Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill recalled in an interview with Rock Cellar Magazine when Judas Priest had the opportunity to be the opening act for Kiss in the United States back in 1979. The musician said that it was a great opportunity and that the group learned a lot during those shows with the American Hard Rock band.
Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill recalls when Judas Priest opened for Kiss in the 70s:
“That was a great opportunity. I don’t know how the hell we got on it, I really don’t know. But we jumped at it. We went through a sort of apprenticeship. When British bands came to America, the first time you came over you were playing bars and clubs and things like that. The second time, you might be picked up as a third act with a bigger band.”
“The third time, maybe you’re a special guest on some big bills, and then the fourth time, maybe you’re playing your own theater shows to 2,000 or 3,000 people. And of course, we ended up on the KISS tour in 1979 and that was a big opportunity for the band.”
He continued:
“We were suddenly playing in front of tens of thousands of people every night and certainly your profile goes through the roof. I think Priest did appeal to a lot of KISS’s audience and it helped out. It helped us tremendously in getting our name around, and that’s the major thing. Then it’s up to your record company and your agent to make sure that these people know next time you’re coming into town.
“But opening sows for KISS was a great opportunity. It was a great tour as well. KISS were a bunch of good lads, as well, and we still run into them from time to time on the road and get to have a chat with them and reminisce.”
Priest is currently celebrating it’s 50th anniversary and touring across North America
Now that guitarist Richie Falkner is fully recovered from an “aortic aneurysm” he suffered on stage back in September 27, 2021, the band continues to tour celebrating their 50th anniversary.
March
- 4 Peoria Civic Center Peoria, IL
- 6 Mission Ballroom Denver, CO
- 7 Maverik Center West Valley City, UT
- 9 Angel Of The Winds Arena Everett, WA
- 10 Moda Center Portland, OR
- 12 Fox Theater Oakland, CA
- 13 Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Convention Center, NV
- 15 Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall Los Angeles, CA
- 16 Arizona Federal Theatre Phoenix, AZ
- 18 Irving Music Factory Irving, TX
- 20 H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Cedar Park, TX
- 21 Freeman Coliseum San Antonio, TX
- 23 Nashville Municipal Auditorium Nashville, TN
- 25 Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Alpharetta, GA
- 27 Charleston Civic Center Coliseum Charleston, WV
- 29 The Met Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
- 30 Prudential Center Newark, NJ
- 31 The Theater at MGM National Harbor National Harbor,
April
- 2 Foxwoods Resort Casino Mashantucket, CT
- 4 Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell Lowell, MA
- 7 Scotiabank Centre Halifax, Canada
- 10 Videotron Centre Ville De Québec, Canada
- 11 Place Bell Laval, Canada
- 13 FirstOntario Centre Hamilton, Canada
