• Profile
• Discography
• Video Clips
• Photos
• Websites
• Forum

• More ...
•   Directory A-Z
•   More links
•   Music T-Shirts!
•  
• Add to ...
•   Del.icio.us

Judas Priest is a hugely influential heavy metal band formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England. Often called just Priest, or the Priest, the band's classic line-up consists of legendary vocalist Rob Halford, the groundbreaking guitar duet of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill on bass duties.

One of the originators of heavy metal and the godfathers of speed metal & pop 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 acclaimed 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 Demolition in 2001.

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 by mutual agreement. 'Ripper' is now the singer of Iced Earth. A new studio album is scheduled for release in early 2004 (on Sony Music/Epic Records) and a global tour is in the works.

Current band members

• Rob Halford - vocals (1973-1991, and from 2003 onwards)
• Glenn Tipton - guitars (1974 - present)
• K.K. Downing - guitars (1969 - present)
• Ian Hill - bass guitars (1969 - present)
• Scott Travis - drums (1989 - present)