judas priest farewell tour

Judas Priest Announce Farewell Tour

by Zach Shaw | Dec 7, 2010 | Screaming For Retirement | 2 comments

As sad as it might be to see the Metal Gods go, you have to respect their decision to quick while they are still on top and doing well for themselves. Fans have been fortunate enough to either catch them in their heyday or at least see them since their reunion with Rob Halford in 2004. Since reuniting with Halford, the band has been touring nonstop (with the exception of this past year), and released two studio albums and multiple live releases. The band even picked up their first ever Grammy last year for the live track “Dissident Aggressor.” They’ve accomplished so much and inspired so many in the 40 years they have been together.

More dates are expected to be revealed shortly. Priest will begin the Epitaph farewell world tour with a few European festival dates listed below:

June 9- Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden June 11- Sauna Festival, Finland June 17- Copenhell Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark June 19- Hellfest, Nantes, France June 22- Gods of Metal Festival, Milan, Italy June 25- Graspop Festival, Belgium July 23- HIgh Voltage Festival, London, UK August 5- Wacken Festival, Germany

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JUDAS PRIEST's Farewell World Tour With Meyer Sound MILO (Video)

JUDAS PRIEST , one of the most renowned and influential heavy metal groups, has embarked on what the band is calling its final world tour, with abundant support from Meyer Sound equipment and supplier Major Tom Limited . JUDAS PRIEST 's "Epitaph" tour has included Europe, South America, Mexico, and 35 stops in Canada and the U.S. The next stop is Japan in early 2012.

The Meyer Sound system includes 48 MILO line array loudspeakers, 24 700-HP and four 600-HP subwoofers, three M'elodie line array loudspeakers, and six MJF-212A stage monitors.

"It's a very full sound," says production manager and front-of-house engineer Martin Walker , who has been with JUDAS PRIEST for more than a decade. "MILO is a consistent-sounding box. I try and keep the system as flat as I can, and the coverage is great and very even. When you get side hangs, you can make that coverage seamless between the side and main hangs. I don't have to work that hard at it, to be honest."

Walker is also a fan of the 700-HP and 600-HP subwoofers. "A lot of subs just move loads of air and make a big noise, but not necessarily a musical noise," he says. "These sound very musical as well as being powerful and moving lots of air."

Monitor engineer Kevin McCarthy , who first mixed JUDAS PRIEST in 1991, says the band is especially fond of the MJF-212A stage monitors: "We struggled to find the right wedge for years, and then found the MJF-212A. JUDAS PRIEST is a guitar band and the MJF-212A duplicates the guitar sounds fantastically. They get really loud; they sound really clear. They loved them from the first day we used them."

In an atypical setup, the three M'elodie line array loudspeakers are hung pointing straight down from the front truss. "I try to keep the pit and edge of the stage clear because the band will use every inch of the stage," Walker explains. "It was an idea I had a long time ago, to put the in-fill up high and point it down. It works really well and keeps the stage clear."

The front-of-house package is comprised of a DiGiCo SD7 console, TC Electronic D-Two delay, Avalon compressor for the lead singer's vocals, Eventide Eclipse Harmonizer, and a few Yamaha SPX990 multi-effects processors. At monitors, McCarthy mixes on a Yamaha PM5D with help from an Apogee Big Ben master clock and plug-in package from Waves. The band uses Shure microphones and wireless personal monitor systems, along with JH Audio in-ear monitors.

For a classic hard-rock band such as JUDAS PRIEST , the Meyer Sound equipment is proving to be an ideal match. "It goes as loud as you want it to," Walker says. "It can sound hi-fi, but you can also make it sound like a big rock PA. JUDAS PRIEST is a huge-sounding band, and they have plenty of dynamics, too. They have their quiet moments, which make the loud moments sound even louder."

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JUDAS PRIEST announce 2024 U.S. tour

Revolver has teamed with Judas Priest for an exclusive blue vinyl variant of their new album,  Invisible Shield.  It's limited to 1,000 —  order yours!

Judas Priest 's first new album in six years, Invincible Shield , arrives next spring, the band aren't wasting a moment before taking it on the road. 

Today (November 14th), the NWOBHM gods have announced a 2024 U.S. headlining tour where they'll be joined by Swedish power-metal vets Sabaton. 

The trek begins April 18th in Wallingford, CT, and will travel from coast to coast before wrapping up in Syracuse, NY, on May 22nd. 

Tickets go on sale Friday November 17th at 10 a.m. local time. See the itinerary below. 

Invincible Shield marks Priest's first full-length album since 2018's Firepower , and it's now up for pre-order in a variety of formats. These include a limited-edition blue vinyl variant exclusively available via Revolver's shop and those of our sister brands. Only 1,000 made —  order yours now .

Judas Priest 2024 U.S. tour dates:  Apr 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre Apr 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center Apr 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena Apr 24 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center Apr 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway Apr 27 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Center Apr 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River May 01 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre May 02 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory May 4 - Kalamazoo, MI - Wings Event Center May 05 – Maryland Heights, MO – St Louis Music Park May 07 - Huntsville, AL - VBC Propst Arena May 09 - Daytona, FL - Welcome to Rockville May 11 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre May 12 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center Arena May 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion May 17 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center May 19 – Washington, DC –The Theater at MGM National Harbor May 21 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena May 22 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Judas Priest (@judaspriest)

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Judas Priest Announces The Invincible Shield Tour

Sabaton To Join Across All Shows

Tickets available starting wednesday, november 15 with artist presale, general onsale begins on friday, november 17 at 10am local on judaspriestinvincibleshield.com.

Today, heavy metal titans Judas Priest have announced their Invincible Shield Tour with special guest Sabaton. The all-time greats will take over the U.S.A. this spring with 14 shows. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT making stops in Reading, PA; Boston, MA; Rosemont, IL; Washington, DC and more before wrapping up in Syracuse, NY at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on May 22. Full ticketing and tour dates are available below. Metalheads are in for the show of a lifetime as few rock or metal acts remain as much of a must-see live attraction as Judas Priest.

Also, on Friday 17 th November JUDAS PRIEST will release ‘Trial By Fire’ the second song from their highly-anticipated new album Invincible Shield after the acclaimed lead single ‘Panic Attack’ – judaspriest.lnk.to/InvincibleShield .

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Wednesday, November 15. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, November 17 at 10am local time at judaspriestinvincibleshield.com .

JUDAS PRIEST: INVINCIBLE SHIELD TOUR DATES:

Thu Apr 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre

Fri Apr 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

Sun Apr 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena

Wed Apr 24 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center

Thu Apr 25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Sat Apr 27 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center*

Sun Apr 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River

Wed May 01 – Rosemont, IL – Rosemont Theatre

Thu May 02 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory

Sat May 4 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center*

Sun May 05 – Maryland Heights, MO – St Louis Music Park

Tue May 07 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Propst Arena*

Thu May 09 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville^

Sat May 11 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Sun May 12 – Mobile, AL – Mobile Civic Center Arena*

Tue May 14 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Fri May 17 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center*

Sun May 19 – Washington, DC –The Theater at MGM National Harbor

Tue May 21 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena

Wed May 22 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview

* Not a Live Nation Date

^Festival Performance

ABOUT JUDAS PRIEST

Judas Priest, a powerhouse in the world of heavy metal has spent over 50 years crafting a legendary career. Emerging from Birmingham in 1969, their impact and influence in the genre remain unparalleled. The band originally solidified their place in music history with iconic albums like ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ and ‘Sin After Sin’ known for metal anthems like ‘Sinner’ and ‘Hell Bent for Leather’ while pioneering the leather-and-studs image now synonymous with the metal culture

The ’80s marked their pinnacle with classic albums ‘British Steel’, ‘Screaming for Vengeance’, and ‘Defenders of the Faith’, generating timeless hits like ‘Breaking the Law’. Despite lineup changes and various challenges, the band’s resilience remained unwavering. In 2018 Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill and Scott Travis released ‘Firepower’ which soared as one of their most successful albums, backed by an extensive global tour

Amid health setbacks and the pandemic, they persevered with a 50th-anniversary tour and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Preparing for the release of their 19th studio album ‘Invincible Shield’ and a headlining performance at the 2023 PowerTrip Music Festival, Judas Priest’s unwavering dedication to spreading their heavy metal legacy continues, promising to rock on into 2024 and beyond.

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Judas Priest

Chip Ruggieri | [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Valeska Thomas | [email protected]

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Setlist Revealed For Judas Priest's "Epitaph" Farewell Tour

posted Jun 8 , 2011 at 3:58 AM by The_Avant_Garde .  ( 36 Comments )

Band Photo: Judas Priest (?)

The official setlist has been revealed for the ongoing farewell "Epitaph" tour presented by heavy metal icons Judas Priest. You can view the setlist below, with dates for the band's North American leg of its "Epitaph" tour at this location.

1. Rapid Fire 2. Metal Gods 3. Heading Out To The Highway 4. Judas Rising 5. Starbreaker 6. Victim Of Changes 7. Never Satisfied 8. Diamonds And Rust (Joan Baez cover) 9. Prophecy 10. Night Crawler 11. Turbo Lover 12. Beyond The Realms of Death 13. The Sentinel 14. Blood Red Skies 15. The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover) 16. Breaking The Law 17. Painkiller 18. The Hellion/Electric Eye 19. Hell Bent For Leather 20. You've Got Another Thing Comin'

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36 Comments on "Setlist Revealed For Judas Priest 'Epitaph' Tour"

1. Blindgreed1 writes:

Replace Turbo with Jawbreaker and it's a pretty killer set IMO. Can't stand Tubo Lover...

2. Rychemn writes:

or even replace it with "Grinder".......but overall, not a bad set list.....a couple of songs I have never heard them play live (Starbreaker and Never Satisfied)........but without KK, I seriously doubt I'll be seeing this tour (Sad)....

N.P.........Rock Forever.........Judas Priest.

3. R10 writes:

Im not seeing anything from "Defenders",unless im blind. How about Freewheel Burning replacing "Turbo". Good career spanning set list though,and i will not miss thier soon to be announced New England date/dates !

4. Rychemn writes:

The Sentenial is from Defenders...

5. Rychemn writes:

Oops...I mean Sentinel...

6. R10 writes:

Oops,i definately should have known that,Rychem,seeing i saw em twice im New Emgland on that tour as a freshman going on sophmore in HS! Yup,i shoulda been in "heavy metal parking lot" bad mullet and all! Freewheel or Jawbreaker would have been great additions to the set subtracting Turbo,imo!

7. xPlaguedBastardx writes:

Looking pretty sexy. I'll be there.

8. NW_MetalHead writes:

Agreed with most here that Turbo Lover needs to go and replace with either Grinder or Riding On The Wind

9. JD writes:

No Hot Rockin', No JD. Never saw them play (although I heard they played it on the Ram it Down tour and some of the Angels tour. But then it got replaced with I'm a Rocker, which is when I saw them.) Prophecy can go, but BR Skies is very cool.

10. Mick1969 writes:

Overall a good set list but for a farewell tour I would like to hear Exciter or Sinner...No KK is a major disappointment but gotta go see the boys. Guess they have to add Turbo Lover for the Priest posers!

11. Mike J writes:

very lukewarm on the set...imo it feels to me like there heart is not in this tour at all...

12. silvermountains writes:

i like it, and I already bought my ticket, so see ya there in Denver

13. slade900 writes:

where is ram it down :(

Writer/Reviewer

14. Dasher10 writes:

No Freewheel Burning?

15. Judastic writes:

Exiled from Nostradamus would be nice too

16. ajpf writes:

What I wanna know is what's wrong with Turbo Lover, it is one of their best and ahead of it's time, only true Priest fans will agree with me there. Plus they have clearly stated that there will be a song from each album and that is the best on that album. To be honest there are a few tracks that could be added and I can't see one I would take off.

17. Blindgreed1 writes:

ajpf: I'm a true Priest fan and I think you're full of fvcking sh!t. Turbo is the worst song they ever released. Priest had no business trying to enter the synthesizer era which is what they (and everyone else) were attempting with that album. Trying to be something they weren't at the behest of some big time producer no doubt, but the fact remains that they turned their back on their own essence and diminished their legacy in doing so. I'm sure if you asked any of the original members which was their least favorite album they'd agree with me and likely kick your arse for merely suggesting such a fallicy. It's complete and utter sh**e.

Former Contributor

18. Cynic writes:

With a such a huge catalog of classics you're always gonna disappoint some by missing out tunes - but overall I'd say it's a pretty awesome setlist. I would have ended on something else but hey, sounds like it will be fun for those that get to see this awesome send off.

19. priestFanNY writes:

Blood Red Skies wasn't performed on the Ram It Down tour. I saw it in NY and have a video from FL which was the same setlist. They also didn't perform Hot Rockin & they did perform I'm a Rocker. They only played Turbo Lover from Turbo (strange since that was their second most recent album), nothing from Defenders, nothing from Point of Entry, and a lot of their older stuff from the 70's & British Steel. It was a strange but really awesome tour.

So where are the northeast dates ???????????? On the Angels tour, they played in Poughkeepsie.

20. Dal writes:

I'd say scrap Turbo lover and heading out to the highway and replace it with Dreamer Deciever/Deciever and Fever or Dissident Agressor or Grinder and that setlist is badass..

21. PROPHETOFDOOM1331 writes:

I CAN'T BELIEVE MY FAVORITE JUDAS f***IN PRIEST MADE THE SETLIST! "BEYOND THE REALMS OF DEATH " BUT HELL BENT FOR LEATHER SHOULD BE ONE OF THE ENCORES. I WAS FORTUNATE I GOT TO SEE JUDAS PRIEST -SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE /IRON MAIDEN-NUMBER OF THE BEAST TOUR TOGETHER IN 82 AND SAW JUGULATOR TOUR ALSO AND GOT TO MEET THE BAND -----RED

22. JUDAS JUDA-A-A writes:

THIS SETLIST IS GONNA BE COOL.

23. Rychemn writes:

Since alot of people here want something else from the Defenders album....may I suggest "Eat me Alive"??? I'm talking about the song of coarse, hee..hee..

24. R10 writes:

Or even "Love Bites".Guess its only fair to include a song from Turbo,even though its one of my least listened to Priest albums. Saw the Turbo tour in 86,with Dokken opening,great setlist. Even though they played a half dozen Turbo cuts. They got alot of flack for this album,but people seem to forget Maiden had synths in Somewhere in Time,with much better results i might add.Also Dio with Sacred Heart. Blame it on the times i guess.

25. ajpf writes:

Blindgreed1:- In reply to your comment I did not say that Turbo was a great album and I and every Priest fan knows it was sh**e, but Turbo Lover is a great track in my opinion and obviously most importantly Judas Priest's Hence they picked it, and its only cause of the damn yanks that they tried that synthesiser sound to try and break into mainstream radio etc so blame the yanks not Priest. What makes Priest the best is their ability to change their style it don't always work with most bands but Priest can do thrash or rock and its always classic and they are human and made a big mistake with turbo but look at the following albums still great stuff especially painkiller

26. Guest writes:

Though I agree with the fact that "Jawbreaker" and other tracks should be included on this set list, I personally feel that "Turbo Lover" is in fact sort of an essential for many. Although it is one of my favorite songs, I don't feel it belongs on this list. Perhaps as an encore, maybe...?

