Earlier this year, it was announced that Judas Priest will be awarded the “Musical Excellence Award” at this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony. As of a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, frontman Rob Halford shared that the band has been in communication with ex-members K.K. Downing and Les Binks, and that both artists will be involved in some way when it comes to this celebration.
Speaking to the band’s team being in touch with Downing and Binks, Rob says, “Everybody’s been very cool and agreeing. There’s just been [an attitude of], ‘Let’s just relish this opportunity and jam and put everything on 11.'”
While not able to specifically speak to how Downing and Binks will be involved, or if they will be performing with the band, Halford did clarify that both ex-members will be part of the ceremony.
“We are gonna play live because there is all this roar: How are we gonna do it? Because we want to try and make the best things happen. So the best things to happen are to bring in all of the people that are included in the induction — which includes, obviously, K.K. and Les, and Dave. So, we’ve been able to work things out, so we will be playing live. We’ve got, like, eight minutes and 24 seconds and a half-second to play live.”
It is very cool of Judas Priest’s team to reach out to Downing and Binks and invite them to be part of this awesome celebration! At the time of this writing, there is no news whether ex-Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens will be attending; via a recent interview, Owens said that he feels his time in the band has been “swept under the rug.”
In other band related news, as of today, Judas Priest has kicked off their 50th anniversary tour! You can find all the dates and locations associated with that tour below.
- Judas Priest 2022 Tour Dates
October 13 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale
October 15 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
October 16 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall Fenway
October 18 – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Veterans Coliseum
October 19 – Wilkes Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
October 21 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center
October 22 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre
October 24 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
October 25 – Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theatre
October 27 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center Theater
October 29 – Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center Moline
October 30 – Mankato, MN – Mayo Clinic Event Center
November 1 – Sioux City, IA – Tyson Events Center
November 2 – Rapid City, SD – The Monument
November 7 – Ontario, CA – Toyota Center
November 8 – Tucson, AZ – TCC Arena
November 10 – Loveland, CO – Budweiser Events Center
November 12 – Park City (Wichita), KS – Hartman Arena
November 13 – St. Charles, MO – The Family Arena
November 15 – Corbin, KY – The Corbin Arena
November 17 – Southaven, MS – Landers Center
November 18 – Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Canes River Center
November 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
November 22 & 23 – San Antonio, TX – Tech Port Center & Arena
November 25 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
November 26 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street
November 28 – Edinburg, TX – Burt Ogden Arena
November 29 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall