On this episode of ROCK TALK WITH MITCH LAFON, new interviews with Ian Hill Of Judas Priest, Halestorm's Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger, and Tora Tora's Anthony Corder. All interviews recorded live in-person at venues in Albany NY, Montreal and Columbia MD.
Our first interview is with Judas Priest's Ian Hill (recorded at The Palace in Albany, NY). Ian speaks about the current tour, why the Ripper Owens albums aren't available, the importance of the Painkiller album, what happens if Andy Sneap leaves, and much more.
In our second interview (recorded backstage at the MTelus in Montreal), Halestorm discuss the band's latest release Vicious, should we use the term 'female guitarist' or simply say 'guitarist', Alice Cooper, covering songs from '80s bands, finding their 'sound' and much more.
And we end the episode with a quick chat (recorded at the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland) with Tora Tora's Anthony Corder. He discusses the band's latest album Bastards Of Beale, getting back together, making new music, the importance of the M3 Rock Festival and much more.
SPIRITS OF FIRE, the new band featuring Tim “Ripper" Owens, Chris Caffery, Steve Di Giorgio & Mark Zonder, have announced a February 22, 2019
release date for their self-titled debut album and released the first single & video, "Light Speed Marching" from the album.
Frontiers Music Srl is known for building new bands/projects featuring musicians of outstanding quality and who come from unique backgrounds. After an intense brainstorming session, a dream team of renowned metal musicians including Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex Judas Priest, Iced Earth), Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Death etc.) and Mark Zonder (ex Fates Warning, Warlord) was born and put together under the direction of renowned LA-based producer Roy Z. (Bruce Dickinson, Halford, Tribe Of Gypsies).
Called SPIRITS OF FIRE (after the title of one of their songs), the band has completed work on their debut album which is set for release on February 22nd via Frontiers Music Srl. The music can best be described as “classic Priest meets Savatage”.
Guitarist Chris Caffery on his influences for the record and working with Roy Z: “My influences for writing on this record were the bands that we were and are still in! I wanted to write songs that [Judas] Priest, Savatage, Testament, and Fates Warning fans would like. But, I wanted them to have a personality of their own as well. To give it a vibe that was SPIRITS OF FIRE! I grew up listening to Judas Priest and spent 30 plus years working with Jon Oliva and Paul O’Neill with Savatage and TSO. Many years playing Criss’ music. These influences for me came naturally! Especially because I’m a fan of all of our bands!
This was the first time that I ever worked with Roy and it was so much fun. I have been a huge fan of his work for a long time. He’s written music, played on, and produced some of my favorite metal albums ever. He had a difficult job bringing this all together and I can’t think of anyone that would have been a better producer and co-worker for this album!”
“I always just sing to the song, whatever I feel it should be. It’s like a character thing! I like layers! This music is really perfect for me and in my natural wheel house. I like to sing all over the place and change it up and this all happens on this album. This is just the start of an amazing band, I mean sky is the limit and I actually can’t wait to record the next album, because this one is so great and perfect,” says vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens.
Drummer Mark Zonder adds about his playing and writing process, “I am the kind of player that plays what I think fits best with the music. With SPIRITS OF FIRE, the music was more aggressive and hard hitting which I really liked. Again, I tried to be very mindful of the song and the vocals, but tried to add parts that were interesting and creative for the listener.”
Da Capo Press are pleased to announce the publication of Heavy Duty by K.K. Downing, a memoir by the cofounder and former lead guitarist of heavy metal giant Judas Priest. This sharp, resonant, and revealing book gives fans a glimpse at the inner workings of the archetypal heavy metal band of the 1980s.
As the band approaches its golden anniversary, fans will at last be able to delve backstage into the decades of shocking, hilarious, and haunting stories that surround this heavy metal institution. Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, K.K. doesn't hold back: internal struggles between band members, Downing's early life, the band's intense rivalry with Iron Maiden. . . everything is explored in Heavy Duty.
Also included in this first tell-all by a member of Judas Priest are rare and never-before-seen photos from Downing's personal collection.
"K.K. Downing gives us an incisive look into the machinations of one of the greatest innovators in Heavy Metal." ~ Scott Ian, Anthrax guitarist, author of ‘I'm the Man’ and ‘Access All Areas’.
We would love to partner with you to help spread the word about this explosive memoir. If you would like to review it on your blog or website, promote it on your social media or email newsletter, or host a giveaway, we would be more than happy to send you an advance reading copy. Limited quantities of finished books are also available should you wish to host a giveaway.
