Booking Judas Priest

Judas Priest Biography

The band known as Judas Priest came together in 1969 when the current members of an already existing band brought Al Atkins in as their leader singer. The band changed their name to Judas Priest with the addition of Atkins, and with the original lineup of Atkins, Bruno Stapenhill, Ernie Chataway, and John Partridge, they officially established themselves in 1969 with their first gig. John Ellis joined shortly thereafter, and Judas Priest moved into a harder rock sound.

Judas Priest played around the Birmingham, England area throughout the earlier part of the 1970’s. Atkins and Partridge left the band in 1973, and Rob Halford was added, along with John Hinch.  Glenn Tipon joined on shortly thereafter, and the band in this current lineup existed until 1990, spawning fourteen albums, including: Rocka Rolla (1974), Sad Wings of Destiny (1976), Sin after Sin (1977), Stained Class (1978), Killing Machine/Hell Bent for Leather (1978), British Steel (1980), Point of Entry (1981), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), Defenders of the Faith (1984), Turbo (1986), Ram it Down (1988), and Painkiller (1990.)  Additional lineup changes occurred in the 1990’s, but Judas Priest stayed together, releasing the album Jugulator in 1997 and continuing to tour. In the new millennium, Judas Priest played Ozzfest in 2004 and released Demolition (2001) and Angel of Retribution (2005.) Nostradamus was released in 2008.

Today, Judas Priest continues to perform and record with the current lineup of Ian Hil, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Scott Travis, and Richie Faulkner. The group’s most recent album, Redemmer of Souls, was released in 2014.