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Voting is underway for the RockinTown Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be Announced in December. View the Complete Nominees List & Vote for a Hall of Fame Nominee After Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and especially Alice Cooper, it seemed as though Rock had gone as far as it could. Wrong! Heavy Metal went further, faster and harder, often with violent or satanic imagery.Beginning in ’73 Judas Priest featured the twin guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing and along the way they found Rob Halford’s roaring vocals. Over their career they had five drummers before Scott Travis joined in ’89. Ian Hill handled bass. Their first release was on the Gull label in ’74 but it wasn’t until ’77 that they had their first major label release “Sin After Sin” which was produced by former Deep Purple bassist, Roger Glover.Throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, Judas Priest released approximately an album a year including “Unleashed In The East” in ’79 and “Screaming For Vengeance,” featuring the title track, in ’82. The latter perfectly illustrated why they were the premier Heavy Metal group. Tipton, Downing and Halford composed most of the songs. Critics dismissed them as nothing more than a grunting, churning band specializing in recycled Zeppelin riffs. However, despite the critics, and perhaps because of them, Judas Priest became both a major act recording and concert draw. In ’93, a disillusioned Halford left Judas Priest to briefly front Black Sabbath and work with Pantera before launching Fight and later, Two. He also sang the national anthem on opening day of the Arizona Diamondback’s ‘ 98 season. Judas Priest continued by hiring Tim “Ripper” Owens as lead singer. Owens, an Ohio native, was a massive Judas Priest fan and had worked in a tribute band. He did a competent job as the group resumed their recording career. But when push came to shove, Owens was unceremoniously dumped as Judas Priest reformed, with Halford, for an ’04 world tour that included an Ozzfest stint. As this was going on, the group went into the studio to record “Angel Of Retribution.”With a handful of landmark albums released from over twenty, Judas Priest was the best full-on Heavy Metal band. To prove the point, they released the four-disc career retrospective “Metalogy” with a live version of “The Hellion” and “Electric Eye.”Judas Priest unleashed “Nostradamus” in June, ’08. The limited edition deluxe double album was housed in a 48-page hardbound book package with an insert containing an exclusive code for one free general admission ticket to see Judas Priest on the summer’s Metal Masters Tour. “Nostradamus” became the group’s highest charting effort on the Billboard 200 album chart selling about 42,000 units in its first week of release to land at #11. ‘05’s “Angel Of Retribution” only made it to #13.“The Hellion” (the opening track on “Screaming For Vengeance”) was used in a ’10 commercial for the Honda Odyssey van. If a classic Judas Priest song had to be played in a car commercial most fans thought the track would be better used promoting a faster, sleeker car – not a van. But obviously that was the point. Downing’s retirement was announced in April, ’11. Differences with the band, management and a breakdown in their relationship led to the decision. Guitarist Richie Faulkner was named Downing’s replacement. But just a year later, Priest was ready to park it (sort of). They played the final show of their “Epitaph” tour to a sold-out audience at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. According to Priest, the “farewell” tour was their last extensive world tour – but not their last shows. To prove there was still life in the beast, Judas Priest’s 17th studio album, “Redeemer Of Souls,” arrived in ‘14. “From start to finish, ‘Redeemer Of Souls’ is 18 songs of pure classic Priest Metal,” claimed Tipton. Sadly, Tipton’s days were numbered. Priest announced, via Facebook in ‘18, that Tipton would be absent from their upcoming tour due to Parkinson’s disease. Tipton was diagnosed with the early onset of Parkinson’s ten years earlier.   “Firepower,” the group’s 18th studio album was the first since ‘88’s “Ram It Down” to be produced by Tom Allom and the first with Andy Sneap as co-producer. Sneap was also the subject of a controversy when Downing insinuated that Sneap played Tipton’s guitar parts during the making of the album.  Tipton was also “shocked” that he wasn’t invited for Priest’s tour.  Halford said the statement was “a thousand percent false.” Downing later disavowed the claim. With that minor controversary settled, there were more important issues at hand… namely the worldwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Advised to maintain social distance and told to shelter-in-place (their homes) people hit the stores to stock up – and often over stock on “vitally important” items.  This trend led Halford to post a video PSA asking fans to the do the right thing. “If you go out, don’t buy everything. Don’t be a toilet paper hoarder. Don’t be a kitchen roll hoarder. Don’t be a hoarder of any sort, because we’re all in this together,” stated Halford. As the pandemic subsided, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has inducted Judas Priest… after the band had been eligible for 23-years. Reunited with guitarist K.K. Downing and drummer Les Binks, Priest performed a three-song medley of “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight” at the Hall of Fame ceremony (11/5/22) at the Microsoft Theater in L.A. With Alice Cooper handling the honors, Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with Downing, Binks and late drummer Dave Holland were officially inducted. Cooper called Priest the “the definitive Metal band.” Priest kept rolling with their ’24 release “Invincible Sheild.”  The album’s lead single was “Panic Attack” followed by “Trial By Fire,” “Crown Of Horns” and “The Serpent And The King.” “It sounds like a young bunch of metal heads banging it out,” stated Halford. “This (album) has got probably some more progressive elements that we’ve never really delved into before,” added guitarist Richie Faulkner. “And that’s exciting, because, again, it gives us and our fans another opportunity to see a different side of Priest.” The album was produced by the band’s touring guitarist Andy Sneap, who also produced ’18’s “Firepower.” ### The post Judas Priest: 2025 Hall Of Fame Nominee appeared first on RockinTown.

