The Flying V Documentary YouTube channel has released a new interview with producer / guitarist Andy Sneap, who discusses his Flying V guitar, a life in music, Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, and the music business. Check out the full interview below.

Sneap on Mercyful Fate: "They certainly influenced people like me. All I was listening to back then was Judas Priest, Slayer, Accept, Exodus, Mercyful Fate... the classic, harder-edged metal stuff. The complicated riffing and the arrangements Mercyful Fate used to do opened up a lot of doors for bands, because before I think people were writing formulated ideas, and then you heard something like Mercyful Fate that was so progressive. Those riffs shouldn't really work together, but they made it work. Some of the key changes were so dark sometimes, and the atmosphere they were creating with the music I remember I didn't like listening to it in the dark (laughs)."

Sneap will join heavy metal titans Judas Priest on their recently announced Invincible Shield Tour, stepping in for Glenn Tipton. The all-time greats will take over the US this spring with 14 shows.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT making stops in Reading, PA; Boston, MA; Rosemont, IL; Washington, DC and more before wrapping up in Syracuse, NY at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on May 22. Metalheads are in for the show of a lifetime as few rock or metal acts remain as much of a must-see live attraction as Judas Priest!

Also, on Friday, November 17, Judas Priest will release "Trial By Fire" the second song from their highly-anticipated new album, Invincible Shield, after the acclaimed lead single, "Panic Attack".

Tickets will be available starting with an artist pre-sale beginning on Wednesday, November 15. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, November 17 at 10 AM, local time at judaspriestinvincibleshield.com.

Tour dates:

April
18 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Oakdale Theatre
19 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
21 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena
24 - Bangor, ME - Cross Insurance Center
25 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway
27 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Center*
28 - Indianapolis, IN - Everwise Amphitheater at White River

May
1 - Rosemont, IL - Rosemont Theatre
2 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory
4 - Kalamazoo, MI - Wings Event Center*
5 - Maryland Heights, MO - St Louis Music Park
7 - Huntsville, AL - VBC Propst Arena*
9 - Daytona, FL - Welcome to Rockville^
11 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
12 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center Arena*
14 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
17 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center*
19 - Washington, DC -The Theater at MGM National Harbor
21 - Albany, NY - MVP Arena
22 - Syracuse, NY - Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview

* not a Live Nation date
^ festival performance

Invincible Shield is set for release on March 8. The new album is now available to pre-order here.

Over the past 50 years Judas Priest have sold over 50 million albums worldwide and headlined the world’s biggest stadiums. With their evolving music and live performances also came a powerful unique identity, a look which has both defined the group and influenced future generations of metal bands the world over. With each year the Judas Priest legend continues to grow; 2022 saw them inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and complete a sold-out rescheduled world tour in support of their 50th Anniversary.  As we roll into 2024, Judas Priest continue to retain their crown as one of the biggest and best bands in the world.