JUDAS PRIEST DOCUMENTARY
Judas Priest hails from England's tough industrial city of Birmingham, and the quintet was a contemporary of groundbreaking heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple in the early 1970s. However, those bands got signed to a recording contract first, and Judas Priest had to wait a few years.
In 1980, Judas Priest unleashed its sixth studio album, 'British Steel', on the world. The band had spent years touring the world and steadily building a fan base with albums that gradually increased in quality, but 'British Steel' was a commercial and creative breakthrough thanks to blistering anthems like "Breaking the Law," "Living After Midnight" and "Metal Gods." Although Judas Priest may have been signed after some of its heavy metal brethren, 'British Steel' forever cemented in the public eye what the music should sound like, and what its practitioners should look like. Judas Priest singlehandedly invented heavy metal's dual lead-guitar attack and leather-and studs image, which remains the dominant uniform of the heavy metal subculture today.
Eagle Eye Media and Pioneer Entertainment's 'Classic Albums' documentary about 'British Steel' will be released on DVD and VHS home video on November 6, 2001. The DVD includes bonus materials not found on VHS videocassette. 'Classic Albums' takes a fascinating look at this important work created by vocalist Rob Halford, lead guitarist Glenn Tipton, lead guitarist K.K. Downing, bass guitarist Ian Hill and drummer Dave Holland. In-depth interviews with Halford, Tipton, Downing, Hill, producer Tom Allom and heavy metal experts such as journalist Mick Wall are included.
Hard-core fanatics will be delighted watching Tipton, Downing and Hill all demonstrate the signature riffs, chords and licks of the best-known songs on 'British Steel'.
Revelatory anecdotes about the recording sessions are plentiful. The country house where Judas Priest recorded 'British Steel' was once owned by two ex Beatles, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. The band members recall the eerie feeling of recording in the "white room" where Lennon, who was murdered in New York City in December 1980, had filmed a famous video for the song "Imagine." Sometimes the sound effects one hears on a record weren't made with sophisticated studio equipment and enhanced with electronic trickery. For the metallic rattling on "Metal Gods," trays filled with cutlery were slammed on a table!
DVD bonuses include the music videos for "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight," Halford discussing how he got injured during his final concert with Judas Priest and current drummer Scott Travis explaining how he hooked up with the band and ultimately became aware of Tim "Ripper" Owens, who sang in a Judas Priest tribute group in Ohio before getting hired to replace Halford.
BRITISH STEEL Judas Priest
Columbia Records - 1980
Rapid Fire / Metal Gods / Breaking The Law / Grinder / United / You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise / Living After Midnight / The Rage / Steeler
www.eaglevisionusa.com
www.judaspriest.com
________________________________________
Judas Priest hails from England's tough industrial city of Birmingham, and the quintet was a contemporary of groundbreaking heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple in the early 1970s. However, those bands got signed to a recording contract first, and Judas Priest had to wait a few years.
In 1980, Judas Priest unleashed its sixth studio album, 'British Steel', on the world. The band had spent years touring the world and steadily building a fan base with albums that gradually increased in quality, but 'British Steel' was a commercial and creative breakthrough thanks to blistering anthems like "Breaking the Law," "Living After Midnight" and "Metal Gods." Although Judas Priest may have been signed after some of its heavy metal brethren, 'British Steel' forever cemented in the public eye what the music should sound like, and what its practitioners should look like. Judas Priest singlehandedly invented heavy metal's dual lead-guitar attack and leather-and studs image, which remains the dominant uniform of the heavy metal subculture today.
Eagle Eye Media and Pioneer Entertainment's 'Classic Albums' documentary about 'British Steel' will be released on DVD and VHS home video on November 6, 2001. The DVD includes bonus materials not found on VHS videocassette. 'Classic Albums' takes a fascinating look at this important work created by vocalist Rob Halford, lead guitarist Glenn Tipton, lead guitarist K.K. Downing, bass guitarist Ian Hill and drummer Dave Holland. In-depth interviews with Halford, Tipton, Downing, Hill, producer Tom Allom and heavy metal experts such as journalist Mick Wall are included.
Hard-core fanatics will be delighted watching Tipton, Downing and Hill all demonstrate the signature riffs, chords and licks of the best-known songs on 'British Steel'.
Revelatory anecdotes about the recording sessions are plentiful. The country house where Judas Priest recorded 'British Steel' was once owned by two ex Beatles, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. The band members recall the eerie feeling of recording in the "white room" where Lennon, who was murdered in New York City in December 1980, had filmed a famous video for the song "Imagine." Sometimes the sound effects one hears on a record weren't made with sophisticated studio equipment and enhanced with electronic trickery. For the metallic rattling on "Metal Gods," trays filled with cutlery were slammed on a table!
DVD bonuses include the music videos for "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight," Halford discussing how he got injured during his final concert with Judas Priest and current drummer Scott Travis explaining how he hooked up with the band and ultimately became aware of Tim "Ripper" Owens, who sang in a Judas Priest tribute group in Ohio before getting hired to replace Halford.
BRITISH STEEL Judas Priest
Columbia Records - 1980
Rapid Fire / Metal Gods / Breaking The Law / Grinder / United / You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise / Living After Midnight / The Rage / Steeler
www.eaglevisionusa.com
www.judaspriest.com
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