Judas Priest

Judas Priest is a hugely influential heavy metal band formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England. Often called just Priest, the band's classic line-up consists of vocalist Rob Halford, the guitar duet of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill on bass duties. Judas Priest Enlarge Judas Priest One of the originators of heavy metal, with Rob Halford's lead vocals notable for their high-pitched screams, they also feature an innovative two-lead-guitar sound and are particularly noted for their complex guitar duets courtesy of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. Judas Priest's 1980 album British Steel was perhaps the first heavy metal album to be recorded in a concise format with radio-friendly songs with pop hooks, pioneering an approach used by others (Quiet Riot, Dokken, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister, Accept, Def Leppard) to taste commercial success. Overall, the band has sold in excess of 35 million albums globally. Halford left the band in the 1990s and was replaced by Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who was plucked from obscurity having previously sung in a Judas Priest tribute band. These events were the inspiration for the film Rock Star, although Owens did not actually participate in the production of the movie. Judas Priest have released fifteen studio albums to date, the first being Rocka Rolla in 1974 and the latest being Angel of Retribution in 2005. After more than twelve years apart, Judas Priest and original lead vocalist Rob Halford announced in July 2003 that they were reunited, with a hugely successful live concert tour having taken place in 2004. The reunited Judas Priest also co-headlined the Ozzfest in 2004, being named as the 'premier act' by almost all U.S. media covering the event. Judas Priest and 'Ripper' Owens parted amicably. 'Ripper' is now the singer of Iced Earth. A new studio album, named Angel of Retribution is scheduled for release in early 2005 (on Sony Music/Epic Records) and a global tour is in the works.

Discography

Rocka Rolla - 1974
Sad Wings of Destiny - 1976
Sin After Sin - 1977
Stained Class - 1978
Hell Bent for Leather - 1979 (released as Killing Machine in the UK)
Unleashed in the East - 1979 (Live in Japan 1979)
British Steel - 1980
Point of Entry - 1981
Screaming for Vengeance - 1982
Defenders of the Faith - 1984
Turbo - 1985
Priest...Live! - 1987 (Live 1986)
Ram It Down - 1988
Painkiller - 1990
Jugulator - 1997 Live Meltdown - 1998 (Live 1998)
Genocide - 2000
Demolition - 2001
Live in London - 2002 (Live album and DVD)
Electric Eye - 2003 (Live DVD)
Angel of Retribution - due to be released on March 1, 2005