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Judas Priest music biography continued...

England in 1969 by guitarist John Perry (who died shortly after and was replaced by Earnest Chataway), bassist Bruno Stapenhill, drummer John Partridge, and singer Alan Atkins. In 1970, guitarist Kenneth Downing and bassist Ian Hill join, and in 1972 singer Rob Halford and drummer John Hinch joined too. A second guitarist, Glenn Tipton, was also added to the lineup in 1974 as compensation for their record company's (Gull Records) suggestion to add another instrument to the first album. They released their debut album Rocka Rolla, in September of 1974, to almost know attention. More lineup changes followed a new record contract with CBS, which released Sad Wings of Destiny (1975) and Sin After Sin (1977). Judas Priest would finally breakthrough with 1978's Stained Class, which began the British New Wave heavy metal movement, and 1979's Hell Bent For Leather (Killing Machine in the UK) and Unleashed in the East, which became the group's first platinum album. By the early 80s, Judas Priest was a top worldwide concert draw, their two-pronged guitar attack and loud and fast sound sparking a spate of imitators. Featuring the hit single "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," Screaming for Vengeance (1982) marked the height of their popularity, peaking at number 17 in America and selling over a million copies.



In the late 80s, tastes in metal began to shift, and though they continued to record, Judas Priest started to sound outdated. In the early 90s, they took another blow when Rob Halford left the band to start another metal outfit. Judas Priest continued to perform with a new line-up, but never reached the levels of popularity they had enjoyed in the past. After almost twelve years apart, as well as an ever-growing demand for a reunion, Judas Priest and original lead vocalist Rob Halford announced they would reunite in July 2003, to coincide with the release of the Metalogy box set. A new studio album, Angel of Retribution, was released in March 2005 (U.S.) on Sony Music/Epic Records to critical and commercial success. In 2006, along with Kiss, Queen, and Def Leppard, Judas Priest were the inaugural inductees into the "VH1 Rock Honors," cemented their status as the elder statesman of heavy metal.