It is certainly a busy time within the JUDAS PRIEST world, and next week members of the media will finally get all their questions answered from five very reliable sources – Judas Priest's very own Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, Scott Travis, and new guitarist, Richie Faulkner.

On Tuesday, May 24th at 1 PM (PST), all five members will be on hand at the Renaissance Hotel at Highland and Hollywood in Los Angeles to answer questions about the upcoming Epitaph US Tour and to formally introduce Richie Faulkner.

It was recently announced that the upcoming Epitaph Tour will be the last one from these heavy metal greats, and next week the band will set the record straight as to what to expect from Judas Priest in the coming months.

Priest have been focusing on their forthcoming tour – doing press, photos, sorting out stage sets, special effects, and stage clothes etc – they have started music rehearsals this week so are now poised and getting ready to roll – everyone is looking forward to travelling round the world again with the Priest Machine!

Come along and join them in concert one last time as they fly the metal flag and keep the faith.

Judas Priest Epitaph tour dates:

June

7 - Eindhaar - Tilburg, Holland
9 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, Sweden
11 - Sauna Festival - Tampere, Finland
14 - Spektrum - Oslo, Norway
15 - Edward Greig Plass - Bergen, Norway
17 - Copenhell Festival - Copenhagen, Denmark
19 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
20 - Le Zenith - Paris, France
22 - Gods of Metal Festival - Milan, Italy
23 - Sonisphere Festival - Switzerland
25 - Graspop Festival - Dessel, Belgium
27 - Zenith - Munich, Germany
28 - O2 Arena - Prague, Czech Republic
29 - Stadthalle - Vienna, Austria

July

1 - Belgrade Arena - Belgrade, Serbia
3 - Romexpo - Bucharest, Romania
5 - Water Park, P Faliro - Athens, Greece
8 - Akademik Stadium - Sofia, Bulgaria
10 - Kazlicesme Festival Site - Istanbul, Turkey

July

6 - Kautatzogleio Stadium - Thessaloniki, Greece
15 - Newport Centre - Newport, UK
16 - O2 Apollo - Manchester, UK
17 - The Dome - Doncaster, UK
19 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
20 - Metro Arena - Newcastle, UK
21 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, UK
23 - High Voltage Festival - London, UK
24 - BIC - Bournemouth, UK

July

27 - Atlantico Pavillion - Lisbon, Portugal
29 - Coliseum - La Coruna, Spain
30 - La Cubierta - Madrid, Spain
31 - Bec - Bilbao, Spain

August

2 - Badalona - Barcelona, Spain
5 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
7 - Colmar Wine Festival - Colmar, France
9 - O2 World - Berlin, Germany
10 - Metal Hammer Festival/Spodek - Katowice, Poland
11 - Sziget Festival - Budapest, Hungary

September

10 - Portuguesa Stadium - Sao Paulo, Brazil
11 - Citibank Hall - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
13 - Chevrolet Hall - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
15 - Nilson Nelson - Brasilia, Brazil
18 - Racing - Buenos Aires, Argentina
20 - Movistar Arena - Santiago, Chile
23 - Coliseo El Campin - Bogota, Columbia
25 - Terraza Ccct. - Caracas, Venezuela
27 - Rosabel Cordero - San José, Costa Rica
30 - Mexico City Sports Palace - Mexico City, Mexico

October

1 - Telmex Theater - Quadalajara, Mexico
3 - Banamex Theater - Monterrey, Mexico

Judas Priest recently announced that K.K. Downing has formally retired from the band, and according to a press release, "he will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming Epitaph Tour. The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well. Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, singer Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis unanimously agreed that they should go ahead with the tour and not let fans around the world down.

Fate also stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement - 31 year-old British guitar player Richie Faulkner (pictured below; DIRTY DEEDS, VOODOO SIX, LAUREN HARRIS) - he has blended into the band perfectly and is a great talent who is going to set the stage on fire, according to a press release.

The Epitaph Tour will include songs from every Priest studio album and also tracks that they have never before performed on stage plus all the old favourites.

With a new album due to be released next year, the 'metal gods' are preparing to tour the planet once more. Heavy metal at it's best complete with lasers, lights, bikes and hellfire! It's a show not too be missed!"