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JUDAS PRIEST BIOGRAPHY
Judas Priest are one of the pioneers of the heavy metal genre and were forerunners of the 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal' movement, laying the groundwork for the speed and thrash metal of the 80s and 90s back in the late 70s.
The band was formed in 1967 by guitarist Kenneth "K. K." Downing, bassist Ian Hill and original singer Alan Atkins. A second guitarist, Glenn Tipton, was also added to the lineup as compensation for their record company's (Gull Records) suggestion to add a horn section to the first album. This "twin axe attack" was not particularly popular at the time, but worked wonders for the group later on and would inspire other bands to do the same. Soon Atkins would be replaced permanently with Rob Halford and the band would go on to record 14 albums from 1974 through 1990. Rob Halford decided to leave the group in 1993, going in a new direction with his new, short-lived metal band, Fight.
With Halford gone and pursuing various solo projects (Fight, Two, Halford), the future looked bleak for the band, but after numerous searches for a suitable replacement, they found something special in tribute band front man Tim "Ripper" Owens. This story forms the basic plot of the movie "Rock Star," which was originally to be completely about Judas Priest and the Ripper, titled "Metal God," but the script was altered after the failure to reach an agreement with the band. Priest would make a total of 4 albums with Owens (2 studio, 2 live records) which were greeted with mixed reactions from fans.
In 2003 the classic 1990 lineup was restored when Rob Halford returned to the group after rekindling the relationship during work on Judas Priest's 4-CD career retrospective "Metalogy". In 2004 the band dominated Ozzfest and released a CD of new studio material and even a live DVD in 2005, enjoying an extremely successful world tour that year. After an emotional reunion, extensive tour and new studio album, the band already has plans for a new record, in the first months of 2008.It will be Judas Priest's first conceptual album based upon the life and predictions of Nostradamus.
JUDAS PRIEST GENRES
Heavy/Speed Metal
JUDAS PRIEST LYRICAL THEMES
Fantasy / Sci-Fi, Independence, Rock / Metal, Sex
JUDAS PRIEST ORIGIN
United Kingdom (Birmingham, England), formed in 1967
JUDAS PRIEST CURRENT RECORD LABEL
Sony Music
JUDAS PRIEST STATUS
Active
JUDAS PRIEST CURRENT LINE-UP
Rob Halford - Vocals (Two, Fight (US), ex-Hear 'n Aid, Lord Lucifer, Hiroshima, Thark, Athens Wood, ex-Black Sabbath) (1973-1991, 2003-)
Glenn Tipton - Guitar (The Flying Hat Band) (1974-)
Kenneth 'K.K.' Downing - Guitar (1969-) (guest in Violent Storm)
Ian Hill - Bass (1969-)
Scott Travis - Drums (Racer X, Fight (US), Hawk) (1989-)
JUDAS PRIEST PREVIOUS LINE-UP
Vocals:
Al Atkins (Bittersweet, Blue Condition, Halfbreed, Lion) (1967-1973)
Tim "Ripper" Owens (Iced Earth, Winters Bane, Beyond Fear (US), Brainicide) (1997-2003)
Drums:
John Ellis (1969-1971)
Alan "Skip" Moore (Glad Stallion, Tendency Jones, Pendulum, Sundance) (1971-1973, 1975-1977)
Chris "Congo" Campbell (1972-1973)
John Hinch (ex-Bakerloo, Hiroshima) (1973-1975)
Simon Phillips (guest) (Ian Gillan Band, M.S.G., Derek Sherinian (Guest)) (1977)
Les Binks (Tytan, Lionheart) (1977-1979)
Dave Holland (Trapeze, Al Atkins, Iommi) (1979-1989)
The first Judas Priest line-up (1967-1970):
Al Atkins - Vocals
Ernie Chataway - Guitars
John Perry - Guitars (R.I.P.)
Bruno Stapenhill - Bass (ex-Al Atkins, Blue Condition, Halfbreed, Ram, The Ryegee Explosion, Bullion, Suicide)
John Partridge - Drums
(Al joined K.K. and Ian's band and brought the name with him, but the two were completely different entities. The two guitarists were not in the band at the same time.)
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