Editing Judas Priest (section)

=== {{Anchor|Firepower}} ''Firepower'' and Tipton's retirement from touring (2015–2019) ===
[[File:Judas Priest at The Warfield Theater in San Francisco.jpg|thumb|Judas Priest performing at the [[Warfield Theatre]] in San Francisco on 19 April 2018, as part of the [[Firepower World Tour]], which featured [[Andy Sneap]] filling in for [[Glenn Tipton]] on guitar.]]

In a November 2015 interview with [[Reverb.com]], Richie Faulkner said that the band would start work on their eighteenth studio album in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reverb.com/news/spotlight-on-judas-priests-richie-faulkner|title=Spotlight on: Judas Priest's Richie Faulkner|author=Erickson, Anne|date=16 November 2015|publisher=[[Reverb.com]]|access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> In April 2016, [[Loudwire]] posted a photo showing Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and Faulkner himself in the studio beginning the process of the album,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://loudwire.com/judas-priest-back-in-studio/|title=Judas Priest Are Back in the Studio|author=Hartmann, Graham|magazine=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=19 April 2016}}</ref> with Halford confirming in a radio interview that it would be ready by early 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/rob-halford-says-new-judas-priest-will-arrive-early-2017|title=Rob Halford Says New JUDAS PRIEST Will Arrive Early 2017|author=Huber, Nic|work=Metal Injection|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> During an interview at the 2016 edition of the [[Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp]], Halford expressed dissatisfaction on making an album similar to ''Redeemer of Souls''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rob-halford-interview-2016/|title=Judas Priest's Rob Halford Is 'Hell Bent' for Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp: Exclusive Interview|author=Wardlaw, Matt|date=28 April 2016 |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]]|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Faulkner then stated that the band would begin recording in January 2017 and also said that they would not go on tour until 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-to-begin-recording-new-album-in-january-next-tour-to-start-in-2018/|title=JUDAS PRIEST To Begin Recording New Album In January; Next Tour To Start In 2018|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref>

In March 2017, the band entered the studio to begin the recording process, with support from long time producer [[Tom Allom]], along with former [[Sabbat (English band)|Sabbat]] guitarist and producer [[Andy Sneap]] and engineer Mike Exeter, who worked with the band on the previous album. This marked the first time since 1988's ''Ram It Down'' that they had worked with Allom.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-taps-producers-tom-allom-andy-sneap-for-new-album/|title=JUDAS PRIEST Taps Producers TOM ALLOM, ANDY SNEAP For New Album|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/see-first-photo-of-judas-priest-and-production-team-for-new-studio-album/|title=See First Photo Of JUDAS PRIEST And Production Team For New Studio Album|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=20 March 2017}}</ref> In an April 2017 interview with [[Planet Rock (radio station)|Planet Rock]], Halford said that the band was "coming to some of the final moments" of completion of the new album. He also promised "a very exciting 2018 period" with a world tour taking place in 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://loudwire.com/rob-halford-judas-priest-some-final-moments-recording-new-album-very-exciting-2018/|title=Rob Halford: Judas Priest Reach 'Some of the Final Moments' of Recording New Album, Promise 'Very Exciting 2018 Period'|author=Childers, Chad|magazine=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> In an [[Instagram]] post in June 2017, Sneap said that the band completed tracking.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://loudwire.com/judas-priest-just-about-done-tracking-new-album/|title=Judas Priest 'Just About Done' Tracking 18th Studio Album|author=Divita, Joe|magazine=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref>

The eighteenth album, ''[[Firepower (Judas Priest album)|Firepower]]'', was released on 9 March 2018, with a [[Firepower World Tour|world tour]] taking place thereafter, beginning in North America with [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]] and [[Black Star Riders]] as their support acts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-to-release-firepower-album-north-american-tour-announced/|title=JUDAS PRIEST To Release 'Firepower' Album; North American Tour Announced|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/saxon-and-black-star-riders-to-support-judas-priest-on-firepower-north-american-tour/|title=SAXON And BLACK STAR RIDERS To Support JUDAS PRIEST On 'Firepower' North American Tour|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-listen-to-audio-sample-of-firepower-title-track/|title=JUDAS PRIEST: Listen To Audio Sample Of 'Firepower' Title Track|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref>

On 12 February 2018, Glenn Tipton revealed that he had [[Parkinson's disease]] and would step down from touring. According to the band, the disease's progression left him unable to play the more challenging material. Tipton stated that he was still a member of the band despite his diagnosis and did not rule out future on-stage appearances. Andy Sneap was then announced as his replacement for the tour.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/12/judas-priest-glenn-tipton-parkinsons-disease |title=Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton diagnosed with Parkinson's disease |last=Snapes |first=Laura |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=2018-02-12 |access-date=2018-02-12}}</ref> Richie Faulkner later assured fans that Tipton would perform with the band "at some point in the tour."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priests-richie-faulkner-well-see-glenn-tipton-on-stage-again/|title=JUDAS PRIEST's RICHIE FAULKNER: 'We'll See GLENN TIPTON On Stage Again'|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref> At the 20 March 2018 show in [[Newark, New Jersey]], Tipton joined the band on stage to perform "Metal Gods", "[[Breaking the Law]]" and "[[Living After Midnight]]", then "[[Victim of Changes (song)|Victim of Changes]]" and "No Surrender" on later dates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/glenn-tipton-judas-priest-onstage/|title=GLENN TIPTON JOINS JUDAS PRIEST ONSTAGE|author=Lifton, Dave|publisher=[[Townsquare Media|Ultimate Classic Rock]]|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> He continued to appear for encores throughout the remainder of the [[Firepower World Tour]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/glenn-tipton-on-his-future-role-with-judas-priest-its-a-question-that-i-cant-really-answer/|title=GLENN TIPTON On His Future Role With JUDAS PRIEST: 'It's A Question That I Can't Really Answer'|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/bassist-ian-hill-on-maintaining-the-firepower-of-judas-priest/Content?oid=14932358|author=Jordan, Jerilyn|title=Bassist Ian Hill on maintaining the firepower of Judas Priest|newspaper=[[Detroit Metro Times]]|access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2019/06/04/theres-no-slowing-judas-priest-confesses-band-founder-ian-hill/|author=Beeber, Al|title=There's no slowing Judas Priest, confesses band founder Ian Hill|website=[[Lethbridge Herald]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023035920/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2019/06/04/theres-no-slowing-judas-priest-confesses-band-founder-ian-hill/ |archive-date=23 October 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 29 January 2019, Judas Priest's European tour with [[Ozzy Osbourne]] was cancelled after Osbourne experienced a severe upper-[[Respiratory tract infection|respiratory infection]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/ozzy-osbourne-european-tour-cancel/|author=Darus, Alex|title=OZZY OSBOURNE CANCELS ENTIRE EUROPEAN LEG OF TOUR DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES|magazine=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> The band later confirmed that the tour was rescheduled to 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priest-confirms-it-will-be-part-of-ozzy-osbournes-rescheduled-european-tour-in-2020/|title=JUDAS PRIEST Confirms It Will Be Part Of OZZY OSBOURNE's Rescheduled European Tour In 2020|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/ozzy-osbourne-rescheduled-2020-european-tour-judas-priest/|author=Divita, Joe|title=Ozzy Osbourne Announces Rescheduled 2020 European Tour Dates With Judas Priest|website=[[Loudwire]]|date=11 November 2019 |access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref>