Judas Priest is back on stage after more than two years without performing live. The grand return took place at the Bloodstock Open Air last Sunday, the 15th, with Glenn Tipton for the encore.
The first show of the 50 Heavy Metal Years included many new additions to the setlist, with the debut of "One Shot at Glory" and "Invader," two songs never before performed live, and the return of tracks after many years.
According to data from Setlist.fm , the songs “Battle Hymn”, “Exciter”, “Hell Patrol”, “A Touch of Evil”, “Dissident Aggressor”, and “Blood Red Skies” had been absent from shows for periods ranging from nine to sixteen years. “Rocka Rolla” had been absent from the setlist since 1976 and was performed for the first time in 45 years at this show.
Tipton's presence is a cause for celebration, as his replacement, Andy Sneap, had been confirmed for the band's 50th-anniversary tour. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the band's classic guitarist stepped away from the stage in 2018. Since then, the musician has only made appearances during shows, as he is unable to play for an entire set.
Despite the difficulties, Tipton is involved in the songwriting process for Judas Priest's new album. "And don't rule out the fact that Glenn can handle it. He plays guitar differently, but there's no reason why he can't step up and do the job," commented Rob Halford about the guitarist .
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