Halford Back in Judas Priest
Rob Halford has rejoined Judas Priest, twelve years after leaving
the pioneering British metal group. The reunited ensemble — which
also includes founding guitarist K.K. Downing and bassist Ian Hill,
along with longtime drummer Scott Travis — are planning a world
tour for 2004, the thirtieth anniversary of its classic
incarnation.
Judas Priest’s turnover has been legendary in rock & roll
history. The Birmingham, England-based band formed in 1969 and
featured Downing and Hill backing frontman Alan Atkins. Halford
joined the band in 1971, and the group struck its first record deal
three years later with the addition of guitarist Glenn Tipton.
Going through more drummers than Spinal Tap, Judas Priest unleashed
a string of albums that defined heavy metal, finally breaking in
the U.S. with 1980’s British Steel and peaking with 1982’s
Screaming for Vengeance, which reached as high as Number
Seventeen on the charts. A decade later, Halford left the band to
start a new band, Fight. The band looked to a Priest tribute band
for a replacement, hiring Tim “Ripper” Owens in 1995; Owens’
rags-to-riches tale was adapted into the 2001 film Rock
Star.
According to a statement, Owens departure was amicable. “The
band is very grateful for Ripper’s work in helping them to continue
to bring Judas Priest’s music to their millions of fans and they
expect big things from him in the future.”