The band recently released the compilation album, ‘The Chosen Few.’ The collection features Priest classics chosen by members of such bands such as Black Sabbath, Metallica, Lamb of God and Guns N’ Roses, among others, who celebrate the career of the heavy metal veterans.

 On October 7th, 2011 Judas Priest will be performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Here is where you come in…

 How would you like a chance to be close to Judas Priest’s performance on the show?

 Click on the link below and you will be directed to our “Band Bench” Sweepstakes entry form. Enter for a chance to win seats on our band benches and an opportunity to surround the stage during Judas Priest’s performance. 

 Please make sure you include the following band code: JUD, in your entry form. 

 http://www.fallonbandbench.com

Judas Priest Press Conference in Costa Rica - September 26th, 2011

Check out the footage below, courtesy of Pandemonium TV.

Artists who took part in the 17-track strong The Chosen Few included Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Metallica's James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, Alice Cooper and Slipknot's Corey Taylor, among others. 

"This is a collection of songs chosen by our friends and respected peers," Priest frontman Rob Halford tells Rolling Stone. "So we hope all the metal maniacs out there will rock out to the tunes enjoyed by metal legends."

Also included in the set are explanations from each artist about their selection, including Taylor gushing that Priest's early MTV anthem, "You've Got Another Thing Coming," caused the group to become "the blueprint for the ultimate heavy metal band." Elsewhere, Osbourne finds himself bewildered by a high-pitched note sung by Halford at the beginning of "The Ripper" ("Fuckin hell! That note is probably just below what only dogs can hear"). 

Judas Priest will launch their farewell Epitaph tour in the U.S. on October 12th in San Antonio, with the latest confirmed set of dates running through December 3rd in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The Chosen Few tracklisting:

1) Diamonds And Rust (1977) - chosen by Joe Elliott (Def Leppard)

2) Dissident Aggressor (1977) - chosen by Steve Vai

3) Exciter (1978) - chosen by Accept

4) Beyond The Realms Of Death (1978) - chosen by Lars Ulrich (Metallica)

5) Delivering The Goods (1979) - chosen by Kerry King (Slayer)

6) The Green Manalishi (with the Two-Pronged Crown) (1979) - chosen by David Coverdale (Whitesnake) & Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) 

7) The Ripper (1979) - chosen by Ozzy Osbourne

8) Victim Of Changes (1979) - chosen by James Hetfield (Metallica)

9) Breaking The Law (1980) - chosen by Lemmy (Motorhead)

10) Rapid Fire (1980) - chosen by Vinnie Paul (Pantera & Hell Yeah)

11) Grinder (1980) - chosen by Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society)

12) Living After Midnight (1980) - chosen by Alice Cooper & Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)

13) Screaming For Vengeance (1982) - chosen by Slash (Guns n Roses)

14) You’ve Got Another Thing Coming (1982) - chosen by Klaus Meine (Scorpions) & Corey Taylor (Slipknot)

15) The Sentinel (1984) - chosen by Chris Jericho

16) Turbo Lover (1986) - chosen by Jonathan Davis (Korn)

We refuse to get drawn into any public arguments - it is below us and will be dealt with legally.  The band have always jointly made any major decisions and have been with the same management team for over 25 years. Everyone knows and respects them in the music business and we have ultimate faith and trust in the way they have always guided us.

We are totally focused now on the Epitaph tour and the reactions every night have been incredible. The shows have been amazing and we’re having the time of our lives!  Our intention now is to travel the world one last time and perform Judas Priest style Heavy Metal for all the fans out there.  The mood in the band has never been better! 

We have just completed the European/UK first leg of our world tour and now after a short break are going to South America and then the States - come along - join in and keep the Faith !!

This has been a year of headlines for Judas Priest. Initially with the announcement of their final ever world tour, then the retirement of founder-member KK Downing, and finally the exciting revelation that the band will be delivering the goods on a new studio album in 2012.

I've come to the Manchester Apollo on a Saturday night to speak to Ian Hill before Priest hit the stage for the latest show in their current UK tour. Ushered into the backstage area past some excited fans hovering by the security doors hoping to meet Halford or Glenn, I'm taken up to wait outside the band's dressing room. 

I'm delighted to see that in one of the many tour crates stamped with the Judas Priest logo, is the Judas Priest tumble-dryer! In a wonderfully surreal moment, I'm then shooed into the Metal God's dressing room as it's the only available space to speak with Ian. The room is full of studded leather clothing.

Ian is totally relaxed, friendly and really interesting to talk with. He's exceptionally modest about his achievements and still retains his Black Country accent and down-to-earth attitude. There's no hint of egotistical rock star, but as an original member of Judas Priest and a constant on every single Judas Priest album and tour, I'm sure there's a lot more to him than meets the eye!

