Judas Priest announce first UK headline tour for almost a decade...but you'll have to wait a while to see it

By Merlin Alderslade
( Metal Hammer )
published

Judas Priest will tour the UK with fellow metal legends Saxon and Uriah Heep in support

Rob Halford on stage last year
(Image credit: Getty)

Fans of heavy metal legends Judas Priest have had to wait a hell of a long time to finally see the Brummie icons head out on a UK headline tour - but now, the wait is finally over.

This morning (Tuesday May 2), the band announced their first headline tour of this country for almost a decade - although you'll have to wait a good while to see it, as it's taking place in March 2024, over ten months away. Hey, when you've already waited eight years for a Judas Priest headline show near your town, what's another few months, right?

"Judas Priest are excited to announce our first 2024 shows in the U.K. and Ireland<" say the band. "We are thrilled to start this world tour in the renowned traditional homes of heavy metal and can't wait to see our amazing family of Priest maniacs!"

Stopping off in Glasgow, Leeds, Dublin, Bournemouth and Birmingham before climaxing with a historic show at London's Wembley Arena, Judas Priest will be accompanied by fellow metal veterans Saxon and Uriah Heep. 

See the full list of dates below. 

Judas Priest UK tour dates 2024

March 11: Glasgow OVO Hydro
March 13: Leeds First Direct Arena
March 15: Dublin 2 Arena
March 17: Bournemouth International Arena
March 19: Birmingham Resorts World Arena
March 21: London OVO Arena Wembley

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford recently revealed that he had a wholesome encounter with pop royalty Pink and Sheryl Crow at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last year. 

"“Pink came up to me and said, ‘I need to tell you something’, and I was thinking, ‘Oh god, what have we done?’" he explained. "She said when she was in school, she and her friends used to stencil the Judas Priest logo on their notebooks! Then Sheryl Crow came up to me and she said, ‘I love your voice, it’s amazing!’ All of these things solidify the fact that your music can reach and connect with people you’d never expect."

Merlin Alderslade
Merlin Alderslade
Executive Editor, Louder

Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.