Although Judas Priest are on the cusp of an illustrious 45 year career, many would argue that their most creative and influential period ran from their first release in 1974 until front-man Rob Halford shocked the metal world by quitting the band in May 1992, following the completion of the Painkiller tour. By then Judas Priest had fourteen albums to their name, five of which made it into the UK Top 20, and had grown in stature and image from a kaftan-wearing rock band with pretensions of being the next Queen to a leather and studded, full-force, heavy metal onslaught. Copied by many but surpassed by none, Judas Priest came to symbolise the very essence of heavy metal music, and by the time of their breakthrough album 'British Steel' their look and sound was replicated by many young hopefuls as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal spawned the next generation of metal bands. Judas Priest - On Track. From Rocka Rolla to Painkiller studies Judas Priest's varied output in detail. Musicians inspired by the band explain what Judas Priest and their albums meant to them, and the late Chris Tsangarides, whose first break came with the Sad Wings Of Destiny sessions, offers his insight to one of the world's greatest heavy metal bands.