JUDAS PRIEST will perform as a four-piece on its upcoming tour as the band’s former touring guitarist Andy Sneap, who co-produced the British heavy metal legends’ 2018 album “Firepower”, plans to focus on production work.
Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT, began touring with PRIEST four years ago after longtime guitarist Glenn Tipton â who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier â announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of “Firepower”.
Earlier today, PRIEST issued the following statement: “Hello maniacs! We are chomping at the British Steel bit to return to world touring⌠celebrating 50 years of JUDAS PRIEST as an an even more powerful, relentless four piece heavy metal band – with Glenn coming out on stage with us here and there as before. Big thanks to Andy for all youâve done and continuing to be in the production team for our new album⌠See you all soon headbangers!”
JUDAS PRIEST recently announced the rescheduled “50 Heavy Metal Years” North American tour dates for March-April 2022. Support on the trek will come from QUEENSRŸCHE.
Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Singer Rob Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Founding guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Richie Faulkner.
Some of the other members of PRIEST have also dealt with various health setbacks in recent years. 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.
Faulkner suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection during the band’s performance at the Louder Than Life festival in late September 2021. Faulkner was rushed to the UofL Health – Jewish Hospital where the cardiothoracic surgery team needed approximately 10 hours to complete a life-saving surgery.
