big festivals here and there.

That would be nice..... I am sure their will be some clarification in interviews. But, I think they mean this is the end. Bands just don;t make $$$ of albums like they did in the 80's - now a days the money is in touring. In the 80's, bands used to break even or lose money touring and make the big bucks off albums sales. It's reversed now.

Well it's still early in their decision... so maybe they will change their minds and do one more album. Who knows...

Troublezone wrote:

Well it's still early in their decision... so maybe they will change their minds and do one more album. Who knows...

A balls-to-the-walls farewell album would be cool to make, or maybe they can do what many bands have done in the last few years, and re-record their first album as a thank you to the fans.

If it's just Halford aging and not being able to perform some of the old songs... well, let's just say there's always a Tim Owens out there waiting to step in.

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

Sad news. At least I got to see them live last year for my first (and hopefully not final) time. They put on a fantastic show.

And I highly doubt they'll be going out without putting out another album. Anyway, I thought the press release was a bit fuzzy as well. All that's said is final world tour. We'll see...

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

Ozzy "retired" a few times...

I like Priest but i'm much more of a Sabbath fan... and from what i've heard they are going to try to continue on without DIO.

Troublezone wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

Ozzy "retired" a few times...

if only he got it right....

exact33 wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

Ozzy "retired" a few times...

if only he got it right....

Sharon didn't let him.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

True, maybe they already have the songs are are waiting for Halford to finish the Ozzy tour to hit the studio. Maybe Halford's last album where the leftovers

mc666 wrote:

all good things must come to an end. i would have preferred them to go out with a stronger album than Nostradamus, but i guess that's just how it goes.

That first sentence is the exact sentence that entered my head when I opened this thread. Though it was a weak album to end their career on, at least they have more great albums than duds. Sad to hear especially since I just became a big Priest fan in recent years. I will try to scrounge up money to see them on their farewell tour. However, if I fail to make it, at least I'll always have The Master's Of Metal concert two summers ago.

It's sad, but I think that Dio's death probably sparked some quality debate amongst bands behind closed doors. I'm guessing a lot of bands who are nearing 60 years of age or who are beyond 60 are re-evaluating their lives. The question being, do we want to do this up until we're nearing death's door? Some people can't get away from the road, as that's all they've ever known, but then you have others who have homes/families, etc...

I remember Keith Jackson (famous college football announcer) stating how he didn't want to die in some parking lot somewhere in his trailer before some Saturday afternoon game. Hell, I miss hearing the guy call BIG-10 and PAC-10 games (and the Rose Bowl), but I totally respect his decision to hang it up when he did.

I have a feeling that Dio probably went out the way he wanted to, but I always wondered, had he known ahead of time that he would die in May of 2010, would he have changed anything about his life? Did he have other aspirations outside of music, or was the stage always going to be his playground?

I was in third grade when Stained Class came out. (Maybe nostalgia but I still think it's their best album ever) We had a local radio station that played entire albums. It was called 96X-KXXY Album Rock - It's now a country station, but I can remember listening to JP Stained Class while playing in the garage and that was over 30 years ago.
Was fortunate to see them on the Screaming, Defenders and Turbo tours.
They were (are) one of the greats.
I hope Maiden holds out.....
C.

metalinmyveins wrote:

It's sad, but I think that Dio's death probably sparked some quality debate amongst bands behind closed doors. I'm guessing a lot of bands who are nearing 60 years of age or who are beyond 60 are re-evaluating their lives. The question being, do we want to do this up until we're nearing death's door? Some people can't get away from the road, as that's all they've ever known, but then you have others who have homes/families, etc...

I remember Keith Jackson (famous college football announcer) stating how he didn't want to die in some parking lot somewhere in his trailer before some Saturday afternoon game. Hell, I miss hearing the guy call BIG-10 and PAC-10 games (and the Rose Bowl), but I totally respect his decision to hang it up when he did.

I have a feeling that Dio probably went out the way he wanted to, but I always wondered, had he known ahead of time that he would die in May of 2010, would he have changed anything about his life? Did he have other aspirations outside of music, or was the stage always going to be his playground?

I totally agree. I dont think anyone should be pigeonholed into being this or that. If you have the freedom to do something else that makes you happy - go for it...

Troublezone wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

Ozzy "retired" a few times...

Ozzy's a drooling idiot with a controlling wife...

Quote :

The question being, do we want to do this up until we're nearing death's door?

Anyone can die at any time and at any age. The real question is if they could keep up the lifestyle of touring. Depending on the individual and if they're in good shape, your 70's might feel like your only just 60 something...

Tony Iommi is another trooper that could probably keep going 'til his mid 70's.

As a matter of fact, my grandmother is 76 and still working her nursing job...

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Wishful thinking...they're ending the band...if they were going to carry on recording they would say so...

Ozzy "retired" a few times...

Ozzy's a drooling idiot with a controlling wife...

Also, the difference between this and Ozzy's "retirement" around No More Tears/Tours was he was in his 40s at the time...the JP guys waited til they were pushing/over 60...

Troublezone wrote:

Quote :

The question being, do we want to do this up until we're nearing death's door?

Anyone can die at any time and at any age. The real question is if they could keep up the lifestyle of touring. Depending on the individual and if they're in good shape, your 70's might feel like your only just 60 something...

This is true, but I guess I'm referring to the individual or band, who have been around the block a few times already. Put it this way, I would hope for those who are over 50, I would like to think that there's been some personal growth that has shown itself along the way. For the people who are living a reckless lifestyle, or have infinitesimally matured over the years, I don't know what to say about those folk... I think that some rock stars age like a fine wine, and some just don't...

Quote :

HALFORD — the band fronted by JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford — took part in a rare television performance earlier today (Wednesday, December 8 ) on WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 (digital channel 19) — the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois. You can now watch video footage of the group's appearance below.

When asked about PRIEST's announcement that it was embarking on its final tour beginning next year, Halford replied, "Well, they do say that all good things come to an end and that's probably the case in this case. But I'm delighted that, of course, the HALFORD band is gonna be storming forward in the metal future, and that's gotta be good news."

He added, "I've been doing this now for close to 40 years and it's a real thrill to think that I'm part of the roots of it all. Not just myself — many, many other people have been responsible for putting the whole heavy metal scene onto the map. It's as strong now as it's ever been."

"the metal future" ....

Quote :

When asked about PRIEST's announcement that it was embarking on its final tour beginning next year, Halford replied, "Well, they do say that all good things come to an end and that's probably the case in this case. But I'm delighted that, of course, the HALFORD band is gonna be storming forward in the metal future, and that's gotta be good news."

So I'm still not convinced that Judas Priest is calling it a day altogether. Done touring? Probably. Done recording? Nah. I still think there's another album or 2 in their future. Maybe Glen wants to do another solo album in the meantime?

Speaking of JP members, has KK or Ian ever done anything outside of Priest? Just wondering?