Judas Priest

In a television interview, Judas Priest members commented that if they wanted to insert subliminal commands in their music, killing their fans would be counterproductive, and they would prefer to insert the command "Buy more of our records.". In truth the band was originally called simply 42 after the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything, from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the word Level was added to make the name more distinctive. The suit was eventually dismissed on its merits, as the band had pointed out that if you were to play any song backwards and tell someone there was a message, it'll sound as though there actually is. The origin of the band's name has been variously described as being inspired by a sign in a lift in a very tall building in the US; the top level of the biggest car-park in the world, in Japan; the floor on which Jonathan Pryce lives in the film Brazil; or after Tower 42 (also known as NatWest Tower) a tall building in the City of London. The plaintiffs alleged a subliminal message of "do it" had been included in the song "Better by You Better Than Me" (from the Stained Class album) which triggered the suicide attempt. The current lineup consists of bassist King, drummer Husband, Nathan King on guitars and vocals, Lyndon Connah on keys and vocals, and Sean Freeman on sax and vocals. In 1990, the band was involved in a civil action that alleged they were responsible for the suicide attempts in 1985 of two Nevada boys (James Vance and Ray Belknap). King revived the group as a touring unit in 2002.

John Ellis - drums (1969-1971). Level 42 released one final album of new material, Forever Now, marked by the return of Phil Gould as studio drummer. Alan 'Skip' Moore - drums (1971-1973, 1975-1977). Allan then left the band, to be replaced by Jakko Jaczyk. Chris 'Congo' Campbell - drums (1972-1973). The album did not sell well despite being regarded by some as Level 42's most musically sophisticated work to date. John Hinch - drums (1973-1975). Their fans did not like this direction, and the pop music scene in the UK had moved in a different direction.

Simon Phillips - drums (1977). During the early 1990s, the group tried to blend more of their earlier influences, such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, into their sound by asking master musician Allan Holdsworth to provide some stunning guitar work for the album 'Guaranteed'. Les Binks - drums (1977-1979). At this time a greatest hits compilation was released. Dave Holland - drums (1979-1989). The following year Alan died from an AIDS related illness, and the band took some time off. Alan Atkins - vocals (1967-1973). A new album Staring at the Sun, was released in 1988.

Tim 'Ripper' Owens - vocals (1996 - 2003). In addition, guitarist Alan Murphy joined, formerly of Go West. Scott Travis - drums (1989 - present). As a result, Mark King recruited Gary Husband and Steve Topping to fill their places. Ian Hill - bass guitars (1969 - present). Both Phil and Boon left the group, unhappy with the increasingly 'pop' direction, and exhausted from touring. Downing - guitars (1969 - present). The band's 1987 album Running in the Family although selling well, cemented this musical direction.

K.K. By this time the band was heading away from its original jazz-funk sound and towards a much more mainstream pop sound. Glenn Tipton - guitars (1974 - present). Singles from this, Something About You, and Leaving Me Now were also top ten hits, followed by another, Lessons in Love. Rob Halford - vocals (1973-1991, and from 2003 onwards). The next album, World Machine, was released in 1985. A new studio album, named Angel of Retribution was released on March 1st, 2005 (U.S)(on Sony Music/Epic Records) and a global tour in support of the album is currently underway. That same year, Mark King pursued solo projects.

'Ripper' is now the singer of Iced Earth. The quartet followed that with True Colours in 1984. Judas Priest and 'Ripper' Owens parted amicably. A fourth album Standing in the Light generated their first top ten hit in the UK in 1983, The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up). media covering the event. In between Polydor released The early tapes recorded in the early days of the band when they were signed to the Elite label. The reunited Judas Priest also co-headlined the Ozzfest in 2004, being named as the "premier act" by almost all U.S. Their album went on to become a huge seller.

After more than twelve years apart, Judas Priest and original lead vocalist Rob Halford announced in July 2003 that they were reunited, with a hugely successful live concert tour having taken place in 2004. The following year, a second album The Pursuit of Accidents was made, and singles from the album, first Weave Your Spell and then The Chinese Way were released, both charting, the latter in particular rising high in the charts and gaining the band a much wider audience than hitherto. Judas Priest have released fifteen studio albums to date, the first being Rocka Rolla in 1974 and the latest being Angel of Retribution in 2005. This became an immediate success throughout Europe. These events were the inspiration for the film Rock Star, although Owens did not actually participate in the production of the movie. They then cut their critically acclaimed debut album, Level 42. Halford left the band in the 1990s and was replaced by Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who was plucked from obscurity having previously sung in a Judas Priest tribute band. In 1981 they released Love Games, a top-40 hit.

Overall, the band has sold in excess of 35 million albums globally. Shortly after they released the single Love Meeting Love on Elite they came to the attention of Polydor records and signed to them. Judas Priest's 1980 album British Steel was perhaps the first heavy metal album to be recorded in a concise format with radio-friendly songs with pop hooks, pioneering an approach used by others (Quiet Riot, Dokken, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister, Accept, Def Leppard) to taste commercial success. Initially they were signed to a small independent record label (Elite Records) after being seen jamming together. Downing and Glenn Tipton. Level 42 were formed in 1980 as a Jazz-Funk fusion band. One of the originators of heavy metal, with Rob Halford's lead vocals notable for their high-pitched screams, they also feature an innovative two-lead-guitar sound and are particularly noted for their complex guitar duets courtesy of K.K. The founding band members were:.

Downing and Glenn Tipton, and Ian Hill on bass duties. The band gained fame for its tight musicianship, especially that of bassist/vocalist Mark King. Often called just Priest, the band's classic line-up consists of vocalist Rob Halford, the guitar duet of K.K. Level 42 are an English pop band who throughout the 1980s had a number of hits in the UK and around the world. Judas Priest is a hugely influential heavy metal band formed in 1969 in Birmingham, England. The Master Series (1996) (compilation). Angel of Retribution - 2005. Live At Wembley 1989 (1996) (Live).

Electric Eye - 2003 (Live DVD). Turn It On (1996) (compilation). Live in London - 2002 (Live album and DVD). To Be With You Again (1995) (compilation). Demolition - 2001. Forever Now (1994). Genocide - 2000. Lessons In Love - Best (1993) (compilation).

Live Meltdown - 1998 (Live 1998). On A Level (1993) (compilation). Jugulator - 1997. The Remixes (1992) (compilation). Painkiller - 1990. On The Level (1991) (compilation). Ram It Down - 1988. Guaranteed (1991).

Priest...Live! - 1987 (Live 1986). Level Best (1989) (greatest hits compilation). Turbo - 1985. Staring At The Sun (1988). Defenders of the Faith - 1984. Running In The Family (1987). Screaming for Vengeance - 1982. World Machine (1985).

Point of Entry - 1981. A Physical Presence (Live) (1985). British Steel - 1980. True Colours (1984). Unleashed in the East - 1979 (Live in Japan 1979). Standing in the Light (1983). Hell Bent for Leather - 1979 (released as Killing Machine in the UK). The Pursuit of Accidents (1983).

Stained Class - 1978. Strategy/The Early Tapes (1982). Sin After Sin - 1977. Level 42 (1981). Sad Wings of Destiny - 1976. Phil Gould - Drums. Rocka Rolla - 1974. Boon Gould - Guitars.

Label: Sony Music. Mike Lindup - Keyboards/Vocals. Time: 1967 till present. Mark King - Vocals/Bass. Status: Active. Origin: Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Genres: Heavy metal, Hard rock, Classic metal.