Ken "K.K." Downing is a guitarist and founding member of heavy metal band Judas Priest. He formed the band at the age of sixteen after getting kicked out of his home by his abusive father and the band eventually found success during the New Wave of British heavy metal in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. K.K. retired from the band in 2011 and lives in Shropshire, England.
Mark Eglinton is a frequent cowriter whose previous collaborations include Official Truth, 101 Proof with Rex Brown of Pantera and Confessions of a Heretic with Behemoth's Adam "Nergal" Darski, along with the solo project So Let It Be Written: The Biography of Metallica's James Hetfield. Eglinton divides his time between Scotland and the Pacific Northwest.
This week on Westwood's One Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon new interviews with former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, King Crimson & Foreigner founder Ian McDonald and Helloween's Andi Deris. Former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven co-hosts and we talk about Great White touring with Judas Priest, the 1988 Donington tragedy and more
In the episode's first interview guitarist K.K. Downing discusses his new book Heavy Duty - Days And Nights In Judas Priest, his reasons for the book, Rob Halford, Gull Records, his relationship with Glenn Tipton, brand over band, forming a new band with Tim 'Ripper' Owens, Sharon Osbourne & OzzFest, one voice/one band, regrets in leaving Judas Priest, and much more.
In our second interview, KING CRIMSON - FOREIGNER co-founder Ian McDonald talks about his new band Honey West, their latest album Bad Old World, the Foreigner reunion shows, the possibility of a new reunion Foreigner album, Foreigner's inception and was it a supergroup, finding Lou Gramm, the story behind Foreigner's debut album, departing after Head Games, KING CRIMSON's debut album & iconic artwork, his solo album Drivers Eyes, T.Rex and much more.
Helloween Andi Deris closes the episode talking about the band's Pumpkins United (reunion) tour, his time in Pink Cream 69, Germany's Internet service, KISS, will Helloween go back to being a single singer band, new album with current Pumpkins United lineup, the Pumpkins United single, how Helloween's 1994 album Master Of The Rings album utilized Pink Cream 69 song ideas, the upcoming live DVD, leaving Pink Cream 69 and more.
*Please note that the interview with Andi is made up of three separate phone calls.
Judas Priest’s latest studio album, Firepower, was released March 9, 2018, via Epic Records. Co-produced by Tom Allom and Andy Sneap, the 14-track album has become one of the most successful of the band’s entire career - landing in the "top-5" of 17 countries (including their highest chart placement ever in the U.S.), and scoring their highest charting commercial rock radio single in decades with “Lightning Strike” (for which a music video was also filmed).
And at noon EST on July 23rd, the band’s next music video, “No Surrender,” will be available for viewing. “’No Surrender’ captures the true metal fighting spirit and metalheads around the world find a united voice within the message of this song,” says the band. “When you honestly believe in yourself and live your life the way you have the right to with no surrender, then nothing will ever stop you from living your dream.”
Few heavy metal bands have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest have during their near 50-year career, and with a line-up featuring Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill, and Scott Travis, Judas Priest will be scorching across North America with some heavy metal Firepower again this summer and fall on tour with Deep Purple! For more information, please visit judaspriest.com.
It is not often that fans of heavy metal get the opportunity to hear new music from Judas Priest and meet these heavy metal legends. But soon, lucky fans will have it both ways. On March 2nd, a lyric video for a NEW standout track from the album, “Never The Heroes,” will be unveiled - a song which can purchased now via http://smarturl.it/Firepower. And on March 19 at 6:00 P.M at the Sony Square NYC (25 Madison Avenue in New York City), the band will be signing copies of their brand new album, ‘Firepower.’
As the band explains, “’Never The Heroes’ is about the courageous men and women that enter war - never trained to be heroes but becoming heroic due to their actions and sacrifices doing their duty for their people and country. It resonates as there is a hero in all of us and in times of struggle we can be strong and united - conquering our own challenges and helping others - it's a traditional Priest mid-tempo powerhouse, with a powerful message!”
Set for release on Friday, March 9th, 2018 via Epic Records - ‘Firepower’ is comprised of fourteen tracks of pure and highly inspired metal. And to mark the occasion Priest (singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis) has reunited with producer Tom Allom (the man behind the board for all of the band’s releases from 1979-1988, including such stellar classics as ‘Unleashed in the East,’ ‘British Steel,’ ‘Screaming for Vengeance’ and 'Defenders of the Faith') and with Grammy Award-winning producer Andy Sneap also helping to raise the sonic bar even higher.
