Showing posts with label Heavy Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heavy Metal. Show all posts

Saturday, June 13, 2026

JUDAS PRIEST RELEASES 'THE BEST OF JUDAS PRIEST' WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM FORTHCOMING ... RICHIE FAULKNER AND ELEGANT WEAPONS RELEASE SOPHMORE STUDIO ALBUM 'EVOLUTION' EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

 


JUDAS PRIEST RELEASES 

'THE BEST OF 

JUDAS PRIEST'

 WITH NEW STUDIO ALBUM FORTHCOMING WHILE PREPARING FOR  SUMMER EUROPEAN 

'FAITHKEEPERS' TOUR'

RICHIE FAULKNER AND ELEGANT WEAPONS RELEASE SOPHMORE STUDIO ALBUM 'EVOLUTION' 

EXCLUSIVE ZOOM INTERVIEW

WITH JUDAS PRIEST/ELEGANT WEAPONS GUITARIST

RICHIE FAULKNER

ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

 W/RAY SHASHO



Richie Faulkner is an acclaimed English guitarist best known as a co-lead guitarist for the legendary heavy metal band Judas Priest. He joined the band in 2011 to replace founding member K.K. Downing. He is credited with injecting fresh energy into the band, helping revitalize their career and sound for subsequent studio albums like Redeemer of Souls, Firepower, and Invincible Shield. Faulkner is highly recognized for his blistering solos, tasteful phrasing, and use of Gibson Flying V guitars.

Judas Priest announced a major career-spanning collection titled "The Best of Judas Priest",  released on June 19, 2026. The collection traces the evolution of the band and features 16 quintessential heavy metal tracks.

The band has also confirmed a return to the studio for new music and is gearing up for their summer European "Faithkeepers" tour. The tour starts: July 25, 2026, in Monchengladbach, Germany and Ends: September 21, 2026, in London, UK.  Judas Priest is also set to record a New Studio Album sometime In 2026.

Also, Ritchie Faulkner’s Elegant Weapons return with their sophomore studio album, Evolution.

This quartet of lifelong musicians — guitarist Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG), bassist Dave Rimmer (Uriah Heep), and drummer Christopher Williams (Accept) — have rallied around a collective vision. Together they’ve forged a signature style built on unforgettable riffing, surgically precise solos, bold grooves, and skyscraping hooks.


PURCHASE

'THE BEST OF 

JUDAS PRIEST '

The Best of Judas Priest is a career spanning collection celebrating one of the most influential and enduring bands in heavy metal. Judas Priest have defined and redefined the sound and imagery of heavy metal for more than five decades. With over 50 million albums sold worldwide and more than 2.5 billion streams across their catalogue, their impact on music and culture remains unmatched. This special collection of 16 songs brings together some of the band’s globally revered recordings, including ‘Breaking The Law,’ ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,’ ‘Electric Eye,’ ‘Turbo Lover’ and ‘Painkiller.’ Together, these tracks represent key moments from across their catalog and trace the evolution of a band that helped shape the genre itself. The Best Of Judas Priest serves as both an accessible entry point for new listeners and a definitive collection for longtime fans looking to revisit the song that cemented the band’s legacy.

AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR MUSIC PLATFORMS


PURCHASE

THE NEW ALBUM

BY

ELEGANT WEAPONS

ENTITLED

‘EVOLUTION’

Elegant Weapons, the heavy metal supergroup founded by Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, released their sophomore studio album, Evolution, on April 24, 2026.Released via Exciter Records, the album features 11 dynamic tracks ranging from hard-hitting riffs to classic power ballads.

You can stream or purchase the album across all major platforms using the Exciter Records Evolution Stream link. You can also pick up physical media like the CD directly via Darkside Records or Rough Trade.


FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

JUDAS PRIEST

VISIT

https://judaspriest.com/

OFFICIAL Website

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest/

Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/judaspriest/?hl=en

Judas Priest Instagram

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

ELEGANT WEAPONS

VISIT

https://elegantweapons.exciterrecords.com/

Elegant Weapons Official website

https://www.richiefaulkner.com/

Richie Faulkner oFFicial website

https://www.instagram.com/falconfaulkner/

Richie Faulkner Instagram

https://open.spotify.com/artist/68LxTdkzuDW3cnp83NKfpQ?nd=1

SPOTIFY

youtube.com/channel/UCqdC4CpGCouDxCCQ83qwB1g?sub_confirmation=1

YOUTUBE

https://www.facebook.com/elegantweaponsband

FACEBOOK


JUDAS PRIEST

Discography

Studio albums

Rocka Rolla (1974)

Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)

Sin After Sin (1977)

Stained Class (1978)

Killing Machine (1978)

British Steel (1980)

Point of Entry (1981)

Screaming for Vengeance (1982)

Defenders of the Faith (1984)

Turbo (1986)

Ram It Down (1988)

Painkiller (1990)

Jugulator (1997)

Demolition (2001)

Angel of Retribution (2005)

Nostradamus (2008)

Redeemer of Souls (2014)

Firepower (2018)

Invincible Shield (2024)

 

ELEGANT WEAPONS

Discography

Studio Albums

  • Horns for a Halo (2023)
  • Evolution (2026)

 

 

 Judas Priest

On Tour

Jul 25 Sat

Bobfest 2026 @ 12:00PM

Mönchengladbach, Germany

Jul 26 Sun

MESSEHALLE @ 8:00PM

Halle, Germany

Jul 28 Tue

TORWAR I Hala Widowiskowa @ 8:00PM

Warszawa, Poland

Jul 31 Fri

Wacken Open Air 2026 @ 12:00PM

Wacken, Germany

Aug 2 Sun

OSTRAVAR ARENA @ 8:00PM

Ostrava, Czechia

Aug 4 Tue

Tipos Arena @ 8:00PM

Bratislava, Slovakia

Aug 6 Thu

WILEYSPORTPARK @ 8:00PM

Neu-ulm, Germany

Aug 9 Sun

Bloodstock Open Air 2026 @ 12:00PM

Burton Upon Trent, United Kingdom

Aug 12 Wed

O13 @ 8:00PM

Tilburg, Netherlands

Aug 14 Fri

RE-LOAD FESTIVAL @ 8:00PM

Bremen, Germany

Aug 16 Sun

MOTOCULTUR FESTIVAL @ 8:00PM

Carhaix-plouguer, France

Aug 18 Tue

NAVARRA ARENA @ 8:00PM

Salinas De Pamplona, Spain

Aug 20 Thu

Roig Arena @ 8:00PM

València, Spain

Aug 23 Sun

LORELEY AMPHITEATRE @ 8:00PM

Sankt Goarshausen, Germany

Aug 25 Tue

Pula Arena @ 8:00PM

Pula, Croatia

Aug 28 Fri

Park UÅ¡će @ 8:00PM

Belgrade, Serbia

Aug 29 Sat

VIDAS ART ARENA @ 8:00PM

Sofia, Bulgaria

Sep 1 Tue

BUDAPEST ARENA @ 8:00PM

Budapest, Hungary

Sep 3 Thu

PARCO S. VALENTINO @ 8:00PM

Pordenone, Italy

Sep 5 Sat

TEATRO CLERICI @ 8:00PM

Brescia, Italy

Sep 7 Mon

Fiera del Levante @ 8:00PM

Bari, Italy

Sep 9 Wed

CAVEA AUDITORIUM PARCO DELLA MUSICA @ 8:00PM

Rome, Italy

Sep 11 Fri

Festhalle Bern @ 8:00PM

Bern, Switzerland

Sep 12 Sat

Zenith @ 8:00PM

Strasbourg, France

Sep 14 Mon

DECINES-CHARPIEU, LDLC ARENA @ 8:00PM

Lyon, France

Sep 15 Tue

FLOIRAC, ARKEA @ 8:00PM

Bordeaux, France

Sep 17 Thu

ARENA ZENITH @ 8:00PM

Paris, France

Sep 18 Fri

Forest National @ 8:00PM

Bruxelles, Belgium

Sep 21 Mon

Eventim Apollo @ 8:00PM

London, United Kingdom








RICHIE FAULKNER
APPEARS 
JUNE 16TH 2026
ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
WITH
RAY SHASHO


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Tuesday, December 19, 2023

LEGENDARY BRITISH HEAVY METAL GROUP ‘SAXON’ RELEASING THEIR 24TH STUDIO ALBUM ‘HELL, FIRE AND DAMNATION’ ZOOM SPECIAL EVENT WITH ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER BIFF BYFORD!

  


LEGENDARY HEAVY METAL GROUP

S A X O N 

RELEASING THEIR  24TH STUDIO ALBUM

 HELL, FIRE AND DAMNATION 

ZOOM SPECIAL EVENT 

with

 ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER 

B I F F   B Y F O R D 


In almost their fifth decade of making music, and continuing the tradition that they helped create, Saxon are still a tour de force in heavy metal music. The Band are comprised of members Peter “Biff” Byford (vocals), Paul Quinn & Doug Scarratt (guitars), Nibbs Carter (bass) & Nigel Glockler (drums). Saxon were the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal (they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums.They had numerous singles in the UK Singles Chart and chart success all over Europe and Japan, as well as success in the United States.

During the 1980s, Saxon established themselves among Europe's most successful metal acts. The band toured regularly and has sold more than 13 million albums worldwide. Originally named "Son of a Bitch, the band changed their name to Saxon in 1979. 
Saxon have been cited as a major influence or inspiration by numerous bands, including Mötley Crüe, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Testament, Dokken, Skid Row, Dream Theater, Exodus, Overkill, King Diamond and Celtic Frost. Saxon will release their latest album Hell, Fire And Damnation on January 19th 2024, and when internationally-renowned actor Brian Blessed OBE delivers a proclamation for opening track, “The Prophecy”, expectations are automatically high. Have no fear and make no mistake, Saxon meet and exceed them on their 24th studio release, creating a superlative British Heavy Metal classic which strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal muscle which Saxon co-created.


PREORDER

THE NEW ALBUM

BY

S A X O N

 Entitled

HELL, FIRE AND DAMNATION

Saxon proudly release their latest album Hell, Fire And Damnation on January 19th 2024, and when internationally-renowned actor Brian Blessed OBE delivers a proclamation for opening track, “The Prophecy”, expectations are automatically high. Have no fear and make no mistake, Saxon meet and exceed them on their 24th studio release, creating a superlative British Heavy Metal classic which strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal muscle which Saxon co-created.



available at https://lnk.to/SaxonHellFireAndDamnation

 




ALSO

PURCHASE

BIFF BYFORD

Autobiography

Saxon - Never Surrender

 (or Nearly Good Looking)

January 1, 2007

by Biff Byford (Author)

 available at amazon.com



FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

S A X O N

VISIT

www.saxon747.com

Official website

https://www.facebook.com/SaxonOfficial

Facebook

https://twitter.com/SaxonOfficial

Twitter

https://twitter.com/SaxonOfficial

Instagram

https://www.youtube.com/user/PlanetSaxon

YouTube

 

SAXON ON TOUR

Judas Priest/Saxon/Uriah Heep Tour 2024

We will be back in the USA April, May & June 2024 with our great friends Uriah Heep!

Dates will be announced January 8th!

Monday 11th March - UK, Glasgow - OVO Hydro 

Wednesday 13th March - UK, Leeds - First Direct Arena

Friday 15th March - IRELAND, Dublin - 3 Arena 

Sunday 17th March - UK, Bournemouth - BIC

Tuesday 19th March - UK, Birmingham - RWA

Thursday 21st March - UK, London - OVO Arena Wembley 

Sunday 24th March - GERMANY, Frankfurt - Festhalle

Monday 25th March - GERMANY, Olympiahalle

Tuesday 26th March - GERMANY, Balingen - Volksbank Messe

Wednesday 27th March - GERMANY, Dortmund - Westfalenhalle

Friday 29th March – CZECH REPUBLIC, Prague – O2 Arena

Saturday 30th March – POLAND, Krakow – Tauron Arena

Monday 1st April – AUSTRIA, Vienna – Stadhalle

Tuesday 2nd April – GERMANY, Ulm – Roxy

Wednesday 3rd April – SWITZERLAND, Basel – St. Jakobshalle

Friday 5th April – FRANCE, Lyon – Halle Tony-Garnier

Saturday 6th April – ITALY, Milan – Mediolanum Forum

Monday 8th April – FRANCE, Paris – Zenith

Thursday 13th June - SPAIN, Barcelona - Sant Jordi Club 

Saturday 15th June - SPAIN, Pamplona - Navarra Arena 

Monday 17th June - SPAIN, Madrid - PalacioVistalegre

Wednesday 19-22 June - Spain Cartagena Rock imperium Festival 

Saturday 29th June - FRANCE, Clisson - Hellfest 

Monday 1st July – GERMANY, Hamburg – Barclays Arena

Tuesday 2nd July – GERMANY, Berlin - Max-Schmeling-Halle

Thursday 4th July – GERMANY, Nurnberg – Arena Nurnberger

Monday 8th July – GERMANY, Mannheim – Sap Arena

Wednesday 10th July – GERMANY, Dresden – Messehalle

  

SAXON DISCOGRAPHY

Studio albums

Saxon (1979)

Wheels of Steel (1980)

Strong Arm of the Law (1980)

Denim and Leather (1981)

Power & the Glory (1983)

Crusader (1984)

Innocence Is No Excuse (1985)

Rock the Nations (1986)

Destiny (1988)

Solid Ball of Rock (1991)

Forever Free (1992)

Dogs of War (1995)

Unleash the Beast (1997)

Metalhead (1999)

Killing Ground (2001)

Lionheart (2004)

The Inner Sanctum (2007)

Into the Labyrinth (2009)

Call to Arms (2011)

Sacrifice (2013)

Battering Ram (2015)

Thunderbolt (2018)

Carpe Diem (2022)

Hell, Fire and Damnation (2024)

 

Cover albums

Inspirations (2021)

More Inspirations (2023)

 

Live albums

1982 The Eagle Has Landed

1989 Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies

1990 Greatest Hits Live

1996 The Eagle Has Landed – Part II

1997 Donnington: The Live Tracks

1998 BBC Sessions / Live at Reading Festival '86

2006 The Eagle Has Landed – Part III

2012 Heavy Metal Thunder – Live:

Eagles Over Wacken

2014 St. George's Day Sacrifice: Live in Manchester

2016 Let Me Feel Your Power

The Vinyl Hoard

2019 The Eagle Has Landed 40: Live

 

Compilation albums

Strong Arm Metal (1984)

Anthology (1988)

Back on the Streets (1990)

The Best of Saxon" (1991)

A Collection of Metal (1996)

Burrn! Presents: The Best of Saxon (2000)

Diamonds and Nuggets (2000)

Masters of Rock: Saxon (2001)

Heavy Metal Thunder (2002) (re-recordings)

Coming to the Rescue (2002)

The Very Best of Saxon (1979–1988) (2007)

The Best of Saxon (2009)

Saxon – The Carrere Years (1979–1984) (Box Set) (2012)

Saxon – The EMI Years (1985–1988) (Box Set) (2012)

Unplugged and Strung Up (2013) (orchestral + acoustic)

The Complete Albums 1979-1988 (10-CD boxed set) (2014)

Baptism in Fire – The Collection 1991–2009 (2016)

 

Videos

Live (1983)

Live Innocence! (1985)

Greatest Hits Live! (1989)

Power & the Glory – Video Anthology (1990)

The Saxon Chronicles (2003)

Live Innocence – The Power & the Glory (2003)

To Hell and Back Again (2007)

Saxon: Heavy Metal Thunder – Live (2010)

Heavy Metal Thunder – Live: Eagles Over Wacken (2012)

Warriors of the Road – The Saxon Chronicles Part II (2014)

The Saxon Chronicles (2015)

Let Me Feel Your Power (2016)

 

BIFF BYFORD

Solo

    School of Hard Knocks (2020)

 








BIFF BYFORD


APPEARS WEEK OF


DECEMBER 22ND 2023


ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

WITH RAY SHASHO

NOW STREAMING ON THESE SITES

The Classic Rock Music Reporter  

Classic Rock Here and Now

   Music Tried and True 

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ENTITLED

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SERIES ONE  

CHRONICLES,TRUTHS

 CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM 

FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

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BY MUSIC JOURNALIST ...TALK SHOW HOST...  

AUTHOR ... TV SITCOM SCRIPT WRITER 

RAY SHASHO

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BOOK REVIEW

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The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

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The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

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