Judas Priest

Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. They have been referred to as one of the pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement, and cited as a formative influence on metal subgenres, including speed metal, thrash metal, and power metal, as well as the hard rock and glam metal scenes of the 1980s. The band struggled without significant commercial success until 1980, when their sixth studio album British Steel brought mainstream attention.

The original line-up of Judas Priest included vocalist Al Atkins, bassist Bruno Stapenhill, drummer John Partridge and guitarist John Perry. The band cycled through numerous members over the next few years, including bassist Ian Hill and guitarist K. K. Downing who both joined in 1970. After Rob Halford replaced Atkins in 1973, Judas Priest were left with no original members, and Glenn Tipton joined as their second guitarist the following year. The core of Hill, Downing, Halford and Tipton saw a revolving cast of drummers (with only Les Binks playing on more than one album), before Dave Holland joined in 1979. Since Holland's departure in 1989, Scott Travis has been the band's drummer. Halford left in 1992, and after a four-year hiatus, Judas Priest regrouped in 1996 with Tim “Ripper” Owens (formerly of Winter's Bane) replacing him. After two albums with Owens, Halford returned to the band in 2003. Downing left Judas Priest in 2011 and was replaced by Richie Faulkner, while Hill retired in 2026 and was replaced by Dave Rimmer. The current line-up consists of Tipton, Travis, Halford, Faulkner and Rimmer; although Tipton remains as an official member of the band, he has limited his touring activities since 2018 due to Parkinson's disease, with Andy Sneap filling in for him.

The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid-1990s, the band have seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having their songs featured in video games including Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. In 2022, the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame via the Award for Musical Excellence.