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)
Solar Angels
Judas Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Diamond visions softly breathing fire
Sky processions, we are watching you arrive
Silver crystals arcing beams below
What light spirals lifting up to go
Glass formations, solar angels spread their wings
Wheels of wonder floating everywhere
Draped in rainbows, gently we ascend
"Solar Angels" by Judas Priest is a song that has been interpreted in various ways, but essentially speaks of angels who have come down to Earth from heaven. These angels are depicted as having golden halos and are breathing fire while arriving in the form of a sky procession. The song also describes silver crystals that are arching in beams located below while the light spirals lifting up to leave. Furthermore, glass formations of solar angels are seen spreading their wings. The song creates a scene where we can imagine watching these angles descend from the heavens and ascend back.
The lyrics then describe these beings as spectral gliders that are drifting in the air, in addition to wheels of wonder that are floating everywhere. The final line of the song depicts human beings being draped in rainbows as they gently ascend. It appears that the song talks about an otherworldly experience, one where angels descend from heaven to Earth and usher the listener to ascend as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Golden halos radiating higher
We see a sight of divine beings with shining golden halos that appear to be glowing brighter as they ascend higher to the sky.
Diamond visions softly breathing fire
As we witness these celestial entities, we can see their magnificent diamond-like features that emit a gentle flame that seem to be softly breathing.
Sky processions we are watching you arrive
We are observing a grand parade in the sky as these angelic beings descend to their destination.
Silver crystals arching beams below
We see the reflection of these divine angels on the earth below, creating a beautiful and intricate pattern like the arching beams of silver crystals.
What light spirals lifting up to go
We witness a spiral of shining light moving upwards, seemingly lifted by the angels as they ascend to the heavens.
Glass formations solar angels spread their wings
These radiant beings have perfectly formed glass-like features as they spread their wings and shine brightly like the sun.
Spectral gliders drifting in the air
We see otherworldly gliders floating through the air like apparitions, with a surreal and ethereal quality.
Wheels of wonder floating everywhere
We are witness to an amazing spectacle of wheels turning in the sky, creating a wondrous display that is floating all around us.
Draped in rainbows gently we ascend
As we join these divine beings, we find ourselves cloaked in a blanket of colors like rainbows, ascending slowly and peacefully to a place beyond this world.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glenn Raymond Tipton, Kenneth Downing, Rob Halford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind