Judas Priest

Judas Priest are a heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969 and active since then. They are one of the most influential names in heavy metal and have sold more than 50 million albums. Their music is associated with hard rock, heavy metal, metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and they influence speed metal, thrash metal, power metal and parts of the 1980s hard rock and glam metal scenes.

Career and style

The band develops its sound through the 1970s, when it has limited commercial success despite a run of innovative records. Their sixth studio album, British Steel, released in 1980, brings wider recognition and becomes a defining heavy metal record. Judas Priest are also known for Rob Halford’s operatic vocal style and the twin-guitar approach associated with Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing. Their leather-and-spikes image also becomes influential during the glam metal era.

Line-up changes

During the 1970s, the core line-up consists of Ian Hill, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing, with a succession of drummers. Les Binks plays on multiple albums, and Dave Holland joins on drums in 1979 and remains for ten years. Scott Travis later takes over the drum seat. Halford leaves in 1992, and the band returns in 1996 with Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals, who records two albums before Halford comes back in 2003. Downing leaves in 2011 and Richie Faulkner replaces him. Hill and Tipton are the only members to appear on every album. Tipton later limits touring because of Parkinson’s disease, with Andy Sneap filling in for live performances.

Recognition

Judas Priest later regain wider visibility through worldwide touring, receive induction into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, and win a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010. Their songs also appear in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. In 2022, they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame through the Award for Musical Excellence.

Studio albums

Rocka Rolla (1974), Sad Wings of Destiny (1976), Sin After Sin (1977), Stained Class (1978), Killing Machine (1978), British Steel (1980), Point of Entry (1981), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), Defenders of the Faith (1984), Turbo (1986), Ram It Down (1988), Painkiller (1990), Jugulator (1997), Demolition (2001), Angel of Retribution (2005), Nostradamus (2008), Redeemer of Souls (2014), Firepower (2018) and Invincible Shield (2024).