Judas Priest

Judas Priest featured the twin guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing and along the way they found Rob Halford’s roaring vocals.

Over their career they had five drummers before Scott Travis joined in ’89. Ian Hill handled bass.

Judas Priest had their first major label release in ’77. “Sin After Sin” was produced by former Deep Purple bassist, Roger Glover. Throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, Judas Priest released approximately an album a year.

In ’93, a disillusioned Halford left Judas Priest to briefly front Black Sabbath and work with Pantera before launching Fight and later, Two.

Judas Priest continued by hiring vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, an Ohio native who was a massive Judas Priest. even fronting a tribute band. He did a competent job as the group resumed their recording career. But when push came to shove, Owens was unceremoniously dumped as Priest signed Halford for an ’04 world tour that included an Ozzfest stint.

As this was going on, the group went into the studio to record “Angel Of Retribution.” With a handful of landmark albums released from over twenty, Judas Priest was the best Heavy Metal band. To prove the point, they released the four-disc career retrospective “Metalogy” with a live version of “The Hellion” and “Electric Eye.”

Judas Priest unleashed “Nostradamus” in June, ’08, which became the group’s highest charting effort on the Billboard 200 album chart selling about 42,000 units in its first week of release to land at #11.

‘05’s “Angel Of Retribution” only made it to #13.

“The Hellion” (the opening track on “Screaming For Vengeance”) was used in a ’10 commercial for the Honda Odyssey van. If a classic Judas Priest song had to be played in a car commercial most fans thought the track would be better used promoting a faster, sleeker car – not a van. But obviously that was the point.

Downing’s retirement was announced in April, ’11. Differences with the band, management and a breakdown in their relationship led to the decision. Guitarist Richie Faulkner was named Downing’s replacement.

But just a year later, Priest was ready to park it (sort of). They played the final show of their “Epitaph” tour to a sold-out audience at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. According to Priest, the “farewell” tour was their last extensive world tour – but not their last shows.

Sadly, Tipton’s days were numbered. Priest announced, via Facebook in ‘18, that Tipton would be absent from their upcoming tour due to Parkinson’s disease. Tipton was diagnosed with the early onset of Parkinson’s ten years earlier.

“Firepower,” the group’s 18th studio album was the first since ‘88’s “Ram It Down” to be produced by Tom Allom and the first with Andy Sneap as co-producer.

Sneap was also the subject of a controversy when Downing insinuated that Sneap played Tipton’s guitar parts during the making of the album.  Tipton was also “shocked” that he wasn’t invited for Priest’s tour.  Halford said the statement was “a thousand percent false.” Downing later disavowed the claim.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Judas Priest in ’22… after the band had been eligible for 23-years.

Reunited with guitarist K.K. Downing and drummer Les Binks, Priest performed a three-song medley of “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight” at the Hall of Fame ceremony (11/5/22) at the Microsoft Theater in L.A.

With Alice Cooper handling the honors, Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with Downing, Binks and late drummer Dave Holland were officially inducted.

Cooper called Priest the “the definitive Metal band.”