Judas Priest facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Judas Priest
Judas Priest at Wacken Open Air 2018
Background information
Origin	Birmingham, England
Genres	Heavy metal
Years active	1969–present
Labels	Sony Epic Columbia/CBS SPV CMC Atlantic Gull

Members	Ian Hill Rob Halford Glenn Tipton Scott Travis Richie Faulkner

Past members	Al Atkins K. K. Downing Alan Moore John Hinch Simon Phillips Les Binks Dave Holland Tim "Ripper" Owens

Judas Priest is a famous heavy metal band from Birmingham, England. They started making music in 1969. Many people think they are one of the best metal bands ever. They have sold over 50 million albums around the world.

In the 1970s, the band had a unique sound. But they did not become super famous until 1980. That is when their album British Steel was released. It helped them get a lot of attention.

The band's members have changed over the years. The main members for a long time were bassist Ian Hill, singer Rob Halford, and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing. Drummers changed often until Dave Holland joined in 1979. After him, Scott Travis became the drummer.

Rob Halford left the band in 1992. He came back in 2003. K. K. Downing left in 2011. Richie Faulkner took his place. Today, the band includes Ian Hill, Glenn Tipton, Scott Travis, Rob Halford, and Richie Faulkner. Glenn Tipton still writes music. But he tours less since 2018 because of Parkinson's disease. Andy Sneap helps out on guitar during tours. Ian Hill and Glenn Tipton are the only members who have played on every album.

Rob Halford's powerful singing style is very famous. The way Downing and Tipton played guitars together also influenced many metal bands. Judas Priest's look, with leather and spikes, was very popular in the 1980s. Many bands copied their style. The Guardian newspaper even said British Steel helped define heavy metal music.

Judas Priest has become very popular again. They have done world tours. They were honored at VH1 Rock Honors in 2006. They won a Grammy Award in 2010. Their songs are also in video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. In 2022, they joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Band History
Music Style and Influence
Band Members
Discography
See also

Band History

Early Days (1969–1974)

Judas Priest started in 1969 in Birmingham, England. The first members were singer Al Atkins and bassist Brian "Bruno" Stapenhill. John Perry played guitar and John "Fezza" Partridge played drums. John Perry died young. Kenneth "K. K." Downing tried out for the band but was not chosen at first. The band got its name from a Bob Dylan song.

The band recorded a demo but their record label closed. The band broke up for a short time in 1970. Later that year, Al Atkins joined a band called Freight. It had K. K. Downing on guitar, Ian "Skull" Hill on bass, and John Ellis on drums. They decided to use the name Judas Priest. Their first show was in March 1971.

Drummers changed a few times. John Hinch and singer Rob Halford joined in 1973. Halford was Ian Hill's girlfriend's brother. Their first show together was in May 1973.

In early 1974, Judas Priest toured Europe. When they came back to England, they signed a deal with Gull Records. The record company suggested adding another guitarist. So, Glenn Tipton joined the band.

First Albums (1974–1977)

Judas Priest recorded their first album, Rocka Rolla, in 1974. They worked with producer Rodger Bain. The album came out in September. It had different styles of rock music.

There were problems during recording. The sound quality was not great. The producer also decided not to include some popular live songs. The album did not sell well. This made money tight for the band.

In 1975, the band played on a TV show. Drummer John Hinch left and Alan Moore returned. The band members often ate only one meal a day. They also took part-time jobs to make ends meet. They recorded their next album, Sad Wings of Destiny, in late 1975.

Sad Wings of Destiny was released in March 1976. It did not sell much at first. But fans and critics now see it as a very important album. It helped define their sound. The album had heavy guitar parts and complex songs. A popular song from this album is "Victim of Changes".

The band was not happy with Gull Records. Alan Moore left the band again. But Sad Wings of Destiny caught the eye of CBS Records. Judas Priest signed with CBS. This meant they had to leave Gull Records. Gull Records kept the rights to their first two albums.

Becoming Famous (1977–1979)

Judas Priest recorded their first album with a major label, Sin After Sin, in 1977. Roger Glover from Deep Purple produced it. Alan Moore left during the recording. Simon Phillips played drums for the album. This album helped develop heavy metal drumming. It also had a cover song of "Diamonds & Rust".

Sin After Sin was released in April 1977. It was the first of many Judas Priest albums to sell very well. Simon Phillips did not stay with the band. So, they hired Les Binks as their new drummer. Les Binks was a very skilled drummer.

With Les Binks, they recorded Stained Class (1978) and Killing Machine (1978). Stained Class was very heavy. Killing Machine had a more commercial sound. Around this time, the band started wearing their famous leather and studs outfits.

Mainstream Success (1979–1991)

After Killing Machine, the band released a live album called Unleashed in the East (1979). It was recorded live in Japan. This album was very popular. The band's music was becoming even heavier and faster.

Judas Priest performing in 1981, during their World Wide Blitz Tour

Les Binks left the band in 1979. He was replaced by Dave Holland. With Dave Holland, Judas Priest recorded six studio albums.

In 1980, they released British Steel. The songs were shorter and more radio-friendly. But they still sounded like heavy metal. Songs like "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" were played a lot on the radio. Their next album, Point of Entry (1981), followed a similar style.

The 1982 album Screaming for Vengeance was a huge hit. "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" became a big radio song in the US. This album sold millions of copies.

Downing and Tipton performing in San Sebastián, Spain, during their Metal Conqueror Tour of 1984

Judas Priest continued to be successful in the mid-1980s. Their album Defenders of the Faith came out in 1984. It sounded similar to Screaming for Vengeance. In 1985, Judas Priest played at Live Aid. This was a huge concert for charity.

Turbo was released in 1986. The band used more colorful stage outfits. They also added guitar synthesizers to their music. This album also sold very well. A live album from the tour, Priest...Live!, came out in 1987.

In 1988, Ram It Down was released. It had some songs that were more like their earlier, faster metal. In 1989, drummer Dave Holland left the band.

In 1990, the album Painkiller came out. It had a new drummer, Scott Travis. He brought a harder sound to the band. This album was a big comeback. The tour for Painkiller included other famous metal bands. It ended with a huge show in Brazil for over 100,000 fans.

Rob Halford often rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle onto the stage. In 1991, he had an accident on stage in Toronto. He crashed into a drum set hidden by smoke. He was hurt but finished the show.

Halford Leaves and Returns (1991–2006)

After the Painkiller tour, there were some problems in the band. Rob Halford wanted to try new music styles. He formed a new band called Fight. He left Judas Priest in 1992.

Judas Priest performing in 2002, with Tim Owens (center) fronting the band

The other members looked for a new singer for several years. In 1996, they hired Tim "Ripper" Owens. He had sung in a Judas Priest tribute band. With Tim Owens, the band released two studio albums: Jugulator (1997) and Demolition (2001). These albums had a different, more modern metal sound.

After eleven years, Judas Priest and Rob Halford decided to reunite in 2003. They did a concert tour in Europe in 2004. They also played at the Ozzfest festival in the US. Tim Owens left the band on good terms.

The reunited Judas Priest performing in 2005

A new album, Angel of Retribution, was released in 2005. It was very popular with critics and fans. The band went on a world tour to support it.

Judas Priest in typical heavy metal attire performing at the VH1 Rock Honors in Las Vegas on 25 May 2006.

In 2006, Judas Priest was honored at the "VH1 Rock Honors" event. Other bands played their songs. Then Judas Priest played some of their hits. Rob Halford rode his motorcycle onto the stage again.

Nostradamus and Tours (2006–2011)

In 2008, Judas Priest released a special album called Nostradamus. It was a concept album about a 16th-century French writer. Rob Halford said it would have a lot of depth. It would include some orchestral and keyboard sounds. The band started a tour for the album in June 2008.

