JUDAS PRIEST, MOTRHEAD, TESTAMENT Members Comment On 'The Metal Masters Tour'

April 21, 2008

After weeks of speculation, Live Nation has finally confirmed a killer package that is bound to go down as the heavy metal event of 2008 JUDAS PRIEST, HEAVEN AND HELL, MOTRHEAD and TESTAMENT will be touring together for the first time.

Dubbed "The Metal Masters Tour", the fifteen-date U.S. trek kicks off August 6 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. Tickets go on sale to the public beginning this weekend at www.livenation.com.

JUDAS PRIEST will be supporting their epic concept album, "Nostradamus", arriving June 17 via Epic Records, which tells the tale of the renowned 16th century prophet. A few tracks from "Nostradamus" will make their in-concert debut on "The Metal Masters Tour", but the majority of PRIEST's set list will include some of metal's all-time classics, as well as fan favorites that span the quintet's entire career. Without a doubt, this will be one of PRIEST's most powerful sets ever.

HEAVEN AND HELL will be supporting the release of "The Rules Of Hell", a five-CD boxed set available July 22 from Rhino Records, which features re-mastered versions of all four Dio-era BLACK SABBATH albums ("Heaven and Hell", "Mob Rules", "Live Evil" and "Dehumanizer") in a deluxe package with new liner notes.

Perennial road rats MOTRHEAD will be offering a blistering barnstormer of a set spanning more than three decades of molar-rattling biker metal. A new studio album the 20th of their storied career is currently being recorded at their old pal Dave Grohl's studio with an August release date targeted. Frontman Lemmy, named by the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper as "the nation's greatest living Englishman," blairs out, "Here it comes everybody, the test of your Metalness in 2008 and the years to come! Come one come all and be abused!"

Rounding out the line-up will be legendary thrash metal titans TESTAMENT, whose new album, "The Formation of Damnation", (April 29) displays TESTAMENT as the quintessential modern heavy metal band, whose experience and accumulated skill allows them to attack with reserves of anger, energy and finesse that make them more powerful than ever. Lead singer Chuck Billy says, "Uniting these bands is the heavy metal event of generations. We are so proud to be a part of it."

Although all four bands may represent different subgenres of heavy metal, all four have one thing in common they have stuck to their stylistic guns through thick and thin, and have remained true to the metal form. And soon, band and fan will be united as one on "The Metal Masters Tour".

"As ever, we look forward to screaming out loud with our metal maniac fans when we hit the road," enthuses PRIEST singer Rob Halford. "Thank you once again for your devotion and support. The PRIEST is back!"

This tour will be limited to fifteen very special engagements, and Citi cardmembers will have pre-sale access to tickets through Citi's Private Pass Program, available to all Citi cardmembers at www.privatepass.citi.com.

Metal maniacs seeking the ultimate concert experience can access unique VIP ticket and fan experience packages that offer premium seats, meet & greets, pre-concert parties and more brought to you by the bands' official websites. VIP packages for the first events will be on sale by 10 a.m eastern time on Friday, April 25. Also, not all VIP packages are the same, so be sure to pick the right one that suits you best.

According to LiveNation.com, the following dates have been confirmed for the trek:

Aug. 06 - Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
Aug. 07 - Nissan Pavilion - Bristow, VA
Aug. 09 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
Aug. 10 - Nikon at Jones Beach - Wantagh, NY
Aug. 13 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Aug. 16 - Post Gazette Pavilion - Pittsburgh, PA
Aug. 18 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
Aug. 19 - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Chicago, IL
Aug. 22 - Superpages.com Amphitheatre - Dallas, TX
Aug. 23 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, TX
Aug. 24 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - San Antonio, TX
Aug. 27 - Journal Pavilion - Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 28 - Cricket Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 30 - Glen Helen Pavilion - San Bernardino, CA
Aug. 31 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA

The following "The Metal Masters Tour" dates are being listed on JUDAS PRIEST's "Tunewidget", but are not part of the official Live Nation press release:

Aug. 15 - Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT
Sep. 01 - Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, NV

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