Judas Priest has such a huge week approaching in San Antonio and South Texas, it might elicit shrieks of excitement similar to the one Rob Halford gave on The Ripper off the band's live Unleashed in the East album in 1979:
- On Oct. 10, Judas Priest releases The Complete CBS/Columbia UK Singles Collection, a 52-song package spread over 20 -- yes, 20 -- CDs from 1977-92 that includes previously unreleased live recordings.
- On Oct. 11, an album of Priest favorites as selected by some of metal's biggest names, The Chosen Few, will come out.
- The big one. On Oct. 12, the mighty Priest kick off the United States portion of their Epitaph world tour here at the AT&T Center with special guests Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy (details at bottom).
The trek continues Oct. 14 in Corpus Christi, Oct. 15 in Houston and Oct. 16 in Dallas.
For good measure, Halford's solo band, which has included San Antonio's Bobby Jarzombek on drums since the band's inception in 2000, releases Live at Saitama Super Arena, a concert DVD from Japan, on Oct. 10.
Judas Priest has been coming to San Antonio for decades. But is this really the final time? Is K.K. Downing's shocking retirement a temporary thing or the be-all-end-all? What should fans expect from his replacement, 31-year-old Richie Faulkner?
Original bassist Ian Hill, 60, spoke exclusively with the SAMME from Brasilia, Brazil:
Q: Of all the times you've played San Antonio, does anything stick out?
A: We've always had a soft spot for San Antonio in our hearts. Texas was a huge market for us before we got to the States, mainly through the efforts of the great (former disc jockey) Joe Anthony. When we got there, we found out how popular we were, in '77 or so. It was a great surprise. Like you say, since those days, we've always enjoyed coming to San Antonio.
Q: It's bittersweet, though. It's wonderful that we're the first city this time, but also sad that we may never see Priest tour again. Do you feel that way?
A: Well, it's not the last time we're going to play. We all love it too much. Intense touring is what we're going to discontinue. We just did three months in Europe. We go to the States, Japan, Australia. After this tour, we're going to go on. It's just a bit more selective with our dates. But it will be the last time some see us in their hometown. There will be a few dates here and there, and if it makes sense, we'll go and do it. You know, when you put your instruments away, after about a month you want to go at it again. So we'll continue playing in some way shape or form.
Q: Is there anything on The Chosen Few that surprises you?
A: Not really, no. We're absolutely self-flattered. There's no higher attribute when you get Lemmy and Ozzy on there. We're a bit isolated, unfortunately, from the news, but from what I've seen of the early draft a month old, it seems like a fantastic list.
Q: If you had to pick one song for it, what would you choose?
A: You want me to pick one? (laughs)
(Laughing) Well, yes, that's what they had to do!
A: I tell you what, we're playing Blood Red Skies live, and it's one of those great production pieces that's been overlooked over the years. It's got slow parts, fast parts, heavy parts -- a little bit of everything.
Q: Priest is playing at least one song from every album, including Rocka Rolla. How difficult has it been selecting the setlist?
A: I tell you what. It's always a nightmare. With every new song, you have to drop a favorite. To fit everything in, we had to extend the set to 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours. But it's not that hard, rather more enjoyable. We're trying to put new songs in there with Breaking The Law and other favorites. Then we have others like Never Satisfied off Rocka Rolla that I don't think we ever played in the States (Note: Halford and Jarzombek played it on Halford's 2003 Live in Anaheim CD/DVD that was released in 2010). Starbreaker we haven't played in a long time.
Q: How is Richie working out, and what can we expect of someone we've never seen play with Priest before?
A: Yeah, Richie is an altogether great talent. An absolutely excellent guitarist. He does what Ken did, plus his own little traits. He's a great performer and character. We've been really lucky to find him. Even the way we found him -- we weren't even looking (laughs). Someone (else) was going to take over for Ken, and they couldn't do it, and it was him. You find what you can. We had a chat with him and gave him a go, and thank God. The crowd is taking to him well, and with all due respect to Ken, no one's missing him (laughs). No one's asking about Ken.
Q: Really, you're not getting any feedback about K.K. not being there?
A: No, and you'll know why when you see Richie perform.
Q: You go back with K.K. during your schooldays, I believe, so it can be said that you're the closest to him. What was your first reaction when he made it known he was stepping away?
A: We were all absolutely stopped in our tracks. When he came up and announced that he didn't want to carry on . . . Richie knew for a month that he had the job, but God bless him, he kept his mouth shut (laughs). We said, 'Richie, if he doesn't come back, you've got the job.' He must have been waiting to tell somebody.
Q: K.K. made it clear that it wasn't his health or his golf interests. Was it songwriting differences or a disagreement on whether this should be the final tour?
A: I don't know. Anything I say would be speculation. Personally, I think he had enough. Out of all of us, maybe he's the one who enjoyed it the least. If you ever get the opportunity, that's something you'd have to ask him.
Q: Does the door remain open for K.K. to return to the band at any point if he chooses?
A: Oh yeah. There's too much water under the bridge to kill our friendship.
Q: Rob reportedly said the other day that you all have made significant progress on the next album. How far along are you, and what can you tell me about the songs or direction of it?
A: We pretty much finished three tracks. Obviously, we did this before Richie had come along. Rob and myself and Glenn (Tipton) and Scott (Travis). There's still Richie's input to go on top of that. Rob and Glenn have got a lot of songs knocked out. My ideas, too, this time around and with Richie's input, we'll start on completing this album sometime next year. We're going to carry on from where we left off with Angel of Retribution. After the concept album (Nostradamus), we're going to get back to the heavy metal that Priest is known for.
Q: Has Priest been asked to perform on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise?
A: Not really, no one has made mention of it. I've never been on a cruise. Never got around to doing it. With family, 10 of us go on vacation and rent a big house by the beach. That's about the extent of our vacation (laughs). So not as far as I know, but it sounds interesting.
Q: I have a social media question for you from one of my readers. Bill from Chicago wants to know, what's your favorite piece of gear?
A: Probably my basses. I've been playing Spectors for over 10 years. They're very kind to me as well. They've been great over the years. I couldn't wish for anything better. They're built like a tank.
Q: You and I spoke in 2008 by phone when you called me from your hotel in Romania during the Nostradamus tour. I asked then how much longer Priest would go on, and you said that the world is supposed to end in 2012, so that would be it. What would you say now?
A: I think it's open-ended, to be honest. We absolutely have no intention of putting the band off. We'll continue in one form or another. We've been at it so long; it's all we know how to do. It' s like taking a drug. It's a way to get our music fix (laughs).
Thank you, Ian. We are looking forward to seeing you guys here for the first American show of the tour. Best of luck with everything.
It's been a pleasure, Jay. Take care.
- WHO: Judas Priest with Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy
- WHEN: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12
- WHERE: AT&T Center
- TICKETS: $40-$95, purchase here.
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