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)
Rocka Rolla Album
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sorts the men out from the boys
Takes no messin', all in wrestlin'
Is one of her pride and joys
She a classy, flashy lassy
Imitation sapphire shine
Two faced liar, full of fire
Rocka rolla woman for a rocka rolla man
You can take her if you want her
If you think you can
Rocka rolla woman for a rocka rolla man
You can take her if you want her you can
She's a grip and choke ya
Heavy smoker
Wrong side of the law
Midnight shady
Good time lady
Heavy, ready show you what for
Barroom fighter
Ten pint a nighter
Definite ninety-nine
Diamond cluster
Knuckle duster
Feline on the borderline
Rocka rolla woman for a rocka rolla man
You can take her if you want her
If you think you can
Rocka rolla woman for a rocka rolla man
You can take her if you want her you can
The lyrics to Judas Priest's "Rocka Rolla" tell the story of a dangerous and alluring woman, who is both a barroom fighter and a good time lady. She is described as a "man eatin momma" who uses a "steam driven hammer" to sort out the men from the boys. This suggests that she is powerful and intimidating, and that she takes no nonsense from anyone. She is also described as a "two-faced liar, full of fire," which implies that she is not to be trusted and that she has a wild and unpredictable side.
Despite her flaws, the singer is drawn to her, and believes that the flame between them is real. He refers to her as a "rocka rolla woman for a rocka rolla man," indicating that she is a perfect match for someone with his own wild spirit. The song celebrates the idea that sometimes, you need someone who is as wild and dangerous as you are, to truly understand and appreciate you.
Overall, "Rocka Rolla" is a classic rock song that tells the story of a dangerous and vibrant woman, who captures the attention of those around her. It is a celebration of wildness and freedom, and a reminder that sometimes, you need someone who is just as wild as you are.
Line by Line Meaning
Man eatin momma, steam driven hammer
A powerful woman who dominates others like a steam-powered machine.
Sorts the men out from the boys
She separates the weak from the strong.
Takes no messin', all in wrestlin'
She does not tolerate any nonsense and is always ready for a fight.
Is one of her pride and joys
She takes pride in her ability to assert dominance over others.
She a classy, flashy lassy
She presents herself as sophisticated and stylish.
Imitation sapphire shine
Her beauty is superficial and fake, like an imitation gemstone.
Two faced liar, full of fire
She is deceitful and manipulative, with a passionate personality.
But I know the flame is mine
Despite her duplicitous nature, the artist feels a strong attraction to her.
Rocka rolla woman for a rocka rolla man
A wild, rebellious woman is the perfect match for a rock 'n' roll man.
You can take her if you want her
She is available for anyone who can handle her fiery persona.
If you think you can
But be warned, only those with the strength and confidence can handle her.
She's a grip and choke ya
She has a strong grip and can easily overpower others.
Heavy smoker
She is a heavy smoker, which adds to her rebellious image.
Wrong side of the law
She is not afraid to break the rules and engage in criminal behavior.
Midnight shady
She operates in the shadows, avoiding the light of day.
Good time lady
She is always ready to party and have a good time.
Heavy, ready show you what for
She is prepared to fight and assert her dominance over others.
Barroom fighter
She frequently gets into fights in bars and other rough establishments.
Ten pint a nighter
She can drink ten pints of beer in a single night, further emphasizing her wild lifestyle.
Definite ninety-nine
She is unstoppable, like a perfect score of 99 out of 100.
Diamond cluster
She wears a ring with a cluster of diamonds, symbolizing her wealth and extravagance.
Knuckle duster
She wears a brass knuckles, ready to fight at any moment.
Feline on the borderline
She is a dangerous and unpredictable woman, like a wildcat teetering on the edge of a precipice.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jon Mallek
This album is so underrated it's criminal. People like to put it down because it's not what Priest turned into, but on its own, it's incredible album!
Joshua Wright
It was also produced by Rodger Bain. Same guy that produced the early Black Sabbath records.
montbob100
Old fan age 59.This is Best Priest to me.
Dave Mullin
Definitely one of my favorite albums of all time!
John Diamond
Agreed. I've been a Judas Priest fan my #1 favorite band since 1981 and this debut album is so underrated far underneath the band members themselves a similar example would be Kiss - Music From The Elder 1981
kush king
For real man, this is the first Priest album my dad showed me. Always love 70's priest
Timur Szynkiewicz
Rob Halford, simply the best vocalist ever. I'm seen him live more then any other artist, his range is truly unbelievable. KK and GT also best tandem guitarists team. Too many good songs to name,. Lifelong fan of true metal Masters ........ Thank you JP never a disappointment.
scott barker
the late ronni james dio...isnt bad either???
Historia Marxista Leninista.
I didn't even think Judas sounded like this in it's beginings. It literally rocks
Chris Edward
@Historia Marxista Leninista. You can hear the blues influence also.