Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has described the band’s upcoming co-headlining tour with Alice Cooper as a “real event” that is unlikely to ever happen again, promising fans a “roller-coaster ride of sheer metal power” fueled by a unique setlist that celebrates both their acclaimed new album and the 35th anniversary of the legendary Painkiller.
In a new interview with San Francisco’s 107.7 The Bone, the Metal God framed the 22-city trek not just as a tour, but as a historic, can’t-miss package for rock fans.
“This is a real event — this is a real event. Will this ever happen again? I don’t think so,” Halford declared. “So if you wanna see an event where you’ve got The Metal Gods, and you’ve got the original shock rocker, ’cause he started it all, baby. And Corrosion Of Conformity… Bang, bang, bang, one after another.”
He confirmed that Priest and Cooper will be “flipping” the headlining slot each night, but insisted he doesn’t care who closes. “As long as we get to play, as long as we get to see our beautiful metal maniacs again… it’s a reunion.”
At the heart of the tour is a unique setlist concept the band has dubbed the “Shield Of Pain” tour, a powerful fusion of their celebrated new album, Invincible Shield, and a deep dive into their ferocious 1990 masterpiece, Painkiller, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
“You’ve got your Invincible Shield, which is still roaring on all cylinders, and the obvious celebration of Painkiller, which is the album for Priest and the album for a lot of metalheads,” Halford explained. He promised a “great display of metal power” featuring deep cuts from the classic record, including “All Guns Blazing,” “Hell Patrol,” and “A Touch Of Evil.”
After a 50-year career, Halford admits that creating a setlist is “real tough.” While the band is focused on celebrating their new and classic material, he understands the necessity of playing the anthems that have become part of the fabric of rock history. “If Priest didn’t play ‘Breaking The Law’, everybody [at the venue] would be breaking the law,” he joked. “All of these songs are a reference point to the first date, to the first metal show we went, the first metal album we got. So it really is a larger-than-life experience.”
The 22-city North American tour, produced by Live Nation, kicks off on September 16 in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Judas Priest & Alice Cooper 2025 North American Tour Dates:
- Sep. 16 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
- Sep. 18 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- Sep. 20 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
- Sep. 21 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheatre
- Sep. 23 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
- Sep. 24 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
- Sep. 26 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
- Sep. 27 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
- Sep. 29 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
- Oct. 01 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- Oct. 02 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
- Oct. 04 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
- Oct. 05 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- Oct. 08 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena
- Oct. 10 – Colorado Springs, CO – Broadmoor World Arena
- Oct. 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Oct. 14 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
- Oct. 15 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheater
- Oct. 18 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
- Oct. 19 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
- Oct. 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- Oct. 23 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
- Oct. 25 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- Oct. 26 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
