JUDAS PRIEST Frontman Calls JAMES DURBIN 'Idol' Cover 'Dream Come True'

MTV News caught up with the members of JUDAS PRIEST on the red carpet for Wednesday's (May 25) star-studded "American Idol" finale (see video below) and asked them about their performance with James Durbin, the 22-year-old rocker from Santa Cruz, California, who was eliminated from " Idol" earlier in the month but who made a return appearance during last nights broadcast.

"Because we've lived so long and done so much stuff in heavy metal and we've seen so many crazy things and heard so many crazy things, when we heard this we went, 'Fuck! That's incredible, man. Let's do it, you know? This is insane. That's just amazing,'" frontman Rob Halford explained of their reaction to getting "Idol" exposure. "So as it progressed from 'Another Thing Coming' 'till this point now, when we're on the carpet and we're about to do the show, it's just a dream come true for PRIEST, for metal and, mostly, for James Durbin"

Durbin sang the JUDAS PRIEST classic "You Got Another Thing Coming" on the March 1 edition of "Idol". His rendition marked the first time, according to AEROSMITH singer and "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler, where a JUDAS PRIEST single was performed on the "Idol" stage.

Asked if there was any trepidation about letting Durbin take on their 1982 hit, guitarist Glenn Tipton said, "None whatsoever, I mean, if you look at what James has done for heavy metal, you've got to say thank you, you know? It's just bringing metal to the front, making it, metal, accessible for people. It's a good thing."

As for whether there will ever be a collaboration between the fourth-place finalist and the British band, Halford was optimistic, saying,"Yeah, anything's possible."

"We just wish him all the best," he added. "He's got such an extraordinary voice. He's got such a genuine and lovable personality. He's the real deal, James, and we wish him the best. Good for you, James!"

PRIEST and Durbin performed the band's classic songs "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking The Law".

JUDAS PRIEST's appearance on "American Idol" marked the band's first performance with the group's latest addition, 31-year-old guitarist Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS).

JUDAS PRIEST will launch the U.S. leg of its farewell world tour on October 12 in San Antonio and the band promises that it will go out with a bang. Singer Rob Halford said, "We're pulling out all the stops. We've built a brand new stage set, we've got all the effects that people love us for the lasers, the fire, the bombs, the smoke, new costumes, and the bike. It's just a full-on metal extravaganza."

Guitarist Glenn Tipton added that the group will play something from each of its albums, including a few numbers that have never been performed live before. As for whether this is really the end of JUDAS PRIEST's touring days, Tipton added, "If somebody came along and said, 'Would you do a small string of dates,' we wouldn't automatically say no to that. But in general, this is probably the last chance you'll get to see PRIEST live."