Judas Priest

Judas Priest is an immensely influential heavy metal band formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England by K.K. Downing and Ian Hill. The band's classic line-up consists of vocalist

Judas Priest is an immensely influential heavy metal band formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England by K.K. Downing and Ian Hill. The band's classic line-up consists of vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, and bassist Ian Hill. They epitomize the classic heavy metal genre, particularly the NWOBHM ("New Wave of British Heavy Metal") movement, and have influenced hundreds of musicians and bands. Their popularity and influence earned them the nickname "The Metal Gods".

One of the progenitors of heavy metal, Judas Priest are best known for their twin-lead-guitar sound and the complex guitar duets of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton; and for Rob Halford's high-pitched screams, and lead vocals. However, the band's biggest musical innovation is the dual 'rhythm guitar', i.e. the accompaniment, or riff, which plays an essential role in all hard rock genres and especially in heavy metal.