Judas Priest Brings the Firepower Live and on Album

The Metal Gods are Delivering the Goods this year, on album and onstage. Mighty metal legends Judas Priest are set to play the PNC Bank Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 6, and as the band’s show at the Prudential Center back in March showed, fans can expect to hear some true rarities along with classics and new material from Judas Priest's superb new disc, “Firepower.”

The fact that Judas Priest is performing and recording at such a high level 50 years into the their career is both amazing but also not surprising given the band’s perseverance and work ethic. As an added bonus, the show is a co-headlining concert with heavy rock legends Deep Purple, also still going strong after five decades.

Judas Priest have been pulling out rarely played tracks on this tour that haven’t been played in three decades such as “Saints In Hell” and “Tyrant,” and other gems like “Bloodstone” and “Night Comes Down.” They’ve been mixing the set each night as well so audiences can be genuinely surprised at what they’ll hear. In addition, the band has added some cool visuals for songs including “Saints In Hell" and “The Ripper.”

The band’s 18th record, “Firepower,” released in March, sees Judas Priest continuing to be a vital force. Singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis excel throughout “Firepower.”

A signature Halford scream welcomes listeners to the leadoff title track, which also boasts razor-sharp, precision riffing and pounding rhythms. “Lightning Strikes” follows with a classic harmonized guitar section and “Evil Never Dies” features a pulsating bass line. “Traitors Gate” is a full-on tour de force and “No Surrender” sums up Judas Priest’s ethos of persevering in chasing your dreams.

By now most fans know that guitarist Glenn Tipton is not on the tour due to the progression of Parkinson’s disease, though he has played during encores at some gigs. Andy Sneap, who co-produced “Firepower,” has stepped in admirably. Perhaps the MVP of the tour however has been guitarist Richie Faulkner, who has been lying down massive riffs and solos and providing a constant burst of energy.

Faulkner, who joined Priest in 2011 following K.K. Downing’s retirement, has more than proved his meddle over the past seven years. He’s a natural fit for the band, and, with Tipton’s absence, has taken on the responsibility of senior six-stringer.

We recently spoke with Faulkner.

The show Judas Priest has been putting on features some very obscure tracks you’re bringing back to life, which is a great treat for fans. How did the decision to do this come about?

As a fan myself it's been very exciting starting to break out that stuff. The idea came in rehearsals. We threw out a few suggestions and some worked and some didn’t. It was just like, we should do this onstage. I think it’s been a thrill for the fans to hear it. There might be some other ones we add in the future .

You’ve also created some striking visual backdrops for songs like “Saints In Hell” and “The Ripper.” How do you go about working with the production company on developing the concepts?

It’s a team effort really. We come up with the ideas and share it with the videographers and they put in their input. Sometimes it’s vice versa. It’s a great way to work. I find that when there’s give and take you always come up with the best stuff. For those songs in particular they tell stories so they lend themselves to visuals.

“Firepower” is a very energetic album. What went into making it?

There was a general focus on getting a better sound, how do we play better, how do we craft the songs and get the best performance, to make a better album. If not what's the point in doing it. We had a lot of energy in the studio, we really bounced the songs off each other in rehearsals and kept the energy, the firepower so to speak, of what we were trying to do.

Do you have any especially favorite Priest songs to play live?

It’s a tough question. There's 45 years of recorded material and there's different reasons for liking songs from certain eras as well. These older songs we’re playing just come to life. I really like playing “The Sentinel” and we might put that into the set sometime in the future. It’s such a great, atmospheric song. Then there are the new songs where I’ve had a contribution in writing them, and it’s very special in seeing them grow from an idea to a full-fledged song.

Was it an adjustment playing with Andy Sneap live? Have you been showing him the ropes as far as playing with Priest live?

It hasn’t been difficult. It’s going great. Andy's doing a great job. I have been helping him the way Glenn is the mentor to me. Everyone has to find their place in the group and Andy’s kicking [butt]. He worked on producing “Firepower” so he knows that material inside and out. The fans have accepted it. Metal fans are accepting if you’re honest with them. They know Glenn's situation and they know why Andy's there. If Glenn shows up for an encore they love it and if not they understand.

How has Glenn been a mentor to you musically and personally?

He's like an older brother to me both personally and musically. As a musician Glenn’s very much always on the pursuit of something different and unique, the creative edge. He is not into comparing things. He says everything should be measured on its own merit, which is a great thing to learn creatively speaking. That’s a big part of who Glenn is as a guitar player. Personally, he’s always said if I’ve got any issues about anything to come see him.

Do you have goose bumps when he comes out to play encores?

Of course. I think everyone does, on the stage and in the crowd. We’ve seen people in tears in the front rows. He sends a message to everyone, a never give up attitude. Hopefully we can all learn from him.

This summer the band was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History at the Wacken Festival in Germany earlier this month. Many Priest fans here in the U.S. believe the band deserves to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What are your feelings on this?

I'm on the fence with it. Metal’s always been the underdog and there are many fans who want to see their music represented there. I get that from a fan’s point of view and it doesn’t quite make sense that Priest isn’t in there. But, and this is just my opinion, when you’re a band that’s been touring and recording for 50 years, and you’re still making music that you and your fans love, that’s all the affirmation anyone needs.