Tipton is best known for his complex, sometimes classically influenced solos and his legendary double lead guitar trades with fellow Priest guitarist K.K. Downing. Tipton's songwriting and technical control have long been hallmarks of the Judas Priest sound.
In 1997 Tipton released his solo album Baptizm of Fire, featuring a host of well-known musicians including Billy Sheehan, Cozy Powell and Don Airey, among others. Despite being largely ignored by the mainstream music press, it is considered a modern classic by many longtime fans of Priest.
2006 saw the release of Edge of the World featuring Cozy Powell on drums and John Entwistle on bass. The proceeds of said album were donated to the Teenage cancer trust charity.
On 12 February 2018, Tipton announced that he would step down from touring when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He stated that he was still a member of the band despite his diagnosis and would not rule out future on-stage appearances. Producer and guitarist Andy Sneap replaced him on tour. On 9 March 2018, the eighteenth album Firepower was released. At the 20 March 2018 show in Newark, New Jersey, Tipton joined the band on stage to perform "Metal Gods", "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight", then "Victim of Changes" and "No Surrender" on later dates. Prior to the band's performance, he expressed uncertainty regarding his future role in Judas Priest, "It's an unanswerable question, really. It's in the lap of the metal gods." After performing on stage with the band, he described it as "emotional", and being overwhelmed with support from the band members and from fans worldwide, "You don’t like to see a grown man cry, but we did." Tipton did not make any more appearances on the remaining dates of the band's world tour due to his illness, as explained by bassist Ian Hill.
Friendly Fire
Glenn Tipton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They only get one life
They were told it's just a game
There woul dbe no need to fight
Seemed quite real though yesterday
When we got blown away
By friendly fire
Giving orders from afar
They're safe and sound who cares
If a few lives are expendable
As long as its' not theirs
Wonder would they say the same
If they got blown away
By friendly fire
By friendly fire
Sending back photographs of war
I thought you might need some of that
To remind you of what it is like
To be on the other side of
Friendly fire
They turn & look away
As if they always knew
That all their empty words
Can't eclipse the truth - that's okay
Even if they'll never take the blame
At least put me to rest
Give me back my name
I wonder if they'd stillagree
To risk their life expectancy
If they'd been standing next to me
And blown away by friendly fire
By friendly fire
The song "Friendly Fire" by Glenn Tipton is a powerful anti-war statement that seeks to expose the callous disregard for human life that often characterizes war. The lyrics reflect on the tragic irony of young soldiers dying in a conflict they were told was just a game, while those in charge make life and death decisions from afar, safe and sound. The first two lines poignantly highlight the tragedy of young soldiers being sent thousands of miles from home to face life and death situations, with only one life to live. The following lines contrast the callous deception with which they were lured into the conflict, with the harsh reality of battle.
The song delves into the idea of friendly fire, where soldiers are killed by their own side due to accidents or mistaken identity. The line "They turn & look away/As if they always knew/That all their empty words/Can't eclipse the truth" criticizes leaders who are quick to cast blame on others when such incidents occur, but never accept responsibility themselves. The song further questions whether these leaders, who freely send soldiers to their deaths, would still have the same opinion if they were standing next to their soldiers and got killed by friendly fire.
The impassioned vocals and haunting melody of "Friendly Fire" make it a poignant protest song that highlights the harsh realities of war.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh so young and far from home
Young soldiers sent to unfamiliar territory away from family and friends
They only get one life
The soldiers are only given one chance to live, no second chances when a bullet hits
They were told it's just a game
War is often glamorized instead of being portrayed as the brutal reality it is
There would be no need to fight
Soldiers were misinformed that there would not be a need to be a part of a battle
Seemed quite real though yesterday
Yesterday the reality of the war became known, a hard pill to swallow
When we got blown away
The reality of war is that soldiers get hurt and killed on the battlefield
By friendly fire
Even the good guys can do bad things in war when the heat of battle clouds judgment
Giving orders from afar
Those who are not present on the battlefield making life-and-death decisions
They're safe and sound who cares
The decision-makers are not in danger, so the value of human lives becomes less
If a few lives are expendable
Leaders are willing to make difficult decisions if it advances their objective
As long as it's not theirs
Leaders send soldiers into battle, but they do not put themselves in the line of fire
Sending back photographs of war
People who have not experienced war want to see what it is like for those who have
I thought you might need some of that
Soldiers hope that by sharing their experience through photographs they can garner support from loved ones at home
To remind you of what it is like
Photographs provide a window into the reality of what war is like and the enormous sacrifice soldiers make
To be on the other side of
In war someone is always on the other side of the conflict
They turn & look away
Decision-makers avoid taking responsibility or being accountable for their actions
As if they always knew
Leaders knew the potential consequences of their decisions, but they chose to ignore the human cost
That all their empty words
Words of appreciation for soldiers who sacrificed everything ring hollow when accountability is avoided
Can't eclipse the truth - that's okay
The truth always prevails, and those who gave their lives knew the risks and the outcome
Even if they'll never take the blame
Leaders who avoid accountability will never understand the sacrifice soldiers made and take no responsibility for anything
At least put me to rest
In death, soldiers need to have their colleagues acknowledge their sacrifice and give them the recognition they so deserve
Give me back my name
Soldiers are not just a number, they deserve to be remembered by their name and their sacrifice
I wonder if they'd still agree
Leadership would likely make different decisions if they had to put themselves in harm's way
To risk their life expectancy
Leadership would not be so cavalier in their decision-making if they might be putting themselves in harm's way
If they'd been standing next to me
If those making decisions were actually on the ground with soldiers, decision-making may be more responsible
And blown away by friendly fire
Killed by a fellow soldier due to poor judgment, leadership may make more responsible decisions in the future and take responsibility for their decisions
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.