JUDAS PRIEST Cancels Lowell, Massachusetts Concert Due To Non-COVID-19-Related Illness

BLABBERMOUTH.NET

British heavy metal legenda JUDAS PRIEST have canceled tonight's (Monday, April 4) concert at Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts due to a non-COVID-19-related illness. All tickets will be automatically refunded automatically via credit card. If tickets were purchased with cash at the box office, please visit the Tsongas Center box office for a full refund. Says JUDAS PRIEST in a statement: "We hope to be able to make show up in the near future." Fans who attended JUDAS PRIEST's concert on Saturday (April 2) at the Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut have reported that PRIEST singer Rob Halford seemed to be feeling sick during the show, as evidenced in some of the fan-filmed video clips which have since surfaced online (see below). PRIEST's current North American tour kicked off on March 4 at Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois and is scheduled to conclude on April 13 at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Support on the trek is coming from QUEENSRŸCHE. Halford recently publicly revealed that he battled prostate cancer during the pandemic. He previously mentioned his cancer battle in the new chapter added to the updated paperback edition of his autobiography, "Confess". In "Confess", Halford revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer after experiencing symptoms for at least a couple of years. In July 2020, Rob underwent prostatectomy, an operation where the entire prostate gland is removed plus some of the tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles. After more cancer was found last year, he went through radiation treatments in April and May 2021 and eventually got then all-clear in June 2021. He also had an appendectomy after a tumor was discovered on his appendix. PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection during the band's performance at the Louder Than Life festival in late September. Faulkner was rushed to the UofL Health - Jewish Hospital where the cardiothoracic surgery team needed approximately 10 hours to complete a life-saving surgery. PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier. Tipton announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of "Firepower". He was replaced by "Firepower" producer Andy Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.