Guitarist Downing - who left the band in 2011 and was replaced by Richie Faulkner - said this month that he would only consider a return to Priest if they embarked on a "greatest metal tour" with other giants of the genre or as part of any future Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction.

Now Halford says the idea excites him too. He tells Metal Shock Finland: "I think that's the dream of a lot of people, to imagine Maiden and Sabbath and Priest and Led Zeppelin. Can you imagine what that would be like at Wembley? Oh my God! It would just be mad.