PopImpressKA Journal: Interview Series - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JUDAS PRIESTESS
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JUDAS PRIESTESS
NEW ANNUAL FESTIVAL in NJ!
About JUDAS PRIESTESS:
Based in NYC, and featured on VH1's THAT METAL SHOW, Judas Priestess is the band with the 'buzz' and highly critically acclaimed. Everyone from actual members of Judas Priest to your average rocker instantly falls head over heels in love and in awe of their chops, showmanship and hot new take on classic metal. The band religiously packs houses and events with frenzied fans all over the USA. These girls are always a crowd favorite at everything from clubs and theaters to family events and festivals across the country. They recently toured Alaska and California, they annually headline Bike Week motorcycle events across the country as well asvarious events for Harley Davidson. The band plays Hard Rock Cafes around the US and were even hired by LIRR/MTA to perform inside NYC's historical Penn Station on a weekday during rush hour! The band has shared the stage with legendary bands Twisted Sister and Pentagram and have been joined onstage by special guests John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Richard Christy (The Howard Stern show, Iced Earth), Metal Mike (Halford), Tony Harnell (Skid Row, TNT), TC Tolliver (Plasmatics) and members of The Bouncing Souls. Judas Priestess have been featured on Buzzfeed, The Guardian, High Times magazine, Guitar World and Thrust magazine as one of the top female bands in the world today.
What people are saying about JUDAS PRIESTESS:
-K.K. Downing's (Judas Priest founder/guitarist) Steel Mill named JUDAS PRIESTESS "Metal's top female tribute!"
-Al Atkins (Judas Priest founder/original vocalist) emailed "You women rock...Fantastic version of 'Victim of Changes.'"
-MTV.com says: "Metal Goddesses... drawing crowds larger than those of many established national acts."
-Guitar World says: "Face-melting live performances."
-New York Press calls the band "Killing machines!"
-Jose Mangin, Host/DJ, Liquid Metal, Sirius XM tweeted: "Judas Priestess impressed us all!"
-Brooklyn Paper writes: "The QUEENS of METAL!"
-Metal Mike (Halford band, guitarist) tweeted: "More fun seeing your show than most...Horns up HIGH!"
-The Guardian UK says: "Priestess match their heroes riff for epic riff."
-Q104.3 DJ Ian O'Malley said live on-air "JUDAS PRIESTESS live is "Nothing short of awesome."
JUDAS PRIESTESS
www.judaspriestess.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JUDAS PRIESTESS
PJ: How did the idea come about for forming a Judas Priest cover band of all women?
JP: GYDA GASH (Bass, Co-Founder): One of my favorite all time movies is Russ Meyer's "Faster Pussycat Kill Kill". My vision for the band was metal chicks donning that leather girl gang look. Priestess is a synonym for dominatrix. Headbanging dominating metal maniacs - that was the original idea.
RENA SANDS (Guitar): The God of metal said it is not good for a band to be alone, so he took 1 rib from Rob Halford and fashioned it into a band and he said “She shall be called Judas Priestess"
- PJ: Were there any "trials and tribulations" to get the band up and running?
JP: MILITIA VOX (Lead Vocals): We rehearsed like crazy before we did our first shows. We wanted to do justice to the body of work and the legacy of Judas Priest. We had a lot to prove as far as what we knew was expected of us (and people expecting the worst!) and we really wanted to make an impact. But hard work pays off and when we first came on the scene, we truly came out with guns blazing. Then as time progressed, a few band members came and went. Replacing girls has always been the toughest issue of all for us. It’s like searching for needles in a haystack. Thank goodness we’ve found each other!
RENA: There were “Tribute”tations but we’ve achieved finding the ultimate union of like-minded musicians who can pull it off and hammer some on too.
- PJ: How would say the overall response has been?
JP: RENA: The response has been incredible. Die hard Priest fans come out from all over and share in our celebration of the Metal Gods. They know all the words and make the show as much fun for us as it is for them!
MILITIA: Overall, it’s been awesome. When it comes down to it, we’re Priest fans playing for Priest fans and I think people can see that we’re doing it out of love, it’s not a gimmick or gag.
- What are some of your band highlights?
GYDA: We break out the unexpected: some vintage deep cuts off of Rocka Rolla. The true Judas Priest fans go wild!
RENA: Rena has highlights. Gyda’s hair is natural.
MILITIA Haha Rena, great answer! Some of the band’s highlights, career-wise would be performing in Alaska, headlining Myrtle Beach Bike Week at SBB 4 corners (now RIP) and we were booked by the LIRR and played in New York’s Penn Station at rush hour!
- The Food Truck and Music Festival on September 18th-20thshould produce big crowds as well as some big name acts. How excited are you to play this event?
MILITIA: Beyond stoked. It’s an honor to be asked and included in this. Lets us know that we’re on people’s radars.
GYDA: Very excited to be the one and only all girl band on a bill with so many fabulous dude bands.
RENA: We are so excited and can’t wait to be a part of this historic event! So many iconic legends in one place at one time and we are honored to be invited to kick it off on Friday night!!!
- PJ: If you had 3 wishes what would they be?
JP: GYDA: Judas Priestess European tour.
Judas Priestess South American tour.
Judas Priestess Hawaiian vacation.
MILITIA: 1- For us to jam with Judas Priest 2- Tour awesome new places- like Europe, Japan, Australia… 3- I wish for us to write and record a hit original song
RENA: We wish we could tour with Judas Priest. We wish we could be Judas Priest. We wish for 3 more wishes.
www.judaspriestess.com
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JUDAS PRIESTESS was taken by Mark Lee especially for PopImpressKA Journal www.popimpresskajournal.org
Above: Hillary Blaze
Above: Josette
Above: Gyda Gash / Bass Guitar
Above: Judas Priestess Live In Concert
Above: Militia and Hillary
Above: Militia / Vocals
Above: Rena / Guitar
