Judas Priest is gearing up for a North American tour later this week in support of their latest album Invincible Shield and ahead of the trek, Rob Halford spoke about his plans for the future and how long he expects the metal icons to continue playing in a new interview.

“I think if your desire is still there, if your passion is still there, if you can still deliver the [goods] — to quote a Priest song — if you’re moving along and the machine’s not too wobbly, you can still get from A to B on one wheel, as long as it looks good and sounds good and all the other pieces are in place, why would you want to retire?” the 73-year-old admitted. “I wouldn’t know what to do with my life if I suddenly couldn’t do this beautiful work. I need to do it. It’s part of me that I need to do to live as a person because I love it so much. And I think I’m speaking for everybody in Priest. And that’s the leading light that pushes through. That’s what keeps you carrying on.”

The singer went on by thanking the band's loyal fanbase for packing out shows whenever they go on tour. “You marry that instantly with our glorious fans here in America and around the world that have kept this heavy metal machine rolling, because we can’t do this alone,” he said. “We’d look pretty dumb going into an arena if there’s nobody in there. You need people there. That’s part of the experience. It completes you. A live show completes the love of your band.”

Judas Priest 2024 North American Tour Dates

09/13 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre *

09/14 – Niagara Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort *

09/17 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre *

09/19 – Milwaukee, WI @ Miller High Life Theatre *

09/21 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ Alliant Energy PowerHouse *

09/22 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford Premier Center *

09/24 – Rochester, MN @ Mayo Civic Center Arena *

09/25 – Omaha, NE @ Baxter Arena *

09/27 – Rockford, IL @ BMO Center *

09/29 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival

10/01 – Independence, MO @ Cable Dahmer Arena *

10/03 – Billings, MT @ First Interstate Arena at MetraPark *

10/05 – Idaho Falls, ID @ Mountain America Center *

10/06 – Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena *

10/09 – Everett, WA @ Angel of the Winds Arena *

10/10 – Portland, OR @ Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds *

10/12 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival

10/13 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort and Casino *

10/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater *

10/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood *

10/18 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre *

10/20 – Loveland, CO @ Blue Arena *

10/22 – Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land *

10/24 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater *

10/26 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory *

* = w/ Sabaton

“I think if your desire is still there,” Halford said [as transcribed by Classic Rock], “if your passion is still there, if you can still deliver the [goods] — to quote a Priest song — if you’re moving along and the machine’s not too wobbly, you can still get from A to B on one wheel, as long as it looks good and sounds good and all the other pieces are in place, why would you want to retire?”

He continued, opening up about the personal importance of being the Metal God: “I wouldn’t know what to do with my life if I suddenly couldn’t do this beautiful work. I need to do it. It’s part of me that I need to do to live as a person because I love it so much. And I think I’m speaking for everybody in Priest. And that’s the leading light that pushes through. That’s what keeps you carrying on.”

Halford went on to thank Priest’s loyal legion of fans for keeping the band on the road and in fine form, as we witnessed at their show in New Jersey earlier this year.

“You marry that instantly with our glorious fans here in America and around the world that have kept this heavy metal machine rolling, because we can’t do this alone,” he said. “We’d look pretty dumb going into an arena if there’s nobody in there. You need people there. That’s part of the experience. It completes you. A live show completes the love of your band.”

Mel Taylor