GLENN TIPTON

It hasn’t all been a joyride, but the guitarist wouldn’t want to have done anything other than “travelling the world, doing what I love most – playing guitar”.

You joined Judas Priest in 1974. Had you seen them play before you joined? Yes. I had been to see them on a couple of occasions at small clubs around the Midlands. Can you still remember playing your first gig with Priest? I’ll never forget it. It was at Birmingham Town Hall. We had a self-made PA system which blew up halfway through the show. We had no sound expect for the back line, but we carried on regardless. The audience thought it was all part of the show and we went down a storm. What were those early days like, when you were all crammed into the back of a van, living on virtually no money? It was worse the grim! When we recorded Sad Wings Of Destiny [’76] we slept in a Transit van outside the studio in London. We were issued meal tickets by the label – I think we were allowed three a day. But it did build our inner strength as a band and bought us close together. Especially in the Transit van. Did you have any Spinal Tap moments during those early days? It was all Spinal Tap! One time we were rehearsing at Pinewood Studios and we had bed and breakfast in a nunnery. The nuns were in shock – they thought Judas Priest was some kind of religious sect. But when we left them they were quite sad. They asked if we’d play at their summer fête. We thought it better to pass. Was there a point where you thought: “Bloody hell, I’m famous!”? No. But I never felt I’m famous. Can you remember what you spent your first big royalty cheque on? I gave some money to my parents and bought them a house to thank them and for understanding me not getting a ‘real job’. My father never did quite understand, though, until we were on TV around the time of The Old Grey Whistle Test [’75, playing Rocka Rolla]. There was a point where Priest were one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. Did that mess with your head? Not really. I don’t think we realised how influential Priest was going to become. Priest played the Us Festival in California in 1983. What was that like? It was an incredible day. We flew in by helicopter over 320,000 people – there was a sea of people. It was so hot that the guitars kept going out of tune during the show, and our guitar techs had to keep retuning them. But it was metal history. Priest ended up on the PMRC’s ‘Filthy Fifteen’ list with Eat Me Alive. Could you see their point? Absolutely not. Anyone who was offended by the lyrics didn’t get what the song was about. Rob Halford has written some fairly near-theknuckle songs about sex. Did you ever asked him to tone it down? Rob’s a great lyricist and doesn’t need anyone to tell him what to write. Rob had his struggles with drugs and alcohol in the eighties. Were you worried about him? Of course. But he went to rehab and overcame his addictions through his own strength and got on with his life and career. Total respect. What about you – were you ever in danger of going down that slope? I don’t have an addictive nature, plus the amount of drugs and alcohol I did was small, really. I believe you can only cure addiction by beating it yourself. Have you ever come close to quitting Priest? Only in the early days when we’d be on tour for six months with no money. I questioned whether it was worth leaving my family and my children for. But thankfully I stayed and it was all worthwhile in the end. Had Priest ever come close to splitting up? Not splitting up. Some of us have done projects outside of Priest, but never with the intention of splitting up the band. In the past few years you’ve had to step back from playing with Priest. How difficult was that for you emotionally? It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my career and my life. When I stepped on to the stage after making that decision, the fans’ reaction was immense. So warm and emotional. It was very rewarding. But you have to get on with life – accept and suddenly see things in a different perspective. Never surrender! Do you care that Priest aren’t in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? Not really. I’d be proud to be inducted – we have been nominated a couple of times – but the people who have the final vote don’t really know about metal. There are so many artists that should be in there but aren’t – just like us. Apart from presumably having a few quid in the bank, what’s been the best thing about being in Judas Priest? Creativity. I’ve been able to achieve so much in my life and reach goals that I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t been in Judas Priest. What could be better than travelling the world, doing what I love most – playing guitar? The band’s most recent album, 2018’s Firepower, was brilliant. How do you follow it up? We can only try.

“I don’t think we realised how influential Priest was going to become.”