Who is Judas Priest

Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1969 in Birmingham. Judas Priest's core line-up consists of bass player Ian Hill, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing; their current drummer is Scott Travis. They have been cited as an influence on many heavy metal musicians and bands. Their popularity and status as one of the definitive heavy metal bands has earned them the nickname "Metal Gods", from their song of the same name. They have sold over 35 million albums worldwide.





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Origins
K. K. Downing and Ian Hill knew each other since their early childhoods, as they lived nearby, attended the same nursery and school in West Bromwich. They became closer friends in their early teens, when they shared similar musical interests (Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Cream, The Yardbirds) and learned to play instruments. The band was founded in 1968 in Birmingham/England and in 1970, after a local ensemble named Judas Priest (after Bob Dylan's song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" from the John Wesley Harding album) broke up, the band's singer, Al Atkins, approached Downing and Hill, who were playing as a power trio with drummer John Ellis, and asked to be their vocalist. With Atkins now in the band, Downing desired to use the Judas Priest moniker, having been a fan of the name for years.

With Downing as leader, the band moved from their original bluesy tunes towards heavy rock and what would later come to be defined as early heavy metal. This quartet played around Birmingham and the surrounding areas with various drummers until 1974, sometimes opening for bands such as Budgie, Thin Lizzy and Trapeze. Eventually, financial difficulties and problems with their management, Tony Iommi's company, IMA, led to the departure of Alan Atkins and drummer Alan Moore.

At the time, Ian Hill was dating a woman from nearby town Walsall who suggested her brother, Bob Halford, be considered as a singer. Halford joined the band, bringing drummer John Hinch from his previous band, Hiroshima. This line-up toured in the UK, often supporting Budgie, and even headlined in some shows in Norway and Germany.






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Rocka Rolla (GULL - 1974)

Sad Wings of Destiny (GULL [U.K., Europe]; JANUS [U.S.A., Canada, Japan] - 1976)

Sin After Sin (COLUMBIA - 1977)

Stained Class (COLUMBIA - 1978)

Killing Machine/Hell Bent for Leather (COLUMBIA - 1978/1979)

British Steel (COLUMBIA - 1980)

Point of Entry (COLUMBIA - 1981)

Screaming for Vengeance (COLUMBIA - 1982)

Defenders of the Faith (COLUMBIA - 1984)

Turbo (COLUMBIA - 1986)

Ram It Down (COLUMBIA - 1988)

Painkiller (COLUMBIA - 1990)

Jugulator (OMC INTERNATIONAL - 1997)

Demolition (ATLANTIC - 2001)

Angel of Retribution (EPIC/SONY - 2005)

Nostradamus (EPIC/SONY - 2008)

Judas Priest have been making quality headbanging, feet stomping, loud, fast, ear-bursting, intelligent heavy metal for nearly 40 years.

Judas Priest are British (so am I :P)

Judas Priest have been a major influence on countless other bands

Judas Priest have been described as "the godfathers of speed metal".

Judas Priest are Metal Gods

Judas Priest seriously ROCK

Judas Priest's current line-up is;

Rob Halford - lead vocals, harmonica (1973-1993, 2003-present)





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Glenn Tipton - guitars, keyboards, piano, synthesizer, guitar synthesizer, backing vocals (1974-present)





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K. K. Downing - guitars, guitar synthesizer, backing vocals (1970-present)





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Ian Hill - bass guitar, backing vocals (1970-present)

Scott Travis - drums, percussion (1989-present)