**HISTORIC REUNION SHOCKS METAL WORLD: Original Judas Priest Vocalist Alan Atkins Officially Returns to the Band After 50+ Years — Founding Frontman Rejoins Metal Legends in 2025 for Special Anniversary Performances and New Studio Collaboration, Rekindling the Roots of British Steel for a New Generation of Headbangers**
In a surprise announcement that has sent shockwaves across the global metal community, **Alan Atkins**, the original vocalist and co-founder of **Judas Priest**, has officially confirmed his return to the legendary band in 2025. This momentous reunion comes more than five decades after Atkins’ departure in May 1973, when he stepped away from the group he helped form in order to support his family financially.
Now, at age 77, Atkins returns not just as a guest but as an integral part of **Judas Priest’s 55th Anniversary celebrations**, which will include a limited run of special performances, retrospective collaborations, and even a contribution to the band’s upcoming studio release. Dubbed *Steel Beginnings*, the project will explore the band’s earliest influences and feature reimagined versions of their pre-fame material, with Atkins reclaiming the mic where it all began.
“I never imagined I’d be back in the fold after all these years,” Atkins said in a press release. “But the timing feels right. This is for the fans who’ve stuck with Priest since day one — and for those who never knew how it all started.”
Longtime frontman **Rob Halford** welcomed the return, calling it “a celebration of legacy, brotherhood, and unfinished stories.” While Halford will remain the band’s primary voice, Atkins’ inclusion brings historical weight and emotional resonance to a milestone year.
Fans can expect to see both vocalists share the stage during select shows in the **2025 “Shield of Pain” Tour**, offering a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the true origins of **British heavy metal
royalty**.
