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)
I Am A Rocker
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're locked inside of me
And carved out of stone
I've broken hearts
Made people sing
I've drove a million miles
I've done everything
Do as I feel, as I say
I'm a rocker, oh oh
And no one can take that away
Bring on the night
That's when I live
I come alive inside
Give all I can give
I live each day
Like it's my last
I live for rock and roll
I never look back
I'm a rocker, oh oh
I do as I feel, as I say
I'm a rocker, oh oh
And no one can take that away
I'm a rocker (rocker)
And I'm always revving up
I'm a rocker (rocker)
I can never get enough
I'm a rocker (rocker)
It's something in my blood
I'm a rocker (rocker)
Wouldn't change it even if I could
I'm a rocker, oh oh
I do as I feel, as I say
I'm a rocker, oh oh
And no one can take that away
The lyrics to "I Am A Rocker" by Judas Priest speak to the spirit of a true rocker - someone who lives for rock and roll and lets that passion drive their every decision. The singer of the song talks about the greatest times he's ever known, which are locked inside of him and "carved out of stone." These memories are precious to him and seem to be the things that keep him going when times get tough. He has broken hearts, made people sing, and driven a million miles in pursuit of his rock and roll dreams. Despite the challenges, he is proud to be a rocker and no one could ever take that away from him.
The singer embraces the darkness and the night, as that is when he truly comes alive. He lives each day as if it's his last, always giving his all for his love of rock and roll. The chorus repeats the declaration that he is a rocker, and no one can take that away from him. It's an anthem for anyone who has ever felt the power of music in their soul and knows that it's more than just a hobby or a passing interest - it's a way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
The greatest times, I've ever known
The most memorable moments of my life are locked inside and have been engraved into my soul forever
They're locked inside o' me
These moments are etched deep within my being and will never leave me
And carved out of stone
The experiences I've had have given me a sense of unbreakable strength and resilience
I've broken hearts
In my pursuit of what I love, I've caused others pain and hurt
Made people sing
I've influenced my fans to express themselves musically
I've drove a million miles
I've gone through great lengths and distances to play the music I love
I've done everything
I've fulfilled my wildest dreams and lived my life to the fullest
I'm a rocker, oh oh
I am a musician who plays hard rock music and enjoys every aspect of it
Do as I feel as I say
I act on my impulses and speak my truth without apology
And no one can take that away
Nobody can change my identity or my passion for rock music
Bring on the night
I thrive in the darkness of the night when my music comes alive
That's when I live
I truly come alive and feel the most alive at night when I'm on stage
I come alive inside
Performing and playing music ignites a spark within me that can't be found anywhere else
Give all I can give
I pour my heart and soul into every performance
I live each day
I don't take a single day for granted
Like it's my last
I seize the day and live it to the fullest as if it were my last
I live for rock and roll
Playing rock music is my purpose and passion
I never look back
I don't dwell on the past, I keep moving forward
And I'm always revvin' up
I'm constantly energized and ready to blast off with my music at any given moment
I can never get enough
I will always crave more of the exhilarating feeling that comes with performing rock music
It's something in my blood
My passion for rock music is ingrained in my very being
Wouldn't change it even if I could
I wouldn't trade my love for rock music for anything in the world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Robert Halford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind