Ostrava to Host Heavy Metal Legends Judas Priest in 2025
Ostrava, Czech Republic, will welcome iconic heavy metal band Judas Priest next year, bringing their electrifying performance to fans in the region. The band, fronted by the charismatic Rob Halford, who has been with Judas Priest as 1973 (with a hiatus between 1992-2003), delivered a powerful show at masters of Rock in Vizovice recently, where Halford largely handled vocal duties himself, only inviting audience participation during choruses.
Known for their theatrical stage presence-traditionally featuring Halford’s entrance on a motorcycle before “Bent for leather”-Judas Priest’s current lineup includes guitarists Andy Sneap and Richie Faulkner, bassist ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. Longtime guitarist Glenn Tipton, 78, is battling Parkinson’s disease, though he briefly rejoined the band onstage earlier this year.
Formed in Birmingham in the late 1960s/early 1970s, Judas Priest helped pioneer the new wave of British heavy metal in the 1980s alongside bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon. they have sold over 50 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, influencing the growth of subgenres like speed metal and thrash metal.