MetalTalk.net: Before I start asking about the new album, can you tell us what you thought about your surprise appearance to 40 million unsuspecting Americans on American Idol?

Ian Hill: "It was a whirlwind! The lad James – we owe him a debt of gratitude for bringing Heavy Metal to the mass media. For that reason it was something we couldn't turn down. We weren't just representing Judas Priest but the whole Heavy Metal family, if you like.

Because we'd had a couple of hits in the 80s in the states, people know the band name well. We're a well-known brand. They may not necessarily associate it directly with the music but everyone knew the name so it wasn't a cold audience. It was fun; we had a great reception!"

MetalTalk.net: Moving onto the new album, you have already publicly stated that it's due next year and will be classic Priest. Who will produce the album?

Ian Hill: "It's still at a very early stage but it will probably be mainly the band. Glenn will do a lot of the work. We produced 'Nostradamus' ourselves with the help of a great engineer in Attie (Attie Bauw)."

MetalTalk.net: In light of Accept and Megadeth's work with Andy Sneap and Rick Rubin's work with Slayer and Slipknot, would you consider an outside 'super producer'?

Ian Hill: "We like to work on production ourselves, as we don't want too much outside influence. I remember in the 80s, Stock, Aitken And Waterman approached us to do some tracks and it just didn't work."

MetalTalk.net: Did you actually write any songs with them or create any demos?

Ian Hill: "We may have laid out a couple of very rough ideas but it would have changed the character of the band too much if we'd gone down that route. We've had a long, successful career doing things our own way and so that's how we'll continue!"

MetalTalk.net: You did have outside influence on the 'Defenders Of The Faith' and 'Screaming For Vengeance' albums, via songwriter Bob Halligan Jr. Why was that?

Ian Hill: "We'd already done a couple of non-Priest tracks in 'Diamonds And Rust' and 'The Green Manalishi', which had worked well. It's really something the record company pushed us to do, to get a commercial track on the radio. It's funny because by the time we'd finish with the track it's too heavy to release and we ended up going with one of our own! Bob Halligan's a good songwriter but our versions were just too Heavy Metal to release!"

MetalTalk.net: You've produced some music in your time – including the band: 'The New Blacks', back in 2006. How did that come about?

Ian Hill: "Yes – something I did very cheaply for some friends I helped out. It's a shame it didn't work out for them. I helped with the guitar sound and pointed them in a few directions – was fun doing it. I helped out another band too – Mindfeed."

MetalTalk.net: And is your son still in the band Hostile?

Ian Hill: "Yep, my sons still in Hostile. It's so difficult to get on now – it's practically impossible unless you're on X-Factor or American Idol. The infrastructure's not there. It took us ten years to make any money, although we did build our name. Even when we started to earn money it all went back into the band – better equipment, better van...

"The infrastructure's not there any more. Record companies aren't spending money on new acts. It's as simple as that. Not unless you're already famous. My lad's band's a great band and twenty years ago they'd have got on. But record companies aren't investing money they won't get back. As soon as a record goes on a shelf some idiot is giving it away for nothing online! That's the problem with the internet. Because potentially it's a marvellous channel – totally global – anyone with a computer can access it and release their music to a wide audience. But with no record company money, bands can't make high quality recordings. They're reduced to making records in their garage or bedroom! And even if a band gets on a tour the record company won't put money into it because they still traditionally get money from record sales."

MetalTalk.net: What does Sony Music get out of Judas Priest these days?

Ian Hill: "Well as I mentioned, we are a global brand. We do still sell. But now all over the world, so now if we sell as many records globally as we used to do in America alone, that's working for us. In the past though you went on tour and could break even or make a small loss – because record sales covered it. Now you make a record in order to promote your tour. This why everybody's coming out of the woodwork! People we haven't heard of for years are out on the road as their back catalogue's drying up! It's ok for us because this is what we've always done."

MetalTalk.net: Was breaking the US critical in making Priest a global brand then?

Ian Hill: "We did concentrate on America - we admit it. Management and the record company wanted us to do this. But it worked. We're a band that can tour worldwide. But we started doing what 'Rival Sons' are doing now, (opening the show as we recorded this) supporting – possibly REO Speedwagon, if I remember correctly. And some shows with Led Zeppelin."

MetalTalk.net: What's it like opening to a disinterested crowd and only getting twenty minutes?

Ian Hill: "It's frustrating only playing six songs because you want to play more. But you get your name on the poster and it builds your name and you're thankful for it. We were so pleased to be there in a foreign country playing in front of thousands of people. We were really thankful and you hope if you play well you'll get an extra song – an extra spotlight – anything really!"

MetalTalk.net: Moving on to your musical contribution to Judas Priest; as a bass player when you were creating innovative fast tracks like 'Exciter' in the 1970s, (from the 'Stained Class' album) with drummer Les Binks, who specialised in double-kick work – did you have to adapt your style?

Ian Hill: "No. I just played quicker – it's as simple as that!"

MetalTalk.net: But did you realise your songs would have such an impact after more than thirty years?

Ian Hill: "Well we've always done fast songs. One of the magical things about Heavy Metal – there's fast, slow, heavy, light and commercial stuff. Music that will make you weep, or stuff that will make you shit yourself! So Priest always did fast songs – we just played quicker and it was a gradual build up to songs like 'Painkiller'."

MetalTalk.net: On which albums do you feel you had most influence?

Ian Hill: "Hmmm... let me think... Probably the first two albums – they have lots of bass work on them. And 'Jugulator', that's got some busy bass! Because we have two lead guitarists with distorted sounds, the bass has to remain clear so I don't use any effects. I use a pick to help me play quicker and heavier but it remains a foundation. I haven't changed my style much over the years. The basic Judas Priest sound is just a good foundation of bass and drums and we build on top of that.

MetalTalk.net: Are there any bands influencing you at present?

Ian Hill: "To be honest not a great deal. We never try to deliberately pick up on outside influences. You do pick up a great deal subconsciously but we wouldn't just go down the record store and see what's selling! I don't tend to listen to much on the tour-bus – by the time I've played a two hour Judas Priest set, I spend the next 22 hours recovering!

MetalTalk.net: Ian Hill – thank you very much!

Watching Ian Hill on stage that evening, nearly impossible to photograph because he won't stand still, it strikes me how the UK press have largely ignored the exceptional worldwide achievements of Judas Priest, whose world tour will take two years to complete, playing to crowds of metal maniacs across Europe, the US, South America and Asia. It's a staggering achievement by any standards.

But, as the recent Home Of Metal exhibition in Birmingham showcases their huge influence on music, along with 1.6million Facebook 'likes', an appearance on the final of American Idol and, at long last, a Grammy, despite this being the last world tour, the future's still bright for Judas Priest.

Newport Centre

Doncaster Dome

Glasgow secc

Newcstle Arena

Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Home Of Metal - a summer season of exhibitions & events celebrating the Black Country and Birmingham as the birthplace of Heavy Metal.

Curated by Capsule, Home of Metal is a celebration of the music that was created in the West Midlands, its legacy and influence across the world.

Highlights from the 2011 programme include:

Home of Metal – an exhibition exploring 40 years of Heavy Metal and its birthplace. This exhibition at the prestigious Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, from the 18 June-25 September is informed by original band artefacts and materials from the Home of Metal digital archive, the show is the first metal exhibition of its kind, bringing together unseen memorabilia sourced directly from the fans themselves, and placing it alongside iconic items from metal such as Black Sabbath?s Mob Rules stage cross and original Judas Priest album artwork and costumes. The show will also explore the ingredients that together made Heavy Metal, offering an insight into the region?s industrial history, the early blues-rocks sound, the changing music industry, DIY politics and the global impact of the Heavy Metal.

Walsall Leather Museum will be displaying stage costumes worn by local heroes of the Heavy Metal scene as part of the exhibition Hell Bent for Leather: Judas Priest and the Heavy Metal Look. This will be a rare opportunity to see costumes from the band's private collection, original artwork by Mark Wilkinson and costume designs by Ray Brown. 

Walsall Leather Museum

Walsall WS2 8EQ

8 July - 10 September Free admission 

27 October Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA

8 November US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH

9 November Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL

10 November The Family Arena, St. Louis, MO

15 November Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH

16 November The Armory, Rochester, NY

22 November Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON

23 November Colisee Pepsi Arena, Quebec City, QC

24 November Bell Centre, Montreal, QC

26 November Sovereign Center, Reading, PA

30 November 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa

1 December Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami

3 December Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino, Biloxi

The Complete CBS / Columbia UK Singles Collection

Limited to one manufacturing run only. Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

At the start of their final world tour, Judas Priest and Sony Music are proud to announce the release, for the first time ever, of their complete UK CBS / Columbia singles. 

Single Cuts is testament to Priest’s enduring influence and through the singles, tells the story of one of the biggest metal bands of all time. 

Presented in a deluxe, numbered box, Single Cuts boasts a massive 52 tracks across 20 CDs, featuring original singles artwork, vinyl replica discs plus booklet including sleeve notes and photos.

