[Rob Babcock]

He's Baaack!  Rob Halford has just rejoined Judas Priest!  Ripper is out and Rob is back in.  They'll be touring and hopefully releasing a new album.

I saw Halford with Fight but never had a chance to see him live with Priest.  Now I will travel how ever far I must to see 'em this time around.

Life is good...

[Mag]

I prefer Ripper Owens as the singer for JP. I have Unleashed in the East as a reference for Halford. Maybe not a fair comparison since the recording isn't as good as their recent stuff. But I think Ripper is better.
  Why did they change?

[Rob Babcock]

You like Ripper better?!   Say it ain't so!

Well, after many years with them, Halford & Priest sorta had a falling out, or rather drifted apart.  Rob left to do a solo album and ended up just not coming back.  Ripper was singing in a Priest cover band when they got wind of him, and basically he does a good job imitating Halford.

But I guess they patched things up, and many of the metal bands that ruled in the 80's are becoming popular again.  There are many fans loyal to the "real" JP, and the time was right to reform.

Before you choose Ripper as your fave, you should check out the remasters of their old albums.  IMO, the stuff they've recorded with Ripper is crap, at least compared to the real thing.  But then I don't care for "nu-metal" and I'm not a big fan of the thrash-y type of stuff they've done recently.  Check out Screaming For Vengeance, Defenders of the Faith & Turbo for some of the best stuff JP ever did.

[Woodsea]

Halford is great, a natural voice.  I saw them back in the day at the Tacoma dome.  Rob came out in white leather and shaved head, I had an inkling then, but then he came out, and it all made sense.  Hard to get that 80's stereotypical womanizing, and partying animal out of the stadium rock makeup of the quintessential band.  
Can't wait to hear what they come up with