Judas Priest's Rob Halford up for 'spectacular' joint tour with Iron Maiden
Echoing comments made by bassist Ian Hill earlier this year, Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford says he would love to head out on a joint tour with Iron Maiden.
Asked about his feelings on a hypothetical tour with Maiden, Halford told Consequence of Sound: “I think both bands would look to do that. It’s all about the timing of doing such a thing. We’re good friends.”
Commenting on the two bands’ rivalry in the 1980s, Halford added: “When we talk about rivalry, healthy rivalry, it’s like the Arizona Cardinals and the Raiders or the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors (American football teams). It’s that kind of rivalry, a good rivalry. It’s a fun rivalry.
“But I think both bands have admired each other throughout the metal years, and it would be a spectacular event — Priest and Iron Maiden together.”
Halford also revealed that he once had much bigger aspirations – a UK Big Four tour like the American thrash metal Big Four, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.
“My dream had always been to have like ‘The Big 4 of the UK’, without turning this into a kind of depressing way,” Halford explained. “I’d always dreamed of Black Sabbath and Motörhead and Priest and Maiden as ‘The Big 4’ doing something in the UK.”
Reflecting upon the untimely passing of Lemmy and the demise of Black Sabbath, Halford added: “Sadly, two-fourths of that has gone, but the music lives forever. That’s the main thing.”
In an interview with Audio Ink in May, Judas Priest’s sole constant member, Ian Hill, said: “There’s always the big question of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden (touring together). That would be really interesting if we could get that together before some of us die. It’d be great!”
Judas Priest headline Bloodstock Open Air Festival on Sunday 9th August 2020 where they will play a 50 Heavy Metal Years anniversary show.
The special performance at the 20th anniversary of Bloodstock comes two years after Judas Priest last triumphed at the Catton Park rock and metal extravaganza.
Tickets to Bloodstock are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
Rob Halford also released his second Christmas album, entitled ‘Celestial’, at the end of October.
Released under the moniker of Rob Halford With Family & Friends, it contains eight hard rocking interpretations of festive favourites alongside four original tracks.
Traditional Yuletide classics Rob covers on the album are ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’, ‘Away In A Manger’, ‘Joy To The World’, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, ‘The First Noel’, ‘Deck The Halls’, ‘Good King Wenceslas’ and ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’.
The four original songs are called ‘Celestial’, ‘Morning Star’, ‘Protected By The Light’ and a riff-heavy ‘Donner and Blitzen’.