Looking into the future

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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