Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner recently discussed his ideas for future tour concepts. He shared his enthusiasm for focusing on specific albums from the band’s catalog in an interview with PodRaznoKast podcast.
When asked about particular eras of Priest that he would like to focus on for upcoming tour setlists, Faulkner revealed his desire to create a tour centered around two classic albums from the band’s discography.
“Personally, I’d like to do a ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ and ‘Defenders Of The Faith’ tour, [focusing on] those two records,” Faulkner said. “So maybe it could be called ‘Screaming For The Faith’ or ‘Defenders Of Vengeance’ or something like that.”
The guitarist was quick to clarify that these were personal thoughts rather than confirmed plans.
“But that’s totally fantasy,” he continued. “That’s nothing that we’ve spoken about or anything like that, but that’s just something I’d like to do.”
Faulkner also provided insight into the band’s current touring approach. He contrasted it with their recent album-specific shows.
“The last [tour] was pretty album specific — it was [focusing on the] ‘Invincible Shield’ and ‘Painkiller’ [albums] — so I think this summer in Europe, it’s just gonna be a bit more free, over the band’s career, and nothing too specific — just a celebration, I think, of everything Judas Priest,” he said. “So it will be fun to see what we come up with.”
Faulkner’s enthusiasm for these particular albums reflects their significant place in Judas Priest’s legacy and the broader heavy metal landscape.
PopMatters reported that Screaming for Vengeance was the second in a trio of watershed releases for the band in the early 1980s. It formed an impressive triumvirate that began with British Steel (1980) and concluded with Defenders of the Faith (1984). This period marked a crucial evolution in the band’s sound and commercial appeal.
The album introduced a harder, more distinctive sound and established the band’s mastery of the AOR single format. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Screaming for Vengeance became best known for the breakthrough hit “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” when it was released on July 17, 1982.
The cultural impact of this era cannot be overstated. Soundsphere Magazine observed that for many fans and critics, Screaming for Vengeance marked the next evolution of heavy metal. It solidified its place as a highly influential record in the band’s catalog.
The album’s enduring legacy makes Faulkner’s proposed tour concept particularly appealing to longtime fans who witnessed this pivotal moment in metal history. A tour focusing on both Screaming for Vengeance and Defenders of the Faith would celebrate one of the most creatively fertile periods in Judas Priest’s five-decade career.
