JUDAS PRIEST
There are not many firsts left for Tuska after all these years, but in 2027 we can proudly celebrate a truly historic one: the legendary Judas Priest will finally take over the Tuska stage.
Judas Priest was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. Vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, and bassist Ian Hill became the band’s core lineup. Following the release of their first albums, Rocka Rolla (1974) and Sad Wings of Destiny (1976), Judas Priest forged their distinctive sound and quickly rose to the forefront of heavy metal.
Their breakthrough was followed by a remarkable run of albums that set Judas Priest apart from their hard rock and heavy metal contemporaries: Sin After Sin (1977), Stained Class (1978), Hell Bent for Leather (1978), and the live album Unleashed in the East (1979). These releases introduced a wealth of metal classics, including “Sinner,” “Diamonds and Rust,” “Hell Bent for Leather,” and “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown).”
Judas Priest is also widely recognized as one of the first metal bands to embrace the now-iconic leather-and-studs aesthetic. Emerging in the late 1970s, this visual style spread among metal fans around the world and played a defining role in shaping the image and identity of heavy metal culture.
It is no exaggeration to say that Judas Priest dominated the 1980s. During the decade, the band released several of heavy metal’s most celebrated albums, including British Steel (1980), Point of Entry (1981), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), and Defenders of the Faith (1984). These records produced a string of timeless anthems such as “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” “Heading Out to the Highway,” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming.”
Throughout the 1980s, Judas Priest grew into a true arena headliner. The band performed at some of the world’s biggest music events, including the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival at Donington Park in 1980, the US Festival in 1983, and the historic Live Aid concert in 1985. These appearances cemented Judas Priest’s status as one of the most important and influential bands in the history of heavy metal.
Towards the end of the decade, Judas Priest embraced more melodic hard rock influences on Turbo (1986) and Ram It Down (1988). However, in 1990 the band released what many consider to be the heaviest album of their career, Painkiller, featuring the legendary opening drum intro of its title track, performed by drummer Scott Travis, who had recently joined the band.
In 2011, longtime guitarist K.K. Downing announced his departure from Judas Priest. The band recruited Richie Faulkner as his replacement, a decision that proved inspired, bringing a fresh surge of energy and vitality to the group’s ranks.
More than five decades after their formation, Judas Priest continue their triumphant march across the globe, spreading their unique heavy metal gospel to ever-growing audiences, with no end in sight.
