Looking into the future

Not exactly the best-kept secret in metal, Judas Priest has a big summer planned, what with the impending release of Nostradamus and extensive touring afoot.

In talking with lead singer Rob Halford on Friday, there is still no release date scheduled for the new record, which Halford calls "a massive endeavor." He did say, though, that the album should be out before the band starts its summer tour, and that begins June 3 in Finland.

As far as a setlist goes, Halford did give leak some details.

"There'll be a handful of songs that we always play for the fans, but there will be a lot of material that we've not played much before or put in our show for awhile," says Halford.

And where do things stand with Nostradamus?

"We're in the final mixing, and then we'll rush off to do masters," he says.

Watch for a podcast of my interview with Halford at www.goldminemag.com, and read Goldmine's metal issue, dated May 9, for a story on Halford.

Below are tour dates. For more information on what's happening with Priest or Halford's projects outside the band, check out judaspriest.com/ or visit www.RobHalford.com, www.HalfordMerchandise.com,www.HalfordMusic.com, or www.myspace.com/robhalford

JUNE 2008
 3rd ICEHALL, HELSINKI, FINLAND
 5th SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL/SOLVESBORG, SWEDEN
 7th TRONDHEIM ROCK FESTIVAL/TRONDHEIM, NORWAY
 8th BERGENSHALL, BERGEN, NORWAY
 11th ROCKHAL, LUXEMBOURG
 13th DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL, U.K.
 15th NOVA ROCK FESTIVAL/ VIENNA, AUSTRIA
 16th INCHEBA/BRATISLAVIA, SLOVAKIA
 17th CEZ ARENA, OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC
 20th KOBETASONIK FESTIVAL/BILBAO, SPAIN
 22nd TBA
 23rd PHILIPSHALLE, DUSSELDORF, GERMANY
 24th ZENITH, MUNICH, GERMANY
 25th NATIONAL SPORTZENTRUM,/HUTTWIL, SWITZERLAND
 27th GRASPOP METAL FESTIVAL, BELGIUM
 28th BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL, STUTTGART, GERMANY
 29th GODS OF METAL FESTIVAL, BOLOGNA, ITALY
 JULY 2008
 1st CASTLE FESTIVAL/BELGRADE, SERBIA
 2nd DOM SPORTOVA, ZAGREB, CROATIA
 3rd LIBEREC ARENA, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
 5th ROSKILDE FESTIVAL, DENMARK
 9th ROCKWAVE FESTIVAL/ATHENS, GREECE
 11th B'ESTFest AFTERSHOCK/ROMANIA, BUCHAREST
 13th TURKCELL KURUCEME ARENA/ISTANBUL, TURKEY