JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton spoke to Metal Hammer recently regarding forthcoming activities: "I want to make at least two more albums with JUDAS PRIEST. It is wonderful to have a part in creating the music of Priest. I enjoy it and, as always, I would like to do at least one more tour. Also, I want to pursue a few solo projects especially the album that I had recorded with Cozy Powell, who tragically passed away four years ago. I would like to finish it and dedicate it to his memory, because he was a good friend of mine and he did a fantastic job, and I want people to hear it. I also have some solo projects that I will try to pursue if I get the chance, but Judas Priest are my first priority. I still want to produce other bands and I am interested in composing music for films." Other sources state that it will not be until 2004 that we see a new Priest album.

The reunion rumours with Halford are going to be fueled by this!! - Ed

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BORKNAGAR have cancelled their European tour with FINNTROLL, SUSPERIA, SUIDAKRA and WINDIR after they were unable to secure affordable transportation for the duration of the trek. Citing drastic increases in transportation costs (i.e. buses) and their short supply, drummer Asgeir Mickelson explained via the band's official web site. "Last week we managed to get two buses from an English company but guess what? They both broke down during the weekend. One of them is now standing somewhere in Portugal...

"We're all pissed off about this. Sorry to all the fans and the bands we were supposed to play with, but there was nothing we could do. Aaaaarrrgh!!!!"

Despite the cancellation, BORKNAGAR will go ahead and perform the Norwegian dates as scheduled. They are as follows:

Oct. 23 - Oslo, NOR @ Rock In
Oct. 24 - Bergen, NOR @ Kvarteret
Oct. 25 - Aas, NOR @ Stundentsamfunnet

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HAMMERFALL will embark on a North American tour with DIO sarting in November with exact dates and venues to be announced shortly. Following the completion of the U.S. tour, HAMMERFALL will tour Europe, Japan and South America, to be followed by several European summer festival appearances next year.

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BLIND GUARDIAN's upcoming North American tour, which will feature SYMPHONY X in the support slot and an as-yet-undisclosed third band has been announced. The trek, which will hit a limited amount of cities in the US and Canada, will feature BLIND GUARDIAN performing a elaborate and lengthy set covering the full spectrum of the recording career. The exact dates and venue details are as follows:

Nov. 15 - Atlanta, GA (ProgPower Festival)
Nov. 16 - Montreal, QUE (Medley)
Nov. 17 - Toronto, ONT (Big Bop)
Nov. 19 - Worcester, MA (Palladium)
Nov. 22 - West Springfield, VA (Jaxx)
Nov. 23 - New York, NY (The World)
Nov. 24 - Old Bridge, NY (Birch Hill)
Nov. ...

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SYMPHONY X’ forthcoming album, The Odyssey, will have the following tracklisting: ‘The Odyssey’, ‘King Of Terrors’, ‘Awakenings’, ‘Incantations Of The Apprentice’, ‘Inferno (Unleash The Fire)’, ‘Wait With The Wicked’, ‘Accolade II’, ‘Frontiers’, ‘The Turning. The Odyssey is due out on October 28th through InsideOut.

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Keyboardist Mikko Harkin has issued the following statement, regarding his departure from the Finnish power metallers: "For personal reasons a time has come in my life when I have to make a decision in order to be able to go on... I've been fortunate to share many unforgettable moments with these guys. We've traveled thousands and thousands of kilometers together, we've been to the edge of the world and back and seen things a young pianist wouldn't ever have imagined. I'm grateful for all the moments but at the same time, everything happened has made me reevaluate my life. Extensive touring has made me rethink my priorities in life. Time and again I've had to reconsider what are the most ...

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Dave Mustaine recently posted on the www.megadeth.com website that "September 10th brings along a new Megadeth release, featuring never released live tracks and a selection of previously released studio tracks. The new tracks were recorded at the Web Theater in Phoenix, Arizona November 17, 2001. My return to the studio with Bill Kennedy to finish up the mixing and mastering for the six live songs was really invigorating, these tracks sound amazing. It was awesome to hear how good the band really was. As for me, my arm is continuing to heal according to the Doctors projections and I have even been picking up the guitar every now and then. I am getting excited to start playing and writing aga ...

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Helloween have announced the addition of former Freedom Call guitarist Sascha Gerstner to the group. Gerstner replaces Roland Grapow, who was dismissed from the band last year. The band is nearly done with the pre-production process for their new album and expect a spring 2003 release date.

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Geoff Tate, lead vocalist for Queensryche, commented recently in an interview with the Tablet newspaper that he was "Never a metalhead" and cites 80's New Wave bands such as Ultravox and The Thompson Twins as influences. On the subject of Queensryche's influence on the Power Metal of the late 80's, he states, "We were just in the right place at the right time, I really dug Chris Degarmo and the guys I was working with." He even went as far as to say that "I wouldn't call Rage For Order a metal album". Geoff also commented on the much rumored Three Tenors project involving himself, Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford. Apparently scheduling conflicts weren't the only problems. "We couldn't commit to the six months that it would take to do it justice. I also felt there was a lack of inspiring ideas" Geoff stated. In an even more surprising statement, Geoff said, "I've definitely grown out of that music, those same chunka chunka riffs....we were not in the same creative headspace.

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Gian Pyres, guitarist for Cradle Of Filth has announced his departure from the band. He is still continuing a musical career with something in a slightly different vein than Cradle Of Filth and one that will allow him more time for his personal life. The split was amicable and the band has wished him luck. They are currently in the studio recording a new album tentatively titled "Damnation And A Day" which is due for a February 2003 release.

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