Judas Priest Announces Retirement

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Judas Priest Announces Retirement And Farewell Tour

posted Dec 7, 2010 at 8:48 AM by Diamond Oz. (61 Comments)

Band Photo: Judas Priest (?)

British heavy metal band Judas Priest, one of the most influential and most popular heavy metal bands of all time, has announced that they are to perform one more world tour and then retire as a band. The band will be performing at several European festivals next year, including Graspop, Wacken and High Voltage. More dates and statements from band members are to be released soon.

The tour dates are as follows:

June 9 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, 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 Open Air - Wacken, Germany

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61 Comments on "Judas Priest Announces Retirement"

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Senior News Correspondent

1. Diamond Oz writes:

Unbelievable. Absolutely have to go to Graspop now so I can see them for the third, and sadly final time.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 8:50 AM ET | IP Logged

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2. deathbringer writes:

I'm shocked! But you know they'll come out of retirement for one or two more tours.... Just for reliving good times and the almighty $$.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 8:59 AM ET | IP Logged

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3. brandedcfh420 writes:

IM SPEECHLESS............

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 9:04 AM ET | IP Logged

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4. silvermountains writes:

So does this mean, no Judas Priest American Tour?! :'(

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 9:19 AM ET | IP Logged

5. wakaka writes:

i read this earlier this morning on facebook. it sucks but i guess it's for the best...

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 9:51 AM ET | IP Logged

6. Sronpop writes:

They said it was one final WORLD Tour, and that the ywill be hitting up every major city one more time before they call it a day, so everyone should at least have the chance to see them one more time before they are done.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:02 AM ET | IP Logged

7. Chazz writes:

Wow, first the Scorpions and now Judas Priest? f*** retirement!

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:14 AM ET | IP Logged

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8. hellrat writes:

nah, i don't buy it....as 'bringer alludes, they'll be back

NP---Beyond the Realms of Death

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:30 AM ET | IP Logged

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9. Rychemn writes:

Truly sad news......have to see about an american tour....just spend money on Dec.4 for the Maiden show in Tampa.....and my lady is not too happy 'bout that 'cause we also have to get plane tix..........damn...seems like it wasn't too long ago when Maiden opened up for Priest in the real early 80's...(81 I think....hhhmmm, too many years of beers).....anyhoo...hope you guys are right and they will come back again for the almighty dollar, 'cause I may not be able to see this tour...but I'm sure glad of the shows (5 or 6 I believe) that I did get to see....truly one of the real pioneers of "METAL" music......very sad news indeed!!!!!

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 11:09 AM ET | IP Logged

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10. Jon writes:

Where ever they play near where I live, I will go see them. whether it'll take me two to maybe 4 hours of driving I want...no I NEED to see them one last time, just to pay my respects to one of the greatest Metal bands that has ever existed

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 11:36 AM ET | IP Logged

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11. WOLF7 writes:

Well, they've been around for over 40years...
What is there for the Priest to do they haven't already done?

Sad to see them go, but no bands goes on forever (apart from the Stones, it seems).

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 11:43 AM ET | IP Logged

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12. PANDA writes:

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! ): This fvking blowwwwssss!! D':

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 12:08 PM ET | IP Logged

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13. spiral_architect writes:

retirement? you've got another thing comin' if you believe that. i think it's a promotional gimmick.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 12:25 PM ET | IP Logged

14. ZMA writes:

This is one of the sadest days ever. I won't let them die. I'll blast their music forever. THE ALMIGHTY PRIEST WILL REIGN FOREVER AND THE METAL GODS WILL ALWAYS HOLD THE THRONE.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 12:45 PM ET | IP Logged

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15. MetalMattUK writes:

Sad day i mean at least i got to see them a while ago might have to go down London and see them again brilliant band they are METAL GODS!!!

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 1:48 PM ET | IP Logged

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16. livingDeaDbeat00 writes:

I will always love JP.

The only priest that will ever get to touch me.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:26 PM ET | IP Logged

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17. Cryonics writes:

^ Lol!

I don't want to believe this! I have never seen them perform live! :/
I don't care if I have to travel hundreds of miles to go see them on this tour, but I'm going! I'll start walking a week before the show.

NP - "Fever" by Priest

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:39 PM ET | IP Logged

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18. Jay3730 writes:

I hope they make a stop in or near the Rheinland-Pfalz during the Spring or Winter. I've never seen the almighty Priest before; therefore, I must get tickets for this farewell tour.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:46 PM ET | IP Logged

19. Metalheadx101x writes:

Damn...words cannot describe what Priest did for metal. I hope to see them one last time before they retire.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:52 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior News Correspondent

20. Diamond Oz writes:

LDb - I take my hat off to you for that one... while giggling alot.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 2:56 PM ET | IP Logged

21. AGHHHHHHH!!!! writes:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 3:24 PM ET | IP Logged

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22. metalfan653 writes:

Well this sucks.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 3:28 PM ET | IP Logged

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23. deathfreak writes:

I wonder who is next?

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 3:35 PM ET | IP Logged

24. ZMA writes:

^ Probably Ozzy, or Megadeth. I think they've both said they're only doing one more album.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 4:28 PM ET | IP Logged

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25. Cynic writes:

Damn - I don't know about you but I'd go see JP even if they were pushing 80.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 4:29 PM ET | IP Logged

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26. darkA.T.M writes:

unbelievable :(

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 4:29 PM ET | IP Logged

27. Thrash Banger writes:

WHAT!?

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 4:31 PM ET | IP Logged

28. Comment writes:

breaking the law!!!

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 4:45 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

29. Trendkill91 writes:

Missed them on the last tour of AUS.
Hopefully they come out this way again.
Have to see Judas Priest in action, before they hang it up.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 5:14 PM ET | IP Logged

30. Dmasa writes:

all hail the metal gods for the last time...

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 5:26 PM ET | IP Logged

31. killcomplete writes:

Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 5:35 PM ET | IP Logged

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32. Metalfist writes:

This sucks. Priest are metal gods and will always remain as metal gods. I must catch them when they come. I've never seen Priest live before, so must catch them before they call it a day. ALL HAIL THE METAL GODS OF BRITISH METAL

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 6:33 PM ET | IP Logged

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33. ThrashattheHeart writes:

does this mean no more albums?

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 6:47 PM ET | IP Logged

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34. Diamond Oz writes:

I would presume so, yes.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 7:18 PM ET | IP Logged

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35. RTB writes:

I'm not buying it totally as well. ..rolling stones did this so did cher, if it is legit thanks for the great music and contributions to metal. ......except Turbo lover....that. 1 song /video was brutal. ....cheers to JDP

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 8:45 PM ET | IP Logged

36. Matei writes:

Retiring from touring...maybe...I think it's a promotional thing like KISS does, how many times have they 'retired'?

No mention of if they will stop recording, and we all know Rob will keep touring solo after this; it'll only be a matter of time before the other guys want to do something again

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 8:48 PM ET | IP Logged

37. ZMA writes:

Well they've been playing for almost 40 years. If they really are retiring they should at least come out one more Priest album. Nostradamus only had a few good songs on it. They need to do something like Angel Of Retribution, or Painkiller as in they should make a true Priest album and go back to they're roots. That would compliment the last tour.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:45 PM ET | IP Logged

38. ZMA writes:

I do hope Rob keeps touring with Halford though.

# Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:45 PM ET | IP Logged

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39. OlafBerzerker writes:

Not a huge Priest fan but SC was a smoking album. good choice HR \m/

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 12:04 AM ET | IP Logged

40. JCAD writes:

What away to dissapoint, was really looking forward to the "That MEtal Show" Line up Rob Halford promised or mentioned, sad year for 2011 to start with ... yet, rest in peace and rock on.

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 12:55 AM ET | IP Logged

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41. hellrat writes:

yessir Berserkr....you know the good sh!t brother!

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 3:44 AM ET | IP Logged

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42. tallica_fan writes:

well this is depressing, saw them in melbourne on their last tour was awesome! at least they're headin out on a good note i guess

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 4:02 AM ET | IP Logged

Senior Reviewer

43. EdgeoftheWorld writes:

It's pretty hard to believe that this is going to be the last tour for Priest, but let's also keep in mind that Halford's been pretty actively pursuing his solo career again over the past few years — with two Halford albums and a tour with Ozzy — since Priest put out the ambitious, but not-exactly-true-to-form "Nostradamus."

It wouldn't be too hard to see the same kind of friction that pulled the band apart before building up again, especially since "Nostradamus" didn't exactly gain a lot of praise.

I'm not saying that I'm in favor of Priest actually retiring, but there's also a sense, I think, of going out before you start damaging the legacy, a la Ozzy Osbourne's reunion tours with Black Sabbath.

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 10:05 AM ET | IP Logged

44. THRASH TILL DEATH writes:

DAMN!!!. i dout its perminate but mite be a long time till they return. im shure theyll add some u.s shows. Metal will never be the same judas is just one of thouse bands... life changing

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 10:46 AM ET | IP Logged

45. THRASH TILL DEATH writes:

now playing night crawler

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 10:48 AM ET | IP Logged

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46. metal-man writes:

i guss all good things come to a end.

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 11:15 AM ET | IP Logged

47. THRASH TILL DEATH writes:

The tour is called epitaph and it says on there site there playing there oldest stuff. mening mostly from sad wings of destiny!!! and rockin rolla and so on

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 11:28 AM ET | IP Logged

48. ZMA writes:

@ EdgeoftheWorld. I agree with most everything you said. It's just a shame that the last album they're gonna go out on is Nostradamus, because as you said it wasn't exactly a normal Priest album, but then again Turbo wasn't either.
It'd be nice for them to get together and throw out just one more Priest album that's true to their form, and one that'll compliment their final tour as a band. I'm sure that'd make die-hard fans like myself very happy.

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 12:31 PM ET | IP Logged

49. Thunderworks writes:

Nooooo nooo nooo nooo they can't do this to us!

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 1:36 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

50. deathbringer writes:

Ozzy's reunion with Sabbath was quite good. They were wary of damaging it with new material, but the 2 or 3 times I saw Sabbath play live, they were fantastic.

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 3:37 PM ET | IP Logged

51. duncan hills writes:

good bye judas priest, you true pioneers. all hail the metal gods one last time.

# Dec 8, 2010 @ 6:45 PM ET | IP Logged

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52. hellrat writes:

and you know 'bringer, i went to that show a few years ago when JP and BS were playing together, mainly to see the Priest....

well, Sabbath pretty much blew their goddamned doors off!

didn't expect that at all, but that's the way it went down...

NP----Run of the Mill

# Dec 9, 2010 @ 5:03 PM ET | IP Logged

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53. Legendbeast writes:

how very sad, i have to go see them in wacken now for my very first and last time.

# Dec 10, 2010 @ 3:25 PM ET | IP Logged

Reviewer

54. Terminator writes:

Bummer...they had a hell of a run though. They were absolutely phenomenal when I saw them live.

# Dec 10, 2010 @ 4:15 PM ET | IP Logged

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55. wilco writes:

lucky to see them one more time on graspop next year
did order my ticktes las t week

oz will see you there next year

# Dec 12, 2010 @ 10:40 AM ET | IP Logged

56. Ghettofabulous writes:

Well, this is very bad news but the sober reality is this.....i saw them on the AOR tour and i have to admit the fire was not there anymore and they are a lot older. They prolly want to enjoy the rest of thier lives without touring or trying to live up to the past. I wish them luck and i will always be a priest fan.

# Dec 12, 2010 @ 1:31 PM ET | IP Logged

57. charlotte bakker pcjmbakker@gmail.com writes:

12.12.2010 This is indeed very sad news. I had never expected this, becuase a while ago they said that after nostradameus(2008)they would probably record a number of studioalbums. But unfortunately they have changed their plans. Whatever the reason might be, we will have to accept it. The badmembers are behind in their 50's and Glenn Tipton is already 63 if I am right. If you have been around for 42 years, that is quite a long time. Other heavy metal bands only keep up for a few years and then they dissappear into the forgottenness. So I wish them all the best and maybe they can focus now on other projects!

# Dec 12, 2010 @ 3:19 PM ET | IP Logged

58. Feedbacktackler writes:

Saw the Painkiller show in Houston standing at FOH, watchin the mighty Gunji Gordon Paterson mix the metal gods. That night I decided FOH engineering was the career path for me. Thanks to Priest, I can support a family with a career that put me in direct contact with many of my metal heroes regularly. Thanks to you, J.P., for letting me live the dream!

# Dec 14, 2010 @ 6:20 AM ET | IP Logged

59. Priest Fan writes:

At their respective ages, I wouldn't want to continuously world tour either. I'd rather be with my family, who they've been away from for large amounts of time in the last 30+ years.

The article does not say they will never play again after the world tour is over, nor does it say they will not record again...

Now if Rob would just part ways with his goofball adviser JOHN BAXTER, things might be a little better...

# Dec 15, 2010 @ 8:45 AM ET | IP Logged

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60. Rubyred writes:

Surely there will be more dates added for JUDAS PRIEST Farewell Tour in the USA/2011. They are ICON Metal-Gods in every since of the word and will forever groove on/be charished looong after that last curtain goes down!! Your super awesome "Heavy Duty" JUDAS PRIEST and I'm thrilled/honored to have seen you guys throw down the thunder in my Lifetime. "Keep the Faith" and Godbless, to the heaviest Master-Metal Pioneer musicians that paved the way!!!!!

# Dec 15, 2010 @ 9:33 PM ET | IP Logged

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61. Blackheart*915 writes:

i swear on the middle of christmas..... speechless
guess i'll respect there final act as a band

# Dec 20, 2010 @ 7:52 PM ET | IP Logged

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