Their legacy spanning back to the mid 70s, Judas Priest have always been one of the most recognised and coveted metal bands to come out of the NWOBHM. They have delivered years of solid albums and delivered a bunch of metal anthems that will live on and on. 34 years into a career, you'd think that a band would pretty much have their formula down and know how to knock an album up and get it out. Judas Priest however have found a balance of moving with the times and sticking to their roots that works really well for them. "Obviously there's only so far we can go as Judas Priest. We couldn't do a soul song or something like that...but in all honesty we've always done that. All our albums are a little bit different. Something we've tried to do is diversify and give ourselves more room to maneuver...".

This apparently is a trend the band have followed on with into the new album Nostradamus. "It's far more dramatic and there are areas we stepped into in this album that would be a little different to a normal Judas Priest album. But I think at the same time it's still undeniably Judas Priest...we've been able to cover new ground, yet it still ended up as a very recognisable entity of Judas Priest. I think we chose the right subject matter because that lent itself to the moods of the album and if you've heard it there's a lot of subtleties in there, light and shade, there's blood and thunder as well. His life covers great topics for Judas Priest."

Focusing on the life of the 15th century seer whose prophecies are still referred to today by some and followed very closely by others it is subject matter that seems only fitting that it be tackled by a metal band in concept album form. But why Judas Priest? And why now? "After our last album we just decided where to go really, and we've never done a concept album and we thought it'd be nice if we could find the right subject matter. Something that was valid, and inspirational and our manager suggested Nostradamus actually. When we looked into his life it was full of interest and intrigue and tragedy, his wife and daughters were killed by the plague, and the church exiled him...then he found a new life in France. That combined with all the mystical side, he was an alchemist, and obviously his visions and prophecies, it was his life really that we found very interesting. And obviously for a guy who died 500 years ago to still be talked about today he must have left his mark on history, a very intelligent, special sort of character."

With a new album comes a new tour, and fans will have already rejoiced to the announcement that Judas Priest will be touring Australia for the first time with original front man Rob Halford. Playing bigger venues than their last journey to Australia, Tipton remained quite humble on what sort of reception this "classic" line up would receive here, despite venues having been booked that dwarf those they played with Ripper at the helm. "I would think it would be the same reception, but I think with Rob back in the band now I would have thought it was eagerly awaited over there, so I'm sure we should get a good reaction either way. We've never played Australia before with Rob so we're very excited about that...we're over there in September."

With only a couple of songs set to be played from Nostradamus this tour, it seems that the band have much grander plans for future touring, should the album do well. "...next year we're hoping to play it in its entirety, depending on the success of the project obviously. and we'd like to go out and play special events around the world, special venues around the world, Albert Hall or Carnegie Hall, possibly Sydney Opera House! It would be something we'd really like to do."

But for the old school fans, this tour is shaping up to be a definite "classic" tour. "This is a summer tour and I think it's better to go out and play a lot of classics. We're also bringing a lot of songs back that we haven't played for a long time so it'll be quite interesting."

Judas Priest hit Australian shores this September, and their new album Nostradamus is released worldwide on June 14th through Sony/BMG. The Australian tour dates are as follows:

BRISBANE
Wednesday 10-Sep-08
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Ticketek 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au

SYDNEY
Friday 12-Sep-08
ACER ARENA
Ticketek 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au

MELBOURNE
Saturday 13-Sep-08
Melbourne Vodafone Arena
Ticketek 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au

ADELAIDE
Sunday 14-Sep-08
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Ticketek 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au

PERTH
Tuesday 16-Sep-08
Perth Burswood Dome
Ticketek 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au