27. diggersleftfoot writes:

no living after midnight what the f*** they could have left out rapid fire

28. nowhereidahometalhead writes:

only seen priest w/ ripper owens. original cats much better. good setlist but for a farewell it coulda been harder. BETTER TO BURN OUT THEN TO FADE AWAY !!!!

29. Somebody writes:

Even with the double number of songs i couldn't be satisfied but ok... :P

30. Sasa Srbija writes:

Living after midnight ?

31. castillo writes:

f*** all of you Turbo haters, but yeah there should be RECKLESS !!!!!!!!!! instead of TL

32. ImI (*o*) ImI writes:

Saw them yesterday in Vienna, my ears are still ringing. Bring ear plugs and warm up your necks! :D

...and no, I'm not revealing anything else about the concert except I'm still smiling.

33. ZMA writes:

This concert is gonna be insane.

34. ChrisPriestfan writes:

Judas Rising should open in my opinion but still great setlist.

35. in judas we trust writes:

ohhh yeahhh!! judas priest in istanbul!!!!

36. GALGO writes:

LOCO SON LA MEJOR BANDA DEL MUNDO, GRACIAS, LOS AMO

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"No holograms, no troupes of dancers, just a giant light-up trident descending from the ceiling": Judas Priest keep it simple on a triumphant first night of the Invincible Shield tour

A show 160 years in the making: judas priest, saxon and uriah heap take to the stage in glasgow.

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

There are only two kinds of music that matter tonight: Heavy and Metal. Three British bands, with a total of 160 years on the clock between them, have packed out the 12,000-seater OVO Hydro. Here, the chaos of the world is kept outside, this giant concrete and glass colosseum on the banks of the Clyde surrounded by an invisible forcefield. Or maybe an invincible shield.

This is the first night of the world tour in support of Judas Priest ’s 19th album, Invincible Shield (yeah, we went there). It’s a screaming demon of a record that keeps up the hot streak which began with 2014’s rocket-fuelled Redeemer Of Souls and continued through 2018’s pulverising Firepower . Do Priest – 55 years and counting in the game themselves – have the energy to pull it off? Oh yes, they definitely do.

We’ll get to that, but first the undercard. Openers Uriah Heep have been doing this as long as Priest, doughty footsoldiers on heavy metal’s long and unending route march. They rattle through a set so short it’s a wonder they bothered to pull themselves away from the telly, but Gypsy and Easy Livin’ sound as exhilarating now as they did when double denim and luxuriant moustaches were all the rage first time around.

Saxon are the young bucks on tonight’s bill by comparison, even if Biff Byford increasingly resembles an old oak, topped with silver and more rooted to the spot than he used to be. We get four songs from their latest album, Hell, Fire And Damnation , which is a touch on the generous side (though There’s Something In Roswell is way better than its crackpot title suggests). But everyone’s here for the classics, and they know it: Motorcycle Man , And The Bands Played On , Dallas 1pm , Wheels Of Steel and Princess Of The Night, still the greatest song about a steam train ever written. “This is what it’s fucking all about,” booms Biff before a euphoric Denim And Leather . He’s not wrong.

There’s a reason Priest called their new album what they did, given the rough time of it they’ve had in the last few years. Talismanic guitarist Glenn Tipton’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and subsequent retirement, recent-ish recruit Richie Faulkner’s near-fatal onstage heart attack , Rob Halford’s recovery from prostate cancer – if there is a God, it looks like he’s not much of a Judas Priest fan. Yet here they are, leather-clad and studded up, striding onto the OVO stage to a fanfare worthy of a Queen (or at least Queen), as youthful in spirit, if not in body, as they‘ve ever been.

