Ep 2. Judas Priest

Behind the Music Remastered is an American television series that features interviews and retrospectives of famous musicians and bands, with the aim of shedding light on their stories, successes, and struggles. In season 1, episode 2, the show takes a look at Judas Priest, a pioneering heavy metal band that rose to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s.

The episode starts by charting the early days of Judas Priest, when they were just a group of young men from Birmingham, England, who were passionate about music. The band members talk about their influences and their desire to create a sound that was louder, faster, and heavier than anything that had come before. They also discuss the challenges of being a heavy metal band in a time when the genre was misunderstood and often despised.

As the episode progresses, we see Judas Priest rise to fame, with the release of their breakthrough album, British Steel. The band members recount the excitement and the pressure of suddenly being in the spotlight, and the grueling tour schedule that followed. They also discuss the controversy surrounding their music, with some religious groups claiming that their lyrics were promoting Satanism.

Despite these obstacles, Judas Priest continued to push the boundaries of heavy metal, experimenting with new sounds and themes. The episode delves into their later albums, such as Screaming for Vengeance and Defenders of the Faith, which became iconic in the world of heavy metal.

However, the episode also tackles the darker side of fame, with the band discussing their struggles with addiction and the toll that touring took on their personal lives. They talk about the pressures of constantly being in the public eye, and the difficulty of maintaining relationships and friendships while on the road.

The episode concludes by looking at Judas Priest's legacy, and their influence on the heavy metal genre as a whole. The band members discuss the impact that their music has had on later generations of musicians, and the enduring appeal of heavy metal to this day.

Throughout the episode, we see archival footage of live performances and music videos, as well as interviews with former band members, music critics, and other industry insiders. The show also features animated reenactments of key moments in the band's story, adding a unique visual element to the storytelling.

In short, Behind the Music Remastered season 1, episode 2, is a fascinating look at one of the most iconic heavy metal bands of all time. By exploring the highs and lows of Judas Priest's career, the episode offers a compelling insight into what it takes to make it in the music industry and the enduring power of music to touch people's lives.