Judas Priest are re-mixing and re-releasing their debut album ‘Rocka Rolla’

Judas Priest are planning to re-release their debut album ‘Rocka Rolla’ with a new mix – find out more below.

• READ MORE: Judas Priest legend Rob Halford: “Coming out happened in the right way – it wasn’t premeditated”

According to founding member and bassist Ian Hill, the album – which celebrates its 50th anniversary on September 6 – is being re-mixed and getting prepped for re-release. Speaking on the Talking Rock with Meltdown podcast recent, Hill spoke about the band’s plans for its 50th anniversary reissue.

He said: “It’s just been re-engineered by Tom Allom after all of these years. The multi-tracks were in remarkably good condition, and he’s changed some of the sounds, made it more modern and obviously remixed it. And he’s done a great job.”

He continued, noting that he believes it will be released soon: “It’s just coming out shortly, I believe. It’s only a few weeks away, I’m sure it is. Yeah, but he’s redone it. It’s gonna be re-released, which is great news. It’s finally got the production it’s always needed.”

‘Rocka Rolla’ released on September 6 in 1974, and is best known for songs like ‘One for the Road’, the title track and ‘Run of the Mill’.

Judas Priest most recently released their 15th studio album ‘Invincible Shield’ in March this year.

Frontman Rob Halford recently reflected on how he came out as a gay man while performing live on MTV in 1998, saying: “It’s never too late to set yourself free because, as we know, once you’re out, the attacks float away. I’m fucking here, I’m queer, get fucking used to it!”

His comments echo an interview he had with NME earlier this year. Talking to Nick Levine, the ‘Metal God’ said coming out the way he did in 1998 “happened in the right way because it wasn’t premeditated. It was simply me talking like I’m talking to you. I just said: ‘Speaking as a gay man, blah blah blah.’ And those simple words resonated and went to a lot of places. As I went back to the hotel afterwards, I thought, ‘That’s it now. Everybody knows I’m a gay guy.’”

He continued: “Everybody in the band knew I was gay, everybody at the label knew I was gay and management knew I was gay. And wouldn’t you believe it? All the fans were like, ‘Well, we always thought you were gay anyway.’

“[But] being a gay man and coming out into a metal world, at the time, that was really difficult because of the homophobia and the pushback. And I still get it now. You know, somebody bullied me the other day on Facebook [by writing]: ‘You say you’re a Christian – well, good for you – but you should drop that husband of yours because it’s evil and you’re an abomination to God. Find a woman, you’ll be happier.’ [My response is:] ‘Thank you, delete!’”

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