I’m An ‘Even Number’ Kind Of Guy

Judas Priest has racked up 19 full-length albums over the past 50 years (yes – Rocka Rolla was released in 1974), with their most recent being Invincible Shield from earlier this year. But don’t expect that to be the final Judas Priest album – Rob Halford is aiming for a nice, even 20.

In an interview with Guitar World, Halford and Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner lightheartedly talked about if they’ve got one (or more) albums left in ’em. Long story short, who knows! It’s definitely not out of the question. Faulkner started off answering the question, noting that he always feels like he’s out of ideas once a record is complete.

“Who knows? If this one’s well received and there are enough ideas creatively to do another one, then it’s possible. We’ll have to wait and see, really. At this moment, I’m out of ideas. I’ve got nothing left. That always happens with me, and then I start coming up with things. But where are these ideas going to come from? I don’t know.

“But somehow, somewhere along the line, you start building up ideas and songs. They come from somewhere. After Firepower I was out of ideas and then we somehow created Invincible Shield. We’ll see what the future holds.”

Halford then chimed in, saying he’s not sure what else Judas Priest would be doing when they get off tour… and again, 19 albums just isn’t an even number.

“I think Richie is an endless well of guitar ideas, and [Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton] has vaults of riffs we’ve never used, and a good riff will last forever. It’s all about perspective and presentation. When you’ve got all that sorted out, why stop? There’s a fire that’s really burning right now and it has been even before Invincible Shield left the launch pad. Right now, we’re focused on touring for the album, but when we finish touring, what are we going to do?

“Well, Priest has always maintained its relevance and importance in metal by showing you what we can do next. And the other thing is, I don’t like 19. It’s an odd number. I’m an ‘even number’ kind of guy. I like 20.

“But the bottom line is it’s absolutely glorious that we’re still out there. Glenn‘s still thriving as a musician, and so is Richie after what he went through with his heart condition. I’m thriving after what I went through with my cancer condition. If that isn’t the embodiment of metal never dying and metal never surrendering, then I don’t know what is.

“There’s this importance in our lives as musicians to never give up and never give in, to also keep pushing ahead and going toward the metal torch on the horizon. That’s what drives us.”