Dave Iozzia of Rock-Is-Life.com recently spoke with Glenn Tipton of JUDAS PRIEST about his reissued solo albums (Baptizm Of Fire, Edge Of The World), Judas Priest, and much, much more.

The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: I’m sure you jumped at the chance to get these records heard, especially after Atlantic Records wouldn’t release the songs you recorded with Cozy Powell and John Entwistle. What are your thoughts about the records competing with each other since Rhino Records re-released Baptizm Of Fire on the same day that they released Edge Of The World, by Tipton, Entwistle and Powell?

A: "Baptizm Of Fire is re-mastered with additional tracks so if anybody is interested, it’s there for them. There’s no fanfare with the release, and I don’t want people to think this is a selling campaign. This is an opportunity to get it back on the shelves and have it promoted in the right way. It was a well-kept secret when Atlantic Records originally released it. I’m not worried about the records competing with each other, it just seemed like an opportune moment when I was releasing Edge Of The World. I don’t tell many people this but all of the proceeds from Edge of the World are going to the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that THE WHO and John Entwistle were very involved with."

Q: On Edge Of The World, you wrote the songs 'Unknown Soldier' and 'Friendly Fire', inspired by a different set of wars that were going on at a different point in time of our planet’s history. It’s ironic that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Here we are in a new century, fighting new wars over a lot of the same issues.

A: "I’m not a political guy or a protest singer. I feel very strongly that the hierarchy in this day and age, without specifying certain countries or world leaders, are sending young guys into dangerous situations for no reason. There are some poignant lyrics in those songs that sadly fit both back in 1997 and today. For example, 'I wonder if they’d still agree to risk their life expectancy if they’d been standing next to me.' It’s easy to issue orders and send 2,000 soldiers out somewhere. But you only have one life, Dave, and it’s the most precious thing you have. Young guys are getting killed for no reason. So I guess those songs are my protest. How can you send young men out to die even if it’s for your country? You only get one chance in life, and for so many of our soldiers, that chance is gone."

Q: What is the latest update you can offer your fans on the songwriting progress for the follow-up record to Angel Of Retribution?

A: "There’s nothing to report yet. We’ve put a little pen to the paper individually and next month we’ll sit down and write together."

To read the entire interview head to this location.