Simon Rushworth
Guitar hero Glenn Tipton has confessed mammoth world tours will be beyond Judas Priest once the huge Epitaph tour reaches its conclusion.
But the veteran axe slinger is refusing to rule out shorter bursts of live action beyond 2012 after reiterating the view that there’s plenty of life in the heavy metal legends yet.
“At our age the prospect of an 18-month tour is very daunting indeed and it’s something we just can’t contemplate again,” Tipton told rushonrock from the band’s temporary Milan base earlier today. “But if the right tour came along in the future, with eight or 10 dates, and it was for a good cause then it’s something we’d seriously consider.”
Priest hit the UK next month for a series of arena shows alongside Queensryche and Rival Sons. And the Brummie rockers headline High Voltage 2011 in what is being billed as their UK festival farewell. But rumours of the band’s retirement have proved premature.
“We’re not finished yet – not by a long chalk,” added Tipton. “Every time we get on stage there’s still that buzz and the live shows are what we love. But it’s all the time in between – the time going through airport check-in, the 24-hour trips on the tour bus and the dull hotel rooms – which drains you at our age. And the touring is preventing us from finishing the new album we have in the can!”
As if to prove the point that Priest are still very much a going concern, an all-encompassing singles box set will be released later this summer – following hot on the heels of the remastered versions of their classic albums.
Single Cuts is not only a testament to Priest’s enduring influence but also tells the story of why they are such a force in metal.
Boasting a massive 52 tracks across 20 discs the collection includes legendary cuts such as Dissident Aggressor, Living After Midnight, Breaking The Law, Turbo Lover and Painkiller. Also featured are much-loved tracks such as Priest’s unique cover of The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown) plus a raft of live B sides.
Housed in a deluxe, numbered box, Single Cuts brings together the CBS/Columbia singles from 1977 to 1992, including 7″ and 12″ cuts. All singles are issued on vinyl replica CDs with original labels and 7″ vinyl artwork wallets.
In May this year Judas Priest debuted their new guitarist, 31-year-old British Richie Faulkner on the finale of American Idol. The band are currently setting stages alight across Europe on their Epitaph tour which will see them on the road throughout 2011 and beyond.
Single Cuts is only available to order from the official Judas Priest website www.judaspriest.com
Track Listing
1977 Diamonds and Rust
Dissident Aggressor
1978 Better By You, Better Than Me
Invader
1978 Evening Star
Starbreaker
1978 Before The Dawn
Rock Forever
1979 Take On The World
Starbreaker (Live)
White Heat Red Hot (Live
1979 Evening Star
Beyond The Realms Of Death
The Green Manalishi
1980 Living After Midnight
Delivering The Goods (Live)
Evil Fantasies (Live)
1980 Breaking The Law
Metal Gods
1980 United
Grinder
1981 Don’t Go
Solar Angels
1981 Hot Rockin’ 3:03
Breaking The Law (Live)
Steeler
You Don’t Have to Be Old To Be Wise
1982 You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
Exciter (Live)
1982 (Take These) Chains
Judas Priest Audio File
1984 Freewheel Burning
Breaking The Law (Live)
You’ve got Another Thing Coming
1984 Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)
Jawbreaker
1986 Turbo Lover
Hot For Love
1986 Locked In
Reckless
Desert Plains (Live)
Freewheel Burning (Live)
1990 Painkiller
United
Better By You, Better Than Me
1991 A Touch Of Evil
Between The Hammer And The Anvil
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming (Live)
1992 Night Crawler
Breaking The Law (Live)
Living After Midnight (Live)