JUDAS PRIEST: Performing Entire 'British Steel' Album Is 'A Dream Come True'

For the past few years, JUDAS PRIEST has unquestionably ruled the U.S. summer concert scene, having been a part of both the top-grossing Ozzfest and Metal Masters tours. And this summer, PRIEST has done it again, by uniting with WHITESNAKE for a series of stateside shows. PRIEST will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic album "British Steel" (it was originally issued in April 1980),by performing the album in its entirety for the very first time ever live on stage! In addition they will be playing some old favorites.

Along with 1982’s "Screaming for Vengeance" and 1990's "Painkiller", "British Steel" has long been considered one of metal's all-time classics. It was with this release that PRIEST truly broke through to the masses, with a pair of tracks that have become fixtures on rock radio — the enduring anthems "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight". But like all classic albums, there is not a single weak track detected on "British Steel", as evidenced by such standouts as the perennial concert highlight, "Metal Gods", as well as "Rapid Fire", "Grinder", "United" and "The Rage", among others.

Produced by Tom Allom, "British Steel" was recorded at the Tittenhurst Park in England — which is a mansion owned at the time by former THE BEATLES member Ringo Starr, and previously owned by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. In 2001, the album was remastered and reissued with extra bonus tracks, and also was the subject of an in-depth study as part of the popular "Classic Albums" DVD series.

"British Steel" original track listing:

01. Rapid Fire
02. Metal Gods
03. Breaking the Law
04. Grinder
05. United
06. You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise
07. Living After Midnight
08. The Rage
09. Steeler

JUDAS PRIEST — singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis — remain as popular as ever to this day, confirmed once and for all upon the release of 2008's "Nostradamus", which became their highest-ever charting album in the U.S. Two years earlier, the group was the inaugural inductees into the "VH1 Rock Honors". The forthcoming summer dates with WHITESNAKE are surely not to be missed by metalheads from coast to coast, especially now that fans will be reintroduced up close and personal to the mighty "British Steel".

Along with PRIEST, WHITESNAKE is certainly one of the most instantly identifiable names in all of hard rock. PRIEST and WHITESNAKE toured together in 2005 (in Mexico and South America),resulting in such a well-received and great package that since then, both groups have been planning to work together again. This summer, U.S. fans will finally get their wish.

"The opportunity to perform live on stage in its entirety the whole of 'British Steel' is a dream come true for all of us! We're really excited and looking forward to presenting the album live on stage. Fans will be able to enjoy a taste of true heavy metal when it was in its early, raw state!" said the group in a statement. "Plus, we will of course be throwing in a few other PRIEST classics!"

The dates are as follows:

Jul. 01 - The Family Arena St. Charles, MO
Jul. 02 - Summerfe - (Harley Davidson Stage) Milwaukee, WI
Jul. 03 - Taste of Minnesota at Harriet Island - St. Paul, MN *
Jul. 07 - Comca - Center - Mansfield, MA *
Jul. 08 - CMAC - Canadaigua, NY *
Jul. 09 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ONT *
Jul. 11 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ *
Jul. 12 - Nikon at Jones Beach - Wantagh, NY *
Jul. 14 - Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre - Cleveland, OH *
Jul. 15 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI *
Jul. 17 - Moondance Jam - Walker, MN *
Jul. 18 - Rockfest/Cheppewa Valley Music Cadott, WI
Jul. 21 - PNC Pavillion @ Riverbend Music - Cincinnati, OH *
Jul. 29 - California Mid State Fair - Paso Robles, CA *
Jul. 31 - Sleep Train Pavillion - Concord, CA *
Aug. 01 - 98 Rock Jamboree @ Sleep Train Amp* Marysville, CA *
Aug. 02 - Gibson Amphitheatre - Universal City, CA *
Aug. 04 - SDSU Open Air Theatre - San Diego, CA *
Aug. 05 - Pacific Ampitheatre/OC Fair - Costa Mesa, CA *
Aug. 07 - Dodge Theatre - Phoenix, AZ *
Aug. 08 - Thomas & Mack Center - Las Vegas, NV *
Aug. 10 - Sandia Casino Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 11 - Red Rocks Ampitheatre - Morrison, CO *

* With WHITESNAKE