Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are considered a significant influence within the heavy metal genre. The band has been associated with the new wave of British heavy metal movement and has influenced various metal subgenres, including speed metal, thrash metal, and power metal, as well as aspects of the hard rock and glam metal scenes of the 1980s. Despite producing innovative music in the latter half of the 1970s, Judas Priest initially experienced limited commercial success until the release of their sixth studio album, "British Steel," in 1980, which brought them broader recognition. During the 1970s, the band's core members consisted of bassist Ian Hill, lead singer Rob Halford, and guitarists Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing, with a rotating lineup of drummers, including Les Binks, who played on multiple albums. Dave Holland became the drummer in 1979 and remained with the band for ten years. Following Holland's departure, Scott Travis assumed the role of drummer. Halford left the band in 1992, and after a four-year hiatus, the band returned in 1996 with Tim "Ripper" Owens as lead vocalist. Owens recorded two albums with the band before Halford returned in 2003. Downing left Judas Priest in 2011 and was replaced by Richie Faulkner. The current lineup includes Hill, Tipton, Travis, Halford, and Faulkner, although Tipton has limited his touring activities since 2018 due to Parkinson's disease, with Andy Sneap filling in for live performances. Hill and Tipton are the only members to appear on every album. Judas Priest are noted for Halford's operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton, which have influenced many heavy metal bands. Their image, featuring leather, spikes, and other distinctive clothing, was influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. "British Steel" has been described as a defining record for heavy metal. The band experienced reduced mainstream exposure during the mid-1990s but later achieved renewed visibility through worldwide tours, induction into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, winning a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having songs featured in video games such as "Guitar Hero" and the "Rock Band" series. In 2022, Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame via the Award for Musical Excellence. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest Studio albums Rocka Rolla (1974) Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) Sin After Sin (1977) Stained Class (1978) Killing Machine (1978) British Steel (1980) Point of Entry (1981) Screaming for Vengeance (1982) Defenders of the Faith (1984) Turbo (1986) Ram It Down (1988) Painkiller (1990) Jugulator (1997) Demolition (2001) Angel of Retribution (2005) Nostradamus (2008) Redeemer of Souls (2014) Firepower (2018) Invincible Shield (2024)