Blink-182 is the story of a cancer survivor, UFO enthusiast and a publicity maven.Blink formed in Poway, CA. After releasing an EP and a couple of indie CDs, “Buddha” and “Cheshire Cat,” Blink found there was an Irish band with the same name. On top of that, the Irishmen had lawyers and were ready to use them. So Blink became Blink-182. The name change did them good. They spent 1996-97 on the Warped Tour being embraced by the skaters, surfers and snowboarders.“Dude Ranch,” rolled out in ’97 and captured the attention of MCA Records. Now stardom beckoned. But there was a bump in the road. Blink-182’s original drummer, Scott Raynor, abruptly departed. As a result, Travis Barker who was touring with his band, the Aquabats, was asked to fill in. In approximately two hours Barker learned Blink-182’s set, some twenty songs, and hit the stage that evening. Having won Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge’s undying appreciation, Barker was asked to join, which of course, he accepted. “Enema Of The State” arrived in the summer of ‘99 and was still going strong a year later led by the brilliant tracks “What’s My Age Again” and “All The Small Things.” “The Mark, Tom And Travis Show,” an ‘00 live set featuring their hits and pre-fame material, came next. “Take Off Your Pants & Jacket” was released the following year and continued the group’s hot streak. After a break for side projects Blink-182 took a slightly different tack on their self-titled ’03 release. Whether due to the album’s negative reception, internal disputes or just plain weariness, Blink-182 ceased. There was some backbiting between DeLonge and Hoppus but little else. Post Blink-182, DeLonge founded Angels & Airwaves. That kept him occupied but not nearly at Barker’s level. His marriage to former Miss USA Shanna Moakler was featured on MTV’s Meet The Barkers (‘05 – ‘06). Predictably, the marriage hit the skids in ’06 which more or less put an end to the series. Barker was on firmer ground as part of Box Car Racer with DeLonge and +44 with Hoppus, among numerous other projects.On September 20th, ’08 Barker landed (hard) in the news. He was seriously injured following a concert in West Columbia, SC when his plane, a Learjet, crashed off the runway due to a blown tire. Four people died but Barker and his musical partner DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) survived by sliding down the craft’s wing. Both were listed in critical but stable condition. “My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened . . . well, I’m just thankful to be alive,” said Barker.Following Barker’s near-death experience, it was DeLonge who had the change of heart. Having not talked to Hoppus since ‘05’s acrimonious split, DeLonge contacted Hoppus and Barker.Blink-182’s ’09 tour was their first in four years. It was clear they were taking things more seriously. “We used to walk onstage and forget our parts – we just wanted to play fast and look cool,” said Hoppus. “This time we want to be a little more artistic.”If a reunion tour goes well (or at least well enough), the next logical step is recording.Selling 151,000 copies in its debut week, “Neighborhoods,” landed at #2 on the Billboard 200, behind chart topper J. Cole (who sold 75,000 more units).A five-song EP, “Dogs Eating Dogs,” debuted at #23 on the Billboard 200. It went to #3 on the Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, #5 on the Rock chart and #2 on the Alternative Albums chart. When things should have been going smoothly, DeLonge had a falling out with his bandmates. Barker (pictured) stated that DeLonge’s “indefinite” departure from Blink-182 should be “definite.” “I think the right thing for him to do would (be to) just man up and quit the band. I think that would give him some closure (so he could) really do what he’s passionate about.” Barker also asserted that Punk was just a ‘phase’ for the guitarist. DeLonge subsequently left. Less than two weeks later, Blink-182 performed their first show without DeLonge. In his place at the Roxy in West Hollywood was Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba. Blink-182’s seventh studio album, “California,” dropped as the group embarked on a supporting tour. The album went to #1 in the U.S. and U.K. The group’s first set to feature Skiba was also their first to top the British chart.  Meanwhile, DeLonge (pictured) received the UFO Researcher of the Year award from the International UFO Congress for his work regarding extraterrestrial life.  In mid-’21. Hoppus revealed that he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for stage 4-A diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.  The treatment concluded later in the year with Hoppus stating the chemo “did the trick.” Hoppus’ cancer treatment led DeLonge to another change of heart. In ’22, the band officially confirmed that the guitarist had returned. Tours of Latin America, North America and Europe preceded the release of the band’s ninth studio album, “One More Time…” The ’23 set contained the title track, “More Than You Know” and “Dance With Me,” a homage to the legendary Ramones and was the first album since “11’s Neighborhoods” with the line-up of DeLonge, Hoppus and Barker. The post Blink-182 appeared first on RockinTown.