“Tom Allom has got this classic metal thing,” explains Halford. “And Andy is a bit more of a ‘modern metal producer’ but his thinking is a little bit different to Tom’s. And I think to get this balance between that classic old school metal to what Andy’s world is was just a remarkable coalescence.” “Tom Allom has been with us since 1979, so his knowledge of ourselves and our music in general is immense,” adds Hill. And according to Travis Priest returned back to a recording method that worked incredibly well on the band’s earlier classics - “We went back to the organic way of recording where it’s all of us in a room and we got to play together.”
With the impending arrival of ‘Firepower’ and its ensuing tour (which kicks off on March 13th in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), THE PRIEST IS BACK!
‘FIREPOWER’ TRACKLISTING:
1. Firepower
2. Lightning Strike
3. Evil Never Dies
4. Never The Heroes
5. Necromancer
6. Children of the Sun
7. Guardians
8. Rising From Ruins
9. Flame Thrower
10. Spectre
11. Traitors Gate
12. No Surrender
13. Lone Wolf
14. Sea of Red
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON JUDAS PRIEST, PLEASE VISIT:
GLENN TIPTON/JUDAS PRIEST DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSONS
Ten years ago Glenn was diagnosed to have the onset of the early stages of Parkinson's - from then until recently Glenn has lived his life as the great heavy metal guitar player he has always been, maintaining by his own definition a standard of quality and performance that is incredibly important. Right now Glenn is able to play and perform some of the Priest songs that are less challenging but due to the nature of Parkinson's progression he wants to let you all know that he won't be touring as such.
True to the metal spirit of 'the show must go on' Glenn has requested Andy Sneap to fly the flag on stage for him.
"I want everyone to know that it's vital that the Judas Priest tour go ahead and that I am not leaving the band - it's simply that my role has changed. I don't rule out the chance to go on stage as and when I feel able to blast out some Priest! So at some point in the not too distant future I'm really looking forward to seeing all of our wonderful metal maniacs once again."
Rob, Richie, Ian and Scott have this to say: "We have been privileged to witness Glenn's determination and steadfast commitment over the years, showing his passion and self belief through the writing, recording and performing sessions with Priest - he is a true metal hero!
"We are not surprised by Glenn's insistence that we complete the Firepower tour and thank Andy for joining us to make Glenn's wishes become real - as Glenn has said we also can't wait to have him with us at any time any place on the road.....We love you Glenn!"
Frontiers Music, after an intense brainstorming session, announce a dream team of renowned metal musicians including Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-Judas Priest, Iced Earth), Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Steve DiGiorgio (Testament, Death, etc.) and Mark Zonder (Fates Warning, Warlord) was born and put together under the direction of renowned LA-based producer Roy Z Ramirez (Bruce Dickinson, Halford, Tribe Of Gypsies).
Called SPIRITS OF FIRE (after the title of one of their songs), the band is currently halfway through recording their debut album. The music can best be described as “classic Priest meets Savatage”.
“It's going to be a great album!” says producer Roy Z and fans can look forward to a release in the early part of 2018!
JUDAS PRIEST 10TH STUDIO ALBUM TURBO REMASTERED AS 3 CD REISSUE
TO BE RELEASED FEBRUARY 3RD 2017
British metal legends Judas Priest announce the reissue of their 10th studio album, Turbo.
The album has been remastered and will be released via Sony Music on February 3rd, 2017 on 3 CD (the original album and 2 bonus discs) as well as 1LP 150g vinyl.
Originally released in 1986, Turbo features all the hallmarks of classic Priest on tracks such as “Turbo Loverâ€, “Parental Guidance†and “Locked Inâ€.
Included on disc 2 and 3 of the CD reissue is, previously unreleased, ‘Live in Kansas City’, a live recording from the band’s 1986 Fuel For Life tour in support of Turbo.
The band add “The 80’s is considered to have been the best decade for heavy metal – Judas Priest roared through it and at the half way point went into unchartered territory with ‘Turbo’. Always believing that metal should have no boundaries, Priest challenged themselves taking on board new technical inventions to create fresh ideas and push their sound forward. The combined songs show another side of Priest’s range of creativity that captures a theme and energy infused with the over the top sensibilities of that era. The ‘Fuel For Life’ tour certainly encapsulated the decadence of the times! ‘Turbo’ remastered and accompanied by a pedal to the metal live recording from Kansas reveals Priest on high octane – Raising fists and devil horns to the next level.â€
Judas Priest's tour in support of their 17th studio album overall, Redeemer of Souls, was one of the most extensive of the group's entire career - consisting of 130 shows in 33 countries, and offering a setlist that touched upon selections from nearly all of their classic albums. And now, fans can relive the live Priest experience once more, with the release of the new CD/DVD/Blu-ray, Battle Cry, on March 25th, 2016, via Epic Records (preview available for viewing here http://smarturl.it/JudasPriestDVD
Recorded live on August 1st, 2015 at Germany's Wacken Festival in front of an audience of 85,000, Battle Cry is available on a 15-track CD, with the entire show on Blu-ray and DVD (running over 94 minutes), as well as digital audio and video formats. The DVD and Blu-ray also contains 3 bonus tracks shot in Poland on December 10th, 2015 at The Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland.
What makes the show's track listing so appealing is it balances new classics ("Dragonaut," "Halls of Valhalla," "Redeemer of Souls") along with headbanging classics ("Metal Gods," "Electric Eye," "You've Got Another Thing Coming"), as well as key album tracks from yesteryear ("Devil's Child," "Beyond the Realms of Death," "Jawbreaker").
Originally formed during the early '70s in Birmingham, England, Priest is responsible for offering metal fans worldwide some of the genre's most influential and landmark albums (1980's 'British Steel,' 1982's 'Screaming for Vengeance,' 1990's 'Painkiller,' etc.), while helping spread metal music to audiences not normally associated with the genre (Live Aid in 1985, and a surprise appearance on American Idol in 2011), and helping popularize the now instantly recognizable "denim and leather" look.
For decades, Judas Priest has been one of the greatest live bands in the entire heavy metal genre. And as evidenced by Battle Cry, Priest rock harder and more ferociously than ever.
Battle Cry CD sequence:
1. (Intro) Battle Cry
2. Dragonaut
3. Metal Gods
4. Devil’s Child
5. Victim of Changes
6. Halls of Valhalla
7. Redeemer of Souls
8. Beyond the Realms of Death
9. Jawbreaker
10. Breaking the Law
11. Hell Bent For Leather
12. The Hellion
13. Electric Eye
14. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
15. Painkiller
Battle Cry DVD/Blu-ray sequence:
1. (Intro) Battle Cry
2. Dragonaut
3. Metal Gods
4. Devil’s Child
5. Victim of Changes
6. Halls of Valhalla
7. Turbo Lover
8. Redeemer of Souls
9. Beyond the Realms of Death
10. Jawbreaker
11. Breaking the Law
12. Hell Bent For Leather
13. The Hellion
14. Electric Eye
15. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
16. Painkiller
17. Living After Midnight
Recorded live on August 1st, 2015 at Wacken Festival, Germany.
BONUS TRACKS
18. Screaming for Vengeance
19. The Rage
20. Desert Plains
Recorded live on December 10th, 2015 at The Ergo Arena, Gdansk, Poland.
JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford and singer Robert Fleischman join Mitch on episode 161 of One On One with Mitch Lafon.
In our first interview, The Metal God Rob Halford talks about ego, does the band need to make a new album, is K.K. Downing persona non grata, the Turbo album, will there be a KISS - Judas Priest 2016 co-headline tour, and more.
Quotes from the interview:
"I can be quite challenging when things aren't going the way I think they should go."
"We've had no communication with K.K. since he's retired."
"I do all my venting on stage."
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Due to the overwhelming success of Judas Priest's 17th studio effort overall, 'Redeemer of Souls' (which became the highest-charting album of their career, when it debuted on the Billboard 200 charts at #6), the band has announced a fall tour, which will hit the U.S. and Canada, from October 16th through November 12th. Supporting Priest on the U.S. dates and the Halifax engagement will be one of modern metal's top bands, Mastodon.
'Redeemer of Souls' also went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed releases of the band's career, with Rolling Stone stating, "Above all, 'Redeemer' is proof that Priest can still call themselves metal's defenders of the faith," while Revolver Magazine offered further praise, "Thus rejuvenated and recharged, the Metal Gods have delivered their strongest record in over a decade."
Comprised of Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar), Richie Faulkner (guitar), Ian Hill (bass), and Scott Travis (drums), Judas Priest is responsible for some of heavy metal's all-time classic anthems ("Living After Midnight," "Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," etc.) and albums ('British Steel,' 'Screaming for Vengeance,' 'Painkiller,' etc.).
Ever since the release of 'Redeemer of Souls,' Judas Priest has been taking their music all over the world. And they are not finished yet, with the announcement of these new dates!
