Rob Halford has commented on Judas Priest lacking the final Black Sabbath live performance later this 12 months.
Speaking completely to Metallic Hammer, the commemorated Metallic God explains that he and his band are dedicated to play the Sixtieth-anniversary present of German exhausting rock legends Scorpions, happening in Hannover on July 5.
The celebration falls on the identical day as Sabbath’s swansong, which is happening greater than 600 miles away at Villa Park in Birmingham.
The conflict implies that Priest might be one in every of only a few veteran metallic bands not showing on Sabbath’s invoice, with the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Weapons N’ Roses, Slayer and lots of others having been confirmed. Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne may also host his final-ever solo present on the occasion.
Halford tells Hammer: “I had no concept it was occurring!”
“We’ve recognized this man Ossy Hoppe – he’s like god in Germany for metallic,” Rob explains. “He got here in to see me at one in every of our final exhibits and says, ‘Would you contemplate doing one thing actually particular and vital? I’m placing on the Scorpions for his or her 60th anniversary, of their hometown. Would you’re employed with the band?’ And I used to be identical to, ‘Achieved! We’ve bought no plans it’s all good.’”
“All of it bought introduced and was a giant deal – Scorpions and Priest – and instantly I get this telephone name [from Sharon Osbourne]: ‘Robbie, I do know you’ve bought this gig with Scorpions, however may you contemplate coming over to do a factor with Ozzy and the fellows, he’d like to see you.’”
Halford goes on to elucidate that Sharon even supplied to fly Rob again to Birmingham on the day of the present to make a visitor look. “My thoughts went to Phil Collins when he did Dwell Support, the place he bought on the Harmony from London to Philadelphia to play two gigs in two locations,” Rob says. “He was there earlier than he left, due to the timezones!”
The singer provides that, as a lot as he’d like to play Sabbath’s farewell, speeding between Germany and the UK to make each performances occur could be “harmful”. “Even with a personal airplane, there’s a phrase referred to as ‘technical’, the place one thing may go fallacious, or the climate that point of 12 months may trigger issues… I used to be completely gutted,” he says.
Although no present Priest member is slated to play Sabbath’s present, Halford highlights that founding guitarist Okay.Okay. Downing, who departed the lineup in 2011, might be there and symbolize “the spirit of the band”.
“All my mates are going to be there although, nice bands and artists,” the frontman continues. “It’s an exquisite and epic second for Sabbath and heavy metallic – it re-emphasises that Birmingham is the place metallic got here from.”
Sabbath and Priest are each long-serving Birmingham bands who’ve had a permanent affect on heavy metallic music. Priest concert events typically characteristic a big, inflatable bull, paying tribute to their hometown and its historic “Bull Ring” space.
Priest wrapped up the touring cycle for his or her 2024 album, Invincible Defend, in Monterrey, Mexico, on Wednesday (Might 7). Nevertheless, the band will play quite a few pageant dates in the summertime, in addition to the Scorpions present and a handful of headliners celebrating the thirty fifth anniversary of their Painkiller launch.
Then, from July till October, the metallic legends will co-headline dates in Europe and North America with shock rocker Alice Cooper. See all particulars by way of the Judas Priest web site.