 Tracklisting

   1977 

  Diamonds and Rust 

  Dissident Aggressor 

1978 

  Better By You, Better Than Me 

  Invader  

1978 

  Evening Star 

  Starbreaker

1978 

  Before The Dawn  

  Rock Forever 

1979 

  Take On The World 

  Starbreaker (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1978) 

  White Heat Red Hot (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1978) 

1979 

  Evening Star 

  Beyond The Realms Of Death (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland 1978) 

  The Green Manalishi (with the Two-Pronged Crown)

1980 

  Living After Midnight 

  Delivering The Goods (Live In Tokyo)

  Evil Fantasies (Live In Tokyo)

1980 

  Breaking The Law

  Metal Gods 

1980 

  United 

  Grinder

1981 

  Don’t Go 

  Solar Angels 

1981 

  Hot Rockin' 3:03 

  Breaking The Law (Live)

  Steeler

  You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise

1982 

  You've Got Another Thing Comin' 

  Exciter (Live)

1982 

  (Take These) Chains 

  Judas Priest Audio File 

1984 

  Freewheel Burning 

  Breaking The Law  (Live from US Festival May 1983)

  You've Got Another Thing Comin'

1984 

  Some Heads Are Gonna Roll 

  The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) (Live)

  Jawbreaker

1986 

  Turbo Lover 

  Hot For Love 

1986 

  Locked In 

  Reckless 

  Desert Plains (Live)

  Freewheel Burning (Live)

1990 

  Painkiller 

  United 

  Better By You, Better Than Me

1991 

  A Touch Of Evil  

  Between The Hammer And The Anvil 

  You've Got Another Thing Comin' (Live)

1992 

  Night Crawler 

  Breaking The Law (Live)

Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton were presented with the Golden Gods Icons Award - this was awarded to Judas Priest and they were very proud to pick it up on behalf of the band.

We would like to clarify a situation that seems to be confusing a few people out there.

 When we issued our press release to announce the farewell tour - we stated that it was the last major world tour for Judas Priest - nothing has changed - we didn't say it was the end of the band or that we were going to retire or the band was going to break up........... Just that it would be the last major world tour we would be doing which is still the case.

No, your eyes did not deceive you – the one and only Judas Priest just debuted their new guitarist, Richie Faulkner, tonight on 'American Idol'! Ripping through a medley that included kick ass renditions of two 'British Steel' classics ("Living After Midnight" and "Breakin' the Law") with major Priest fan – and this season 'American Idol' hopeful – James Durbin joining in on vocals.

This is the second time that Durbin has professed his admiration for Priest on the show, as he wowed judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler a while back with a rendition of "You've Got Another Thing Comin'." Although Durbin was recently voted off the show, he undoubtedly has a bright rocking future ahead, as evidenced by his multi-octave vocal range.

Judas Priest recently announced plans to launch their farewell Epitaph Tour, which will take them around the world, including a just-announced U.S. tour of arenas from October through December, which will also feature opening acts Black Label Society and Thin Lizzy.

Speaking on Wednesday to the Rolling Stone website, Priest singer Rob Halford had the following to say about what fans can expect on the group's forthcoming trek. "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."

Few heavy metal bands have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest has during their nearly 40 year career. Responsible for not only issuing some of metal's all-time classic albums ('British Steel,' 'Screaming for Vengeance,' and 'Painkiller') and anthems (the aforementioned "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight," and "You've Got Another Thing Coming"), the group has been one of the leading arena rock acts for decades, and single-handedly introduced the "leather look" to heavy metal.

And now Judas Priest are set to blast their way round the world one final time.

Confirmed Judas Priest U.S. Tour Dates (more dates to be announced shortly):

October:

12 – San Antonio, TX: AT&T Center

14 – Corpus Christi, TX: Concrete Street Amphitheater

15 – Houston, TX: The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

16 – Dallas, TX: Allen Event Center

18 – Tucson, AZ: Ava Amphitheater

19 – San Diego, CA: Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

21 – Phoenix, AZ: AZ State Fair

22 – San Bernardino, CA: San Manuel Amphitheater

23 – Las Vegas, NV: Hard Rock

25 – Los Angeles, CA: Gibson Amphitheatre

26 – Oakland, CA: Oracle Arena

29 – Seattle, WA: WaMu Theater

30 – Vancouver, BC: Rogers Arena

November:

1 – Edmonton, AB: Shaw Conference Center

2 – Calgary, AB: Scotiabank Saddledome

4 – Salt Lake City, UT: Maverik Center

5 – Denver, CO: 1STBANK Center

12 – Chicago, IL: The Venue at Horseshoe Casino

13 – Detroit, MI: Joe Louis Arena

18 – East Rutherford, NJ: Izod Center

The Band have been focusing on the forthcoming tour – doing press, photos, sorting out stage sets, special effects, and stage clothes etc –they have started music rehearsals this week so are now poised and getting ready to roll – everyone is looking forward to travelling round the world again with the Priest Machine! 

 Come along and join them in concert one last time as they fly the Metal flag and keep the faith!