Invincible Shield is a top-tier Priest album, and one that doesn’t sound too far away from the ones they used to make, so few here begrudge them opening with the adrenalised assault of recent single Panic Attack . Even those who have resolutely refused to listen to anything after Painkiller will be pacified by Rapid Fire , despatched in quick succession. Halford manages to lose his way a little in the tongue-tangling wordplay – come on, he’s only been singing it for 44 years – but at least he nails ‘desolisating’, which is the important bit. When exactly did heavy metal bands stop making up their own words anyway?

Priest haven’t played UK arenas for decades, and it’s easy to forget just how boomingly heavy they sound. Not least bassist Ian Hill, the rock on which Priest have been built for the last 50-odd years. Does it matter that his great thwacking bass is the loudest thing in the mix? No, it does not. There’s some milksop with an acoustic guitar playing across town if it’s too loud for you.

Halford himself is obscenely sprightly tonight, which is to say way more agile than any 72-year old wrapped in a layer of leather, rivet-work and, sporadically, a spangly silver coat has a right to be. Vocally, he‘s on fire – the high notes are hit precisely when they should be, which, in the case of Screaming For Vengeance , is pretty much from start to finish. He even tosses in what sounds like a death growl during the immortal Metal Gods .

By modern standards, the stage set is relatively restrained yet undeniably effective. Banks of giant screens at the back of the stage project a retina-roasting array of colours and images – a dirty and scuffed Union Jack during Breaking The Law , footage from the old silent horror movie Nosferatu during Love Bites , vintage footage of the absent Tipton during a stellar Victim Of Changes , his hair flowing and his red patent leather strides positively creaking with intent. Beyond that, there’s not much - no second stage, no holograms, no troupes of dancers, just a giant light-up trident that periodically descends from the ceiling. But sometimes a giant light-up trident is all you need.

The setlist is as perfectly balanced as can be expected from a band with as deep a catalogue as Priest. There are new songs ( Lightning Strike , Panic Attack , Trial By Fire and Invincible Shield itself all get a run out, the first ever for the latter three). There are old songs ( You Got Another Thing Coming , Turbo , Green Manalishi ). There are even a couple of deep-ish cuts in the form of Saints In Hell and Love Bites .

The wrap it up, naturally, with a triumphant Hell Bent For Leather – sung by Halford on his Harley, of course – and Livin’ After Midnight . “We hit Glasgow about 1am,”  Rob sings on the latter – optimistic, maybe, but 12,000-odd people are right there partying with him in their heads. “We’ll be back,” he says when it’s finished. Time may march on, but only a fool would bet against that.

Judas Priest's Invincible Shield tour continues at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Wednesday evening (March 13). For full dates and tickets, visit the Judas Priest website .

Rob Halford appears on the cover of the new issue of Metal Hammer (with some kittens), while Halford and Richie Faulkner are interviewed about the making of Invincible Shield in the new issue of Classic Rock .

Judas Priest: Glasgow OVO Hydro setlist

Panic Attack Rapid Fire You've Got Another Thing Comin' Metal Gods Lightning Strike Love Bites Breaking the Law Saints in Hell Trial by Fire Turbo Lover Invincible Shield Beyond the Realms of Death Victim of Changes Screaming for Vengeance The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) Painkiller Hell Bent for Leather Living After Midnight

Dave Everley has been writing about and occasionally humming along to music since the early 90s. During that time, he has been Deputy Editor on Kerrang! and Classic Rock , Associate Editor on Q magazine and staff writer/tea boy on Raw , not necessarily in that order. He has written for Metal Hammer, Louder, Prog, the Observer, Select, Mojo , the Evening Standard and the totally legendary Ultrakill . He is still waiting for Billy Gibbons to send him a bottle of hot sauce he was promised several years ago.

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Judas Priest might have been a late addition to Power Trip  after Ozzy Osbourne  had to bow out , but there was no whiff of a consolation prize during their blazing Saturday night performance, which set the stage for the colossal return of AC/DC .

