If you went to some metal concerts in the 80’s or listened to Metal Shop on WXKE or hung around with some metal head, you were bound to hear some Judas Priest. I was familiar with the name and some of their more radio-ready songs like You Got Another Thing Coming.
For some reason, Judas Priest just didn’t seem to interest me. Who can say why? It had many of the same elements of many of the other metal bands I was listening to. I guess when I zigged to Iron Maiden, Aric zagged to Judas Priest. It could be as simple as that. I was on a mission to acquire all of the Iron Maiden records that I could and didn’t have enough leftover cash or attention to pursue Judas Priest.
Even after moving in with Aric, I didn’t check out his Judas Priest records. It wasn’t until one day he played Freewheel Burning for me. I never heard such a fast vocal track. That guy was doing 20 words a second. I was impressed and eventually gave them more of my attention.
I listened to Aric’s Judas Priest records and even ended up including a couple of their songs in my set. They never did catch hold with though like some of the other bands of the era. It would be the early 90’s before I purchased Turbo, my first Judas Priest album and the 21st century before I would add Defenders Of The Faith to my collection.
Freewheel Burning
The Sentinel
Eat Me Alive
Some Heads Are Gonna Roll