The band's membership has seen much turnover, including a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s and the departure of singer Rob Halford in 1992. Tim "Ripper" Owens, formerly of Winter's Bane, replaced Halford in 1996 and recorded two albums with Judas Priest, before Halford returned to the band in 2003. The current line-up consists of Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis. The band's best-selling album is 1982's Screaming for Vengeance, with their most commercially successful line-up featuring Ian Hill, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, guitarist K. K. Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band to appear on every album.
Halford's operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton have been a major influence on heavy metal bands. Judas Priest's image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing were widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid-1990s, the band has once again seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having their songs featured in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. In 2022, Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest
Studio albums
Rocka Rolla (1974)
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
Sin After Sin (1977)
Stained Class (1978)
Killing Machine (1978)
British Steel (1980)
Point of Entry (1981)
Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Defenders of the Faith (1984)
Turbo (1986)
Ram It Down (1988)
Painkiller (1990)
Jugulator (1997)
Demolition (2001)
Angel of Retribution (2005)
Nostradamus (2008)
Redeemer of Souls (2014)
Firepower (2018)
Invincible Shield (2024)
Call For The Priest Raw Deal
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All eyes hit me as I walked into the door
Then ? and then the guys were fooling in the denim dudes
A couple cards played rough stuff, New York, fire island
I cased the joint, straining at the scenes
I moseyed up to the counter and the tender came a-grinnin'
The mirror on the wall was collecting and reflecting
All the heavy bodies ducking, stealing eager for some action
The scene screwed me up, I saw some contact
Then the big boys, saw me and knew that
I'd had too much, floating around
Statues alive, seconds are hours
Sacks like a hurricane, wrapped in and shattered
I was barely holding on to this flying body symphony
I guess I dream in pictures, not colors
The true free expression I demand is human rights - right
I gave my life, I am immortal
I'm going, no loss
I'm going, no loss
I'm going, no loss
I'm going, no loss
Nightmare, just a bunch of goddamn, rotten, steaming, raw
"Call For The Priest Raw Deal" by Judas Priest is a heavy metal song that showcases the band's unique ability to tell a story through their music. The lyrics are about a guy who goes to a bar on a Saturday night and ends up in a bar fight. As he walks in, he notices that all the eyes are on him. He sees a group of guys playing cards and thinks they might be troublemakers. He then goes up to the counter to order a bourbon, and the bartender greets him with a grin. He orders his drink and then surveys the scene around him.
While he's at the bar, the guy notices that something seems off. He sees some contact between some big boys in the room, and he knows it's not good. Suddenly, everything starts to spin around him and he feels like he's in the middle of a hurricane. He sees everything in pictures, not colors, and he realizes that he just gave his life to this moment. The song ends with the repeated refrain of "I'm going, no loss," conveying the idea that the character is fearless and unfazed by the danger around him.
Line by Line Meaning
I made a spike about nine o'clock on a Saturday
I arrived around 9 pm on a Saturday, ready to cause trouble.
All eyes hit me as I walked into the door
Everyone noticed my entrance.
Then ? and then the guys were fooling in the denim dudes
People were hanging out, some wearing denim.
A couple cards played rough stuff, New York, fire island
Some people were playing a rough card game, reminiscent of New York or Fire Island.
I cased the joint, straining at the scenes
I surveyed the area, taking in everything.
I moseyed up to the counter and the tender came a-grinnin'
I slowly walked over to the counter and the bartender greeted me with a smile.
I snapped the smile off his face and scowled "Give me a bourbon"
I reacted angrily to his greeting and demanded a drink.
The mirror on the wall was collecting and reflecting
The mirror was capturing and showing a reflection of everything happening.
All the heavy bodies ducking, stealing eager for some action
People were moving around quickly, looking for something exciting to happen.
The scene screwed me up, I saw some contact
All the activity and movement was overwhelming and disorienting.
Then the big boys, saw me and knew that
Some important people noticed my presence.
I'd had too much, floating around
I was very drunk and feeling disconnected from my surroundings.
Statues alive, seconds are hours
Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.
Sacks like a hurricane, wrapped in and shattered
People were moving frantically like a hurricane, causing destruction and chaos.
I was barely holding on to this flying body symphony
I was struggling to keep myself under control.
I guess I dream in pictures, not colors
My mind is better at visualizing than experiencing emotions.
The true free expression I demand is human rights - right
I believe that true freedom means having basic human rights.
I gave my life, I am immortal
I am willing to risk everything and consider myself immortal.
I'm going, no loss
I am moving on without any hesitation.
Nightmare, just a bunch of goddamn, rotten, steaming, raw
This chaotic scene is a nightmare, frustrating and unappealing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GLENN RAYMOND TIPTON, ROB HALFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind