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Judas Priest Almost Didn’t Make Their Power Trip Set for This Reason

Judas Priest took part in the inaugural Power Trip, one of rock’s biggest moments of 2023. The iconic metal band was one of six acts on the bill, along with…

Rob Halford of Judas Priest attends the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Judas Priest took part in the inaugural Power Trip, one of rock's biggest moments of 2023. The iconic metal band was one of six acts on the bill, along with AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool. While Priest was added to the lineup in place of Ozzy Osbourne, they almost didn't make their set.

Rob Halford detailed this in a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock. Apparently, Southern California's infamous traffic had the band getting to the venue with very little time to spare.

"I think we got there with barely an hour and a half to get ready to go out on stage for the first time in over seven months," recalled Halford. "But we did it ... That's rock and roll right there."

As previously reported, Priest announced at Power Trip their 19th studio album will be titled Invincible Shield, and it's coming out March 8. Fans can pre-order physical copies of the LP at JudasPriest.com. This is the band's first new studio release since 2018's Firepower. Interestingly, Firepower gave Priest their highest charting position ever on the Billboard 200 album chart when it debuted at number five.

The biggest highlight of Priest's set undoubtedly came during the encore. Guitarist Glenn Tipton joined the band for the final three songs of their setlist: "Metal Gods," "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight." (The full setlist is below.)

In February 2018, it was revealed Tipton was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease ten years prior. Notably, Tipton plays on Priest's new album Invincible Shield on at least one track titled "Panic Attack," which was previewed back in October.

Judas Priest - Power Trip Setlist

Electric Eye
Riding on the Wind
Heading Out to the Highway
Lightning Strike
Diamonds & Rust
The Sentinel
A Touch of Evil
Turbo Lover
Firepower
Desert Plains
Rapid Fire
The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)
You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Painkiller

ENCORE
Hell Bent for Leather
Metal Gods
Breaking the Law
Living After Midnight

Judas Priest is one of the greatest bands in heavy metal – it’s hard to imagine the genre without them, and arguably they’re the second most influential metal group after only Black Sabbath. So, we’re totally stoked that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is finally – FINALLY! - inducting them later this year (yeah, it’s the “Musical Excellence” award, but we’ll take it). And as Screaming For Vengeance is about to turn 40, and the band is celebrating its 50th anniversary, we thought that this would be a perfect time to rank the band’s 50 best songs. 

50. “Jawbreaker” from ‘Defenders of the Faith’ (1984)

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49. “(Take These) Chains” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)

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48. “Angel” from ‘Angel of Retribution’ (2005)

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47. “Dragonaut (live)” from ‘Battle Cry’

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46. “Revelations” from ‘Nostradamus’ (2008)

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45. “Last Rose Of Summer” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)

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44. “Bloodstone” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)

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43. “Sword of Damocles” from ‘Redeemer of Souls’ (2014)

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42. “Epitaph” from ‘Sad Wings Of Destiny’ (1976)

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41. “The Rage” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)

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40. “Genocide” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)

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39. “Grinder” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)

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38. “Tyrant” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)

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37. “Freewheel Burning” from ‘Defenders of the Faith’ (1984)

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36. “Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)

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35. “Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver” from ‘Sad Wings Of Destiny’ (1976)

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34. “Winter/Deep Freeze/Winter Retreat/Cheater” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)

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33. “Island of Domination” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)

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32. “No Surrender” from ‘Firepower’ (2018)

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31. “Rocka Rolla” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)

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30. “Judas Rising” from ‘Angel of Retribution’ (2005)

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29. “Evening Star” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1978)

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28. “Lightning Strike” from ‘Firepower’ (2018)

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27. “A Touch Of Evil” from ‘Painkiller’ (1990)

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26. “Out In The Cold” from ‘Turbo’ (1986)

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25. “Metal Gods” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)

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24. “Starbreaker” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)

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23. “Stained Class” from ‘Stained Class’ (1978)

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22. “Delivering The Goods” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1979)

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21. “The Hellion/Electric Eye” from ‘Screaming for Vengeance (1982)

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20. “Running Wild (live)” from ‘Unleashed in the East’ (1979)

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19. “Riding On The Wind” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)

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18. “Never Satisfied” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)

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17. “The Ripper” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)

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16. “Firepower” from ‘Firepower’ (2018)

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15. “Sinner” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)

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14. “Beyond The Realms of Death” from ‘Stained Class’ (1978)

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13. “Fever” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)

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12. “Heading Out To The Highway” from ‘Point of Entry’ (1981)

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11. “Painkiller” from ‘Painkiller’ (1990)

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10. “The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown)” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1979)

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9. “Dissident Aggressor” from ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977)

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8. “Exciter” from ‘Stained Class’ (1978)

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7. “Diamonds and Rust” from ‘Rocka Rolla’ (1974)

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6. “Living After Midnight” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)

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5. “Victim Of Changes” from ‘Sad Wings of Destiny’ (1976)

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4. “Screaming For Vengeance” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)

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3. “Breaking The Law” from ‘British Steel’ (1980)

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2. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” from ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ (1982)

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1. “Hell Bent For Leather” from ‘Hell Bent For Leather’ (1979)

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Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights