UK metal gods JUDAS PRIEST - Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, Scott Travis, and new guitarist Richie Faulkner - met with the members of the media in at the Renaissance Hotel at Highland and Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA yesterday (May 24th). Check out video footage courtesy of Metal Assault below:

Photos of the event courtesy of Metal Assault's Jennifer N. Martinez can be viewed here.

The press conference was the official introduction of Faulkner (known for his work with DIRTY DEEDS, VOODOO SIX and LAUREN HARRIS). Dates on the first North American leg of their Epitaph Tour were also announced as well as the following upcoming releases from the band:

Single Cuts - CD Singles box set:

- The complete UK CBS/Columbia singles from 1977-2008 – featuring all 7" and 12" tracks from 1987-2008
- All singles will carry original artwork.
- This will box will only be available online and sold through the official Judas Priest website.
- Fans can pre-order the box starting in June; the product will ship later in the summer.

The Classic Albums Collection:

- Timed for the start of the US tour, Judas Priest will be releasing the Classic Albums Collection
- Box set - featuring all the albums from the classic line up years, including first two Gull records
- Includes 17 albums – 19 discs in total
- All remastered albums with original album artwork

North American Epitaph Tour - first leg:

October

12 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T; Center
14 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Ampitheater
15 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
16 - Dallas, TX - Allen Event Center
18 - Tuscon, AZ - Ava Ampitheater
19 - San Diego, CA - Cricket Wireless Ampitheater
21 - Phoenix, AZ - AZ State Fair
22 - San Bernadino, CA - SAn Mauel Ampitheater
23 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock
25 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Ampitheater
26 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
29 - Seattle, WA - WaMy Theater
30 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena

November

1 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Center
2 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
4 - Salt Lake City, UT - Maverik Center
5 - Denver, CO - 1st Bank Center
12 - Chicago, IL - The Venue At Horeshoe Casino
13 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
18 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center

Note: There will be additional tour dates forthcoming taking tour into December 2011.