JUDAS PRIEST Considering Putting Together Metal Package To Tour North America Next Summer

In a recent interview with Lynn Saxberg of The Ottawa Citizen, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing revealed that they're considering putting together a multi-act metal package to tour North America next summer, but they also want to make another album.

"It's pretty hectic," Downing said, noting that he'll be celebrating another birthday on stage this month.

"I think things have turned full circle and for bands like ourselves and [BLACK] SABBATH, there's not too many of us standing these days, still intact from the '70s. Bands like that basically got the ball rolling with this heavy metal thing all those years ago and I think it's one reason we're here today."

According to Downing, there is a whole new generation of kids itching to rock out to songs like "You've Got Another Thing Coming" and "Hell Bent for Leather".

"It's still guaranteed that PRIEST has a great following," said Downing. "Time moves on, and obviously people take their music with them. They're not suddenly going to start listening to jazz or classical music just because they're of a certain age.

"There's a perception that you should mellow out and do what your predecessors did, but that's not the case and it never will be. If you were a fan of JIMI HENDRIX or the CREAM or BLACK SABBATH or JUDAS PRIEST or whoever it is, you take your music with you through life, don't you," he said, "even though you might not always admit it to your next-door neighbor.

"But the great thing is now, we've got the best of it all because people are bringing their nieces, nephews, sons, daughters, even grandkids to the show. There's a new interest, probably because of the Ozzfest going on for quite some years. Parents are saying, 'You think that's metal, you want to come and see a good band.'

"Obviously, with Rob [Halford] back in the band, things are much bigger and better and more the way they used to be."