Judas Priest headlined the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2008.

In 2009, Judas Priest toured North America. They celebrated the 30th anniversary of British Steel. They played the entire album at each show.

In 2009, Judas Priest released a new live album, A Touch of Evil: Live. One of the songs from it, "Dissident Aggressor", won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010.

Changes and New Music (2010–Present)

In 2010, Judas Priest announced their "Epitaph World Tour". They said it would be their last big world tour. But they also said they were writing new music. They wanted fans to celebrate their past, not be sad.

Judas Priest performing at the Sauna Open Air in 2011

In April 2011, K. K. Downing announced he was leaving the band. He said he had disagreements with the band and management. Richie Faulkner became the new guitarist for the tour. Ian Hill became the longest-serving member of the band.

In 2011, Judas Priest played on the TV show American Idol. It was their first live show without K.K. Downing.

In 2013, Rob Halford said the Epitaph World Tour would not be their last tour. In 2014, they announced a new album. Redeemer of Souls was released in July 2014. It was their highest-charting album in the US. The band toured to support the album. This tour led to a live album called Battle Cry in 2016.

Judas Priest performing at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on 19 April 2018, as part of the Firepower World Tour, which featured Andy Sneap filling in for Glenn Tipton on guitar.

In 2016, the band started working on their next album. It was called Firepower. It was released in March 2018. A world tour followed.

In February 2018, Glenn Tipton shared that he has Parkinson's disease. This meant he could not tour as much. Andy Sneap joined as a touring guitarist. Glenn Tipton still joined the band on stage for some songs during the tour.

The band planned a 50th anniversary tour for 2020. But it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They returned to the stage in August 2021. Glenn Tipton joined them for some songs.

In 2022, Judas Priest was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Former members K.K. Downing, Les Binks, and Dave Holland were also honored. The band played three songs with Downing and Binks on stage.

In October 2023, the band announced their next album, Invincible Shield. It was released in March 2024. They released singles like "Panic Attack" and "Trial by Fire".

Music Style and Influence

Musical Style

Judas Priest's music is always based in heavy metal. Their first album, Rocka Rolla (1974), had a heavy blues rock sound. From Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) to Stained Class (1978), their music was more complex. It had changing speeds and sounds. This style influenced many other metal bands.

Their album Sin After Sin (1977) used fast drumming and guitar rhythms. This helped define the heavy metal sound. British Steel (1980) is seen as the album that truly shaped heavy metal. The songs were simpler and more catchy.

With Screaming for Vengeance (1982), the band mixed their complex and simpler styles. This continued with Defenders of the Faith (1984). On Turbo (1986), they added guitar synthesizers. Painkiller (1990) brought back a very fast and heavy sound.

After Rob Halford returned, the band went back to the style of their earlier albums. Because of their popularity, fans call them "Metal Gods". This is from their song of the same name.

Vocal Style

Rob Halford's singing is very powerful and operatic. He can sing very low and also hit very high notes. He was influenced by singers like Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and Robert Plant. He learned to push his voice to its limits.

Impact and Legacy

Judas Priest has influenced a lot of metal music since the 1970s. MTV called them the second "Greatest Metal Band" ever. They have sold over 50 million records. Many bands have named themselves after Judas Priest songs.

They have inspired many thrash metal and speed metal bands. These include famous bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.

Fashion Style

Judas Priest is also known for changing heavy metal fashion. In their early years, they wore hippie-style clothes. But in the late 1970s, they started wearing simpler outfits.

For their 1979 tour, Rob Halford started wearing his famous leather and studs look. This was inspired by punk fashion. The rest of the band also started wearing similar clothes. This style became very popular. Many heavy metal bands in the 1980s copied this look. Even today, you can see metal fans wearing leather and studs at concerts.

K. K. Downing said he came up with the band's black leather look. He felt it completed the band's image. He said, "Heavy Metal was born, mate."