Judas Priest Plans Deep Cuts Tour to Mark Sad Wings of Destiny at 50

Island of Domination" hasn't appeared in a Judas Priest setlist since the 1970s. That drought could end this summer, and when it does, Scott Travis will be the one making half a century of dormant material sound like it belongs in a modern arena.

Guitarist Richie Faulkner discussed the 50th anniversary of Sad Wings of Destiny in an interview with J.J. Caithcart of Different Stages Radio, published April 1. The 1976 album, Priest's second, is widely regarded as the record where the band crystallized its identity, introducing Glenn Tipton to the lineup and delivering tracks that have anchored setlists for decades. Faulkner called it "massive" and said any Priest fan would rank it among their favorites.

The anniversary is prompting more than nostalgia. Faulkner confirmed the band will revisit material from the record on the road and revealed that producer and touring guitarist Andy Sneap has been vocal about adding "Island of Domination" to the set. "Andy Sneap wants to do 'Island Of Domination' from 'Sad Wings'," Faulkner said. "We've never done that one, or I haven't, rather." Faulkner also named "Reckless," which survived rehearsals a couple of tours back before getting cut for time, and "Fever" from Screaming for Vengeance as tracks he's personally pushing for. "There's tons of them, those deep cuts," he said. "You never know."

For Travis, who joined Priest in 1990 and has served as the band's percussive anchor for 36 years, none of this material is from his era. Translating tracks that predate his tenure by 14 years into a live context requires more than technical accuracy. It means absorbing the dynamics and feel of a lineup he never played alongside and delivering them at the volume and physicality that modern touring demands. That challenge is precisely what makes deep-cut additions compelling for drummers watching from the outside: Travis has spent three-and-a-half decades building the Priest live sound, and stretching it backward into rarely touched catalog corners tests the full range of what he has developed.

The stakes are amplified by Exciter Records' announcement of 50th anniversary reissue editions of Sad Wings of Destiny, which turn the album from a nostalgic reference point into an active commercial and cultural event. A confirmed London date on September 21, 2026 points to an extended touring window with room to experiment. Meanwhile, Faulkner revealed separately that the band had already spent a month in the studio during February laying the foundation for their 20th album. "We've started recording it," he said. "I don't know if I'm allowed to say that, but I've said it."

A band simultaneously recording new material and excavating catalog from 1976 asks a great deal of its rhythm section. For Travis, the season ahead looks less like a victory lap and more like a masterclass in range.