Heavy metal icons, Judas Priest, have embarked on a national tour with Rock N Roll Hall of Famers Deep Purple. One of the first stops on this tour is Aug. 25 at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant.

Long-time Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill was eager to speak with Central Michigan Life about the band's new album “Firepower," the Priest legacy and touring with Deep Purple.

Judas Priest released “Firepower” earlier this year and has received a lot of positive reception. What have you enjoyed the most about playing these new songs live?

IAN HILL: I think it’s the fans’ reactions to them, really. The radio picked up on 2 or 3 of the tracks and gave them quite heavy airplay. When you go on tour, and you’re playing a new song, there can be defining silence, tumbleweeds going through, and people wondering what the hell they’re playing. But now those tracks are all over the radio, so the crowd now sings along with them, which is great.

Bassist Ian Hill has performed with the band since its inception in 1969.

So, you’ve been generally getting strong reactions live with these new songs?

HILL: Absolutely. I think it’s grabbing a lot of younger people in as well because it’s been on heavy rotation on some (radio) stations anyway, so people are getting to hear it. This happened by accident more than anything. I think it’s turned a lot of younger fans onto Priest songs and, hopefully, heavy metal in general.

Are you seeing a lot of younger fans coming to Judas Priest shows?

HILL: Absolutely. It’s been happening over the last 5 or 6 years. The age of the band is getting onto 50, so there should be a whole bunch of people our age standing out there. But at least in the front of the audience, they’re added with a lot of younger fans. They’re singing along with not just the new songs, they’re singing along with the old ones as well.

What’s been your favorite song to play live from “Firepower”?

HILL: Probably “Evil Never Dies.” It’s probably one of my favorite songs from the album. Unfortunately, it’s been replaced by something else now (laughs). We played that on the first leg of the U.S. tour, but we’re shaking up the setlist now, so it stays quite different from what it was in the spring.

Judas Priest has had a long career filled with iconic songs like “Breaking the Law” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'.” What has it been like for you to watch as these songs go from being your latest record to becoming a part of popular culture over the years?

HILL: It’s been great. We enjoy playing them just for the sake of the fans’ reactions to them. It’s a wonderful thing to think that after all these years, songs like that ... fans still like and sing along to. It’s a nice feeling.

What song do you think gets the best reaction when you play them?

HILL: Overall, probably “Breaking the Law” or “Painkiller."

While there are all those classics, Judas Priest has a much deeper catalog of music. Is there a Judas Priest song that is not currently setlist that you would like to add?

HILL: We’ve been kind of doing that on this tour, dragging old songs from the archives. The one I’d like to do – since it’s one of my favorite Judas Priest songs – is “Dissident Aggressor.” It has that raw anger. It’s very simple, short and to the point.

It’s in the pipeline for maybe later in the tour.

What’s the difference between preparing for large European stadiums and festivals to smaller arenas?

HILL: For ourselves, not much really. We prepare the same. It’s going to be pretty much the same set, although with the larger shows, you do get time restrictions sometimes. It depends on how many bands are playing, so you might have to cut 15 minutes or so from the setlist. From the crew's point of view, things might change. Due to the weather, we might not be able to have the backdrop or the large screen. We don’t really like playing anywhere if we can’t do the full production, so the preparation is pretty similar for every show.

What are your expectations for touring with Deep Purple?

HILL: I think it’s a great bill! Deep Purple is one of my influences from all those years ago in 1968-1969. I mean, “In Rock” ... what a tremendous album that was. I don’t think we’ve ever toured with them before, so it’s going to be a unique experience.

Roger (Glover) produced the “Sin After Sin” album, so it will be good to see him again. I think it’s going to be a great show, and I think everyone is going to go away happy.

What’s your take on the response from fans of Deep Purple and Judas Priest? Do you expect a lot of crossover of fans who enjoy both bands, or ones who enjoy one of the bands, but may learn to appreciate the other?

HILL: A bit of both. I think our fans, and Deep Purple fans are well aware of each of us. So, I think all the fans are going to enjoy both bands.

We’re both compatible, and I think everyone who loves Judas Priest will go away happy.

What’s your favorite part of being in one of the most iconic metal bands of all time?

HILL: We started out all those years ago because we enjoyed it. With a lot of hard work, and a bit of luck, we were able to turn it into a career. It’s been a really enjoyable ride. There’s been some ups and downs, the same as it’s been with anything I suppose. We’re still here after 50 years, which is a great achievement for any walk of life to have that sort of longevity.

What is next for Judas Priest?

HILL: We can’t wait to get going! We’re really itching to get back on stage again, and looking forward to getting on the road with Deep Purple. We’re going to be on tour in various parts of the world through next summer, so we’ve got a long way to go before we start thinking about the next gap.

Whether we’re going to continue (making music) or go out with “Firepower.” There was material leftover, not because it was inferior, simply because it (the record) was already done so it didn’t make the “Firepower” album. So sooner or later, obviously, it will have to get (released). It what format, we don’t know yet. Come next summer, we’ll start taking time off and see where we stand.

Deep Purple & Judas Priest, with special guest The Temperance Movement, perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort. It is an outside show. Purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/2w53UOP