Judas Priest - FirePower - new album 2018

They're coming to Hyvinkaa Finland, which is 50 minutes from where I live:



But I'm not yet sure I'm going.

Cranked this album again on the way home from work tonight. Still loving it!

Woohoo! Just received a second copy on orange splatter vinyl from the European Judas Priest store. The first one I ordered got lost, or so I thought, so they sent me another copy. Got one last week, and a second one showed up today. Going to do the honest thing and see if they want it back, but they will have to pay for shipping.

Priest broke out the classic 'Tyrant' the other night in San Antonio, a song they haven't played live since 1983.


Must be pretty cool for the new guys (Ritchie & Andy) to be able to play some of the classics they grew up with.

Neat-O. Halford was doing "Tyrant" with his solo band back in the early '00s (they played it when I saw him open for Iron Maiden in 2000) but I had no idea Priest hadn't played it for so long.

I hear they're busting out "Saints In Hell" on the current tour, which they've apparently never played live, ever!

Priest has become the Halford solo band.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Priest has become the Halford solo band.  

Pretty much, yeah.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Priest has become the Halford solo band.  

Why, Ian Hill and Scott Travis leave the band now?

Wrecked Neck wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Priest has become the Halford solo band.  

Why, Ian Hill and Scott Travis leave the band now?

Nope,neither has Glenn Tipton

Wrecked Neck wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Priest has become the Halford solo band.  

Why, Ian Hill and Scott Travis leave the band now?

You think anyone listens to what they say? Rob's calling the plays with Glenn sitting on the sidelines.

Yeah, no kidding.

Glenn clearly can't contribute anywhere near like he could in the past, sadly, and KK is gone. So it's the Halford show now.

I know to many that will be fine, as long as they continue to do this under the brand name "Judas Priest", but to me it's not.

I've got a feeling that Ken is going to throw a grenade into the camp with his book soon.He clearly has unresolved issues with them and his business is not doing well at all so he needs it to sell.

I think he's going to out a few band skeletons and I'm guessing by some of the rumours that there are plenty.

K.K. seemed upset he was not invited back to the band when news of Tipton's health and inability to tour where revealed, as a fan I wish they would have, but like you stated, clearly the issues that ended with him exiting in the band must still be stinging him.

I think his book will be very interesting, for such a classic long-running band that was so closely-guarded.

I think he has a right to tell his own story and perspective on everything, and they of course have a right to respond in kind.

I'm addicted to these band biographies, even of bands I don't love all that much!

Boris2008 wrote:

I've got a feeling that Ken is going to throw a grenade into the camp with his book soon.He clearly has unresolved issues with them and his business is not doing well at all so he needs it to sell.

I think he's going to out a few band skeletons and I'm guessing by some of the rumours that there are plenty.

What could he possibly say? Talk about Rob Halford and all the chicks he banged back in the day? Like that would be shocking to anyone.


Just look at that dude. Chick's hanging all over him. Nothing weird there. It'd be a real shame for KK to start some false rumors or make accusations.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I think his book will be very interesting, for such a classic long-running band that was so closely-guarded.

I think he has a right to tell his own story and perspective on everything, and they of course have a right to respond in kind.

I'm addicted to these band biographies, even of bands I don't love all that much!

I agree he has a right to tell his story, but I was surprised when he announced he was having an autobiography published, like you point out, they were close guarded, close lipped band, so should be interesting.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

I've got a feeling that Ken is going to throw a grenade into the camp with his book soon.He clearly has unresolved issues with them and his business is not doing well at all so he needs it to sell.

I think he's going to out a few band skeletons and I'm guessing by some of the rumours that there are plenty.

What could he possibly say? Talk about Rob Halford and all the chicks he banged back in the day? Like that would be shocking to anyone.


Just look at that dude. Chick's hanging all over him. Nothing weird there. It'd be a real shame for KK to start some false rumors or make accusations.

Only Rob can make posing with a semi naked woman look THAT gay!!

Maybe it's me, but back in the 80's and til he came out of the closet, I seriously had no idea he was gay. Of course, I did not really think about it either.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

What could he possibly say?

My wild guesses:

1.  that rob is/was bi
2.  that rob's sexuality was a problem for them commercially
3.  that they fought over band royalties in the 70s
4.  that rob treated them with total disrespect the way he chose to leave the band, and in subsequent interviews
5.  they were frustrated playing catch up with their opening bands who went on to have more commercial success than them
6.  that he thinks iron maiden are overrated and jerks
7.  that he and glenn didn't get the credit they deserve in guitar circles
8.  that the record company forced them to fire ripper after disappointing sales
9.  that they would've been much more popular in the 80s if they hadn't turned down appearing on the Top Gun soundtrack which went on to sell a Kazillion units, which is why they were on that lousy Johnny B Goode movie soundtrack
10. That they were almost dropped from their record label and completely done until "Breaking the Law" became a hit, and the same scenario with YGATC

manny wrote:

Maybe it's me, but back in the 80's and til he came out of the closet, I seriously had no idea he was gay. Of course, I did not really think about it either.

I didn't suspect it until the 90s when he had that press conference where he denied having AIDS.

Temple of Blood wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

What could he possibly say?

My wild guesses:

1.  that rob is/was bi
2.  that rob's sexuality was a problem for them commercially
3.  that they fought over band royalties in the 70s
4.  that rob treated them with total disrespect the way he chose to leave the band, and in subsequent interviews
5.  they were frustrated playing catch up with their opening bands who went on to have more commercial success than them
6.  that he thinks iron maiden are overrated and jerks
7.  that he and glenn didn't get the credit they deserve in guitar circles
8.  that the record company forced them to fire ripper after disappointing sales
9.  that they would've been much more popular in the 80s if they hadn't turned down appearing on the Top Gun soundtrack which went on to sell a Kazillion units, which is why they were on that lousy Johnny B Goode movie soundtrack
10.  That they were almost dropped from their record label and completely done until "Breaking the Law" became a hit, and the same scenario with YGATC

1. Would anyone care at this point? Rob's been out for quite some time now. Unless him & Dave Holland were trolling grade schools or something.
2. It didn't seem to hurt Queen. Besides, that's nothing new. John Lennon was told to hide his first marriage because it would hurt the Beatles images as "available".
3. Was any band concerned about royalties back then? Noone seemed to care at the time. Management took in money and doled it out accordingly, either in the form of checks or drugs or both. It wasn't until the late 80's/early 90's that band started to wonder where all their money went.
4. Ok, that one I'll give you.
5. I think most 70's -era bands lost their way in the 80's, getting caught up in the new technology (re: synths) and remaining relevant with the new MTV generation.
6. Is there bad-blood between the 2 bands?
7. Maybe. One could argue that while they're both extremely talented and wrote some great tunes, what did they do that was ground-breaking or unique in the field? Especially in the 80's. If you weren't a Van Halen-esque shredder, you were ignored.
8. I could see that. I don't think too many folks would find that kind of revelation shocking though.
9. See response #5. Everyone makes a misstep now & then.
10. Another one I could see. They were 5 albums in by that point and didn't break in the States yet. What record company wouldn't want them to break at that point?

manny wrote:

Maybe it's me, but back in the 80's and til he came out of the closet, I seriously had no idea he was gay. Of course, I did not really think about it either.

Me neither. I was in college when someone told me Freddy Mercury was gay. It just never occurred to me I guess. The same way a whole older generation just thought Liberace was "waiting to find the right gal".

MetalGuy71 wrote:

manny wrote:

Maybe it's me, but back in the 80's and til he came out of the closet, I seriously had no idea he was gay. Of course, I did not really think about it either.

Me neither. I was in college when someone told me Freddy Mercury was gay. It just never occurred to me I guess. The same way a whole older generation just thought Liberace was "waiting to find the right gal".

Really? Even in the 80s this music came into my head every time I saw him!!

I think he might talk about some of the more salacious stuff such as.

What he really thinks about the Dave Holland case
Drug addiction in the band
Rob's boyfriend's suicide
Why there actually WAS backwards messages on their records
Whether he actually pissed himself with laughter at Rob's Bart Simpson phase
How much Glenn has actually played on the reunion albums
How much he hates all of them

Yeah, those are great topics too.

Of course talking smack about other bands/musicians they've known is expected too.

Rob's hospital visit/cancelled shows/rehab.