JUDAS PRIEST TOUR DATES:
October 16th, 2015 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amp
October 17th, 2015 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl
October 20th, 2015 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre
October 21st, 2015 San Jose, CA City National Civic
October 23rd, 2015 Fresno, CA William Saroyan Theater
October 24th, 2015 San Bernardino, CA Knotfest
October 27th, 2015 Vancouver, BC Hard Rock Casino
October 28th, 2015 Vancouver, BC Hard Rock Casino
October 31st, 2015 Regina, SK Brandt Center
November 1st, 2015 Winnipeg, MN MTS Center
November 3rd, 2015 Peoria, IL Civic Center
November 6th, 2015 Huntington, NY Paramount Theater
November 7th, 2015 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
November 10th, 2015 Halifax, NS Scotiabank Center
November 12th, 2015 Toronto, ON Air Canada Center
INTERVIEWS WITH KK DOWNING (EX-JUDAS PRIEST), HOUSE OF LORDS, SPACEY T (SOUND BARRIER, PRAISE THE DEAD), SYMPHONY X AND DEATH ANGEL ON RICH DAVENPORT'S ROCK SHOW
Rich Davenport's Rock Show this week features interviews with Judas Priest legend KK Downing, James Christian (House of Lords), Tracey 'Spacey T' Singleton (Praise The Dead, ex Sound Barrier, Fishbone), Symphony X's Michael Romeo and Ted Aguilar from Death Angel, and is now available for streaming at this link:
In the first hour, legendary former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing drops in to discuss his new range of fragrances for Rockers, Metal for Men and Metal for Women. KK also talks about some of the reasons he chose to leave Priest, and looks at the way in which the classic Priest axe team he formed with Glenn Tipton worked to stay on the cutting edge of lead guitar playing. KK also chooses two of his favourite Priest classics.
Also in part 1, House of Lords vocalist James Christian looks at the band's stellar new album 'Indestructible', their tenth to date, released as the current line up celebrates its tenth anniversary. You'll also hear two new tracks chosen by James.
The second hour kicks off with a chat with renowned guitar hero Tracey 'Spacey T' Singleton, formerly of Sound Barrier, Fishbone, and Mother's Finest, and now playing 8-string guitar with Praise The Dead, a power duo whose sound is simultaneously melodic and crushingly heavy. The band has just released 'The Heavy', the first of 3 EPs, and Tracey gives the low down on this exciting new project. Tracey also pays tribute to Phil Lynott, revealing that Sound Barrier approached the Lizzy legend's management to ask him to produce an album for them. You'll also hear Sound Barrier's cover of Thin Lizzy's 'Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)', and Tracey's choice of another Lizzy gem.
Rounding off the show are interviews with Michael Romeo, guitarist with Prog Metal masters Symphony X, who looks at their forthcoming new album 'Underworld', and Ted Aguilar, rhythm guitarist with classic Thrashers Death Angel. Ted discusses their new CD/DVD package which features a live album, 'The Bay Calls For Blood', and 'Thrashumentary', a career-spanning retrospective documentary.
The show closes with two tracks from Bob Seger's latest album 'Ride Out'.
KK Downing on why he left Judas Priest and will never play with them again:
By: Robert Cavuoto
Not many bands can leave a lasting impression and legacy like Judas Priest have done over the last 40 years. They have been waving the flag for heavy metal through-out their career to legions of fans around the world, influencing countless musicians and bands along the way.
I can still recall the first time I heard the intro dual assault lead to “Victim of Changes” on my local college radio station or jamming out with my first band to “Living after Midnight” and “Hot Rocking.”
For me Priest was more than an influence it was a life changing experience. With groundbreaking metal albums like “British Steel,” “Hell Bent for Leather,” and “Screaming for Vengeance”, it’s easy to understand why!
Vocalist for Priest, Rob Halford, cited the band’s longevity to the chemistry between the members and that undeniably good music will travel time to connect with fans. Often imitated but never duplicated – Priest delivers the goods.
In 2010 the band shocked the world when they announced a Farewell Tour. Then in 2011, guitarist and founding member, KK Downing, announced he would be leaving the band.
Things were not looking good in the Priest camp when suddenly the Farewell announcement was rescinded and the band decided to carry on without KK.
The circumstances surrounding the band’s inner turmoil was never truly disclosed until now!
In my candid and honest interview with KK Downing, he shares with me the main reason for his departure, how he doesn’t think he will ever play another song with Priest again, and his passion of owning a golf course!
Dark Star Records Artist CONQUEST is pleased to announce that they will be releasing a new Metal Gods Tribute Album called UNDER THE INFLUENCE. The new full length album will feature all new versions of some the greatest classic metal songs of all time like FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS by METALLICA, COWBOYS FROM HELL by PANTERA, METAL GODS by JUDAS PRIEST and Many More! All the songs are Preformed by Conquest and Produced by Conquest and Adam Long. Look for the New Album UNDER THE INFLUENCE by CONQUEST to be available later this Summer via Dark Star Records in Association with Sony Music Entertainment.
