Judas Priest created in Birmingham, England, the same town as Black Sabbath in 1971. They were brought together by former classmates Ian Hill and K.K. Downing who asked singer Alan Atkins and drummer John Ellis to form a band. The next years the band played out in many clubs and went through many drummers. Atkins eventually left the band when he felt that they were going nowhere. He was replaced by Rob Halford, Hill’s brother-in-law. In 1974 Judas Priest added second guitarist Glen Tipton.
That year they were signed to a small record label and released Rocka Rolla to poor sales. But things changed with the huge underground success of their second album, Sad Wings of Destiny. The album did so well that they received a record deal from Columbia Records in the US. Columbia released Judas Priest's next album, Sin After Sin.
Hell Bent For Leather, released in the UK with the title Killing Machine, was Judas Priest's US breakthrough album. It gained the band a lot of success within the metal community. After touring with the likes of Kiss, they quickly headed back into the studio and released British Steel, which entered the UK chats at No. 3.
In 1982, Judas Priest released Screaming for Vengeance. The album entered the US charts at No. 17 and in time went platinum. In the next couple of years Judas Priest would release Defenders of the Faith and Turbo. These were considered by most critics as a more mainstream pop-metal because of the electronic effects and keyboards. By the late 80’s the band was loosing its British fan base but still popular in the US.
In 1990 the band was dragged into court to defend themselves in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. It claimed that their song “Better By You Better Than Me”, was the cause of two teenagers suicides. The judge ruled in favor of the band.
Also in 1990 the band released Painkiller. Even though the band was well known because of the trial, the popularity of heavy metal was waning and the record did not sell well. In 1993 Rob Halford left the band to form a new group, Fight. He was replaced by Tim Owens. Owens was previously fronting a Judas Priest tribute band. The band, back in action with a new singer, produced three albums with Owens.
In 2003 the band announced the return of Rob Halford. Tim Owens, who was working on a project with Iced Earth, was let go upon Halford’s return.
