THE 50 GREATEST Judas Priest SONGS EVER
Arguably the greatest, purest, most important metal band ever, the Judas Priest story begins in a world where man has only just walked on the moon, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin are storming the Woodstock Festival, and the highest-grossing film at the UK box office is Carry On Camping. Meanwhile, from the back-street jam-rooms of West Bromwich in Britain’s industrial Black Country, something heavy is stirring…
“K. K. Downing and I formed a band in late ’69, we were just rehearsing as a three-piece, learning the ropes,” remembers Ian Hill, Priest bassist since before day one and the only man still connecting the band to that foundational incident. The name wasn’t as good then, mind. “We were called Freight,” laughs Ian. “It wasn’t until we were ready to get onstage that we realised what a terrible bloody name we’d got!”
Another local band had the far cooler name Judas Priest, taken from Bob Dylan’s 1967 song The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest. “That band broke up, and their vocalist, Al Atkins, happened to walk past our rehearsal room,” Ian continues. “He liked what he heard, and asked if we needed a vocalist – which we did, none of us could hold a tune! We were trying to think up a decent name, but eventually Al called the guys from his previous band and asked if they minded us using Judas Priest. They gave us their blessing. So actually, the 50th celebrations are going to be next year, because we didn’t take the name until 1970. It’s funny, it doesn’t feel that long, but I think that’s because we enjoy what we do. If it was 50 years of drudgery I’m sure we’d all be feeling it, but we love it, y’know!”
We know, Ian Hill; everybody loves the Priest. Here are 50 reasons why…
50. Dragonaut
(REDEEMER OF SOULS, 2014)
The departure of guitarist K.K. Downing in 2011 could have derailed the Priest freight train, but it was obvious from the first seconds of 2014’s Redeemer Of Souls that new boy Richie Faulkner was the right man for the job. Dragonaut simply sounded like classic Priest, but somehow harder and ever-more ready to hit the road.
49. Heading Out To The Highway
(POINT OF ENTRY, 1981)
Commonly viewed as a disappointing follow-up to British Steel, 1981’s Point Of Entry did boast a couple of outright stormers, not least its fearlessly radio-friendly and thoroughly infectious opening track. Where the rest of Point Of Entry flattered to deceive, Heading Out To The Highway delivered the goods and a righteous hook that never ages.
48. Evil Never Dies
(FIREPO WER, 2018)
Is Firepower the best Priest album since Painkiller? Yes. Yes it is. And Evil Never Dies is just one of the inarguable face-smashers that made the band’s 18th studio album such a joy last year. Killer riffs, an unforgettable chorus and Rob bellowing about the Devil, noting that your final scream is music to his ears! Really, what’s not to love?
47. Hellrider
(ANGEL OF RETRIBUTION, 2005)
When Rob Halford re-joined in 2003, a storming comeback album was definitely required. Two years later, was hard to fault, as Priest reconnected with both their classic 80s sound and, on this malevolent neck-wrecker, the brutal might of Painkiller. Rob spits, Well, you said it, chief.