Whereas Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses tested the audience’s patience on Friday with set lists that were obscure and punishingly long , respectively, the Metal Gods delivered a bulletproof 90-minute set that contained all the requisite hits along with a handful of hard-hitting deep cuts that held the massive festival crowd’s attention.

You can see the full set list and photos from the performance below.

Judas Priest Switched Things Up From Last Year's 50th-Anniversary Tour

After opening with a high-powered hat trick of “Electric Eye,” “Riding on the Wind” and “Heading Out to the Highway,” Judas Priest deviated from last year’s 50th-anniversary tour set list with gems like “The Sentinel,” “Rapid Fire,” “A Touch of Evil” and “Desert Plains.” Metallic covers of Joan Baez ’s “Diamonds & Rust” and Fleetwood Mac ’s “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” fit nicely among the set, as did Firepower ’s blistering title track and “Lightning Strike,” both of which showcased Rob Halford ’s glass-cutting screams.

Watch Judas Priest Perform 'Electric Eye'

READ MORE: The Best Song on Every Judas Priest Album

The band took full advantage of Power Trip’s gargantuan stage and ultra-high-resolution screens, bathing the Empire Polo Field in light with LED flames and a massive light-up cross spinning above the stage. Halford rode his signature Harley-Davidson onto the stage for an encore performance of “Hell Bent for Leather” but largely left the movement to guitarist Richie Faulkner , who dashed across the stage and mugged at the crowd as he fired off one lightning-fast solo after another.

They Welcomed a Special Guest During Their Encore

The twin-guitar attack became a three-pronged assault when Priest welcomed longtime guitarist  Glenn Tipton to the stage for a set-closing trio of “Metal Gods,” “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight.” Tipton’s Parkinson’s diagnosis has sidelined him from full-time touring in recent years, but he was in fine form on Saturday, ripping agile solos alongside Faulkner.

Judas Priest noticeably didn’t unveil any new songs or mention anything about their upcoming 2024 album, Invincible Shield , despite advertising it onscreen before they hit the stage. But it stands to reason that they’ll be heading back out to the highway soon enough, and if Power Trip is any indication, they’ll still have plenty of firepower to spare.

Watch Judas Priest Perform 'Living After Midnight'

Judas Priest, 10/7/23, Power Trip, Indio 1. "The Hellion" / "Electric Eye" 2. "Riding on the Wind" 3. "Heading Out to the Highway" 4. "Lightning Strike" 5. "Diamonds & Rust" (Joan Baez cover) 6. "The Sentinel" 7. "A Touch of Evil" 8. "Turbo Lover" 9. "Firepower" 10. "Desert Plains" 11. "Rapid Fire" 12. "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)" (Fleetwood Mac cover) 13. "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" 14. "Painkiller" 15. "Hell Bent for Leather" 16. "Metal Gods" (with Glenn Tipton) 17. "Breaking the Law" (with Glenn Tipton) 18. "Living After Midnight" (with Glenn Tipton)

Judas Priest at Power Trip 2023

Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli

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Judas Priest Announce Farewell Tour

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

Judas Priest will perform in a farewell tour that will take them around the globe in 2011, the band announced Tuesday. “After storming the world for nearly 40 years and taking their 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, have announced this will be their final world tour,” they said in a press release. “With all guns blazing and amps cranked to 11, the band will be giving all their fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is Judas Priest.” Only eight European dates for next summer have been announced, but many more should be coming.

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Farewell tours are often complete shams. The Who, Phish, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Cher, Tina Turner and Barbra Streisand have all done them — only to return to the road just a few years later. Judas Priest’s last few tours haven’t exactly set box office records, even last summer when they performed their 1980 classic British Steel straight through.

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Still, a farewell tour is the perfect to get fans into seats because they fear it’s their last chance — and it’s still likely to be a great show. Judas Priest have one of the best catalogs in metal and Rob Halford still has his signature booming voice, even though he’s pushing 60. Who knows, they might actually be one of the few groups to say farewell and mean it.

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