Courtesy of Live NationJudas Priest‘s North American co-headlining tour with Deep Purple kicks off tonight in Cincinnati. Both bands have recent studio albums they’re promoting, with Priest having released Firepower this past March and Deep Purple issuing inFinite in April of 2017.
Longtime Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis tells ABC Radio that fans can expect “a very spectacular show” from his band, thanks in part to the group’s production team.
“[P]eople don’t just want to hear a band, they want to see a band,” explains Travis. “And so, we’ve got video screens and everything, so…people should come out. It’s definitely gonna be…a rock ‘n’ roll circus.”
Of course, Judas Priest’s set will include a number of songs from Firepower, which has garnered plenty of critical praise and also was the group’s highest-charting album ever on the Billboard 200, peaking at #5. Founding Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill tells ABC Radio and his band mates are “very, very proud” of the record.
“[P]eople have asked musicians what’s their favorite album, and they’ll always say ‘the new one,’ but in this case I think it’s true…with Firepower,” Hill declares. “It’s a tremendous album. It was a real pleasure to make, and I think it shows, actually, on the recording.”
Ian adds, “[W]e’ve always tried to go a step forward with each [new album], and I think it’s what’s kept the band current and relevant today…It’s a very modern-sounding album, although it’s coming from a nearly 50-year-old band.” (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)
Judas Priest and Deep Purple’s co-headlining tour features a total of 25 concerts and is scheduled to run through a September 30 show in Wheatland, California. Here are all of the dates:
8/21 — Cincinnati, OH, Riverbend Music Center
8/22 — Chicago, IL, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/24 — Detroit, MI, Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
8/25 — Mt. Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
8/27 — Hamilton, ON, Canada, FirstOntario Centre
8/29 — Montreal, QC, Canada, Bell Centre
8/30 — Quebec City, QC, Canada, Centre Videotron
9/1 — Wantagh, NY, Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/2 — Bethel Woods, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
9/5 — Darien Center, NY, Darien Lake Amphitheater
9/6 — Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
9/8 — Virginia Beach, VA, Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
9/9 — Camden, NJ, BB&T Pavilion
9/11 — Charlotte, NC, PNC Music Pavilion
9/12 — Jacksonville, FL, Daily’s Place
9/14 — Atlanta, GA, Verizon Amphitheatre
9/16 — Biloxi, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
9/18 — Kansas City, MO, Starlight Theatre
9/20 — Welch, MN, Treasure Island Resort & Casino
9/21 — Council Bluffs, IA, Harrah’s Council Bluffs
9/23 — Denver, CO, Pepsi Center
9/26 — Chula Vista, CA, Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
9/27 — Irvine, CA, FivePoint Amphitheatre
9/29 — Mountain View, CA, Shoreline Amphitheatre
9/30 — Wheatland, CA, Toyota Amphitheatre
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