Breaking The Law

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the iconic track "Breaking The Law" by Judas Priest from their seminal album British Steel for all the Zoo Freaks out there. This song, released in 1980, is packed with trivia that makes it a standout. The police siren sound in the track was creatively produced by guitarist K.K. Downing using the tremolo arm on his Stratocaster, a clever workaround since digital sampling wasn’t widely available. The song’s raw energy was inspired by the social unrest in the UK during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with Rob Halford writing lyrics that captured the frustration of working-class Brits amid strikes and austerity. Halford noted in a 2017 Rolling Stone Music Now podcast that the song connected with the "human rage" of the era. The music video, directed by Julien Temple, adds a humorous twist, showing the band "robbing" a bank for a gold record of British Steel, with Halford playfully committing a "moving violation" by standing while driving the getaway car. Interestingly, the video’s bank heist isn’t technically illegal, as it depicts the band retrieving their own property.

Another fun tidbit comes from the recording process at Tittenhurst Park, Ringo Starr’s estate. The band used milk bottles, delivered fresh by a milkman, to create the sound of breaking glass in the song, adding to its gritty vibe. In a 2020 Metal Hammer interview, Halford, Downing, and Glenn Tipton shared how they embraced analog chaos, like shaking cutlery trays for "Metal Gods," the B-side to "Breaking The Law," to mimic marching metal feet. The song’s cultural impact is undeniable—Beavis and Butthead famously rocked out to it, with the duo’s chaotic antics mirroring the song’s rebellious spirit. Posts on X highlight its legacy, noting that Motörhead covered it in 2008 for a Judas Priest tribute album, Hell Bent Forever. Fans on Reddit’s Judas Priest community often cite "Breaking The Law" as an overplayed but untouchable classic, with its simple yet infectious riff and chantable chorus.

Judas Priest began in Birmingham, England, in 1969, emerging from the industrial heartland that also birthed Black Sabbath. The band’s early lineup included vocalist Al Atkins, bassist Ian Hill, guitarist K.K. Downing, and drummer John Ellis, with Rob Halford joining in 1973 after Hill’s girlfriend recommended him. Their debut album, Rocka Rolla (1974), leaned into hard rock with bluesy undertones, but it was Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) that started defining their heavier sound. Despite critical praise, commercial success eluded them until British Steel in 1980, which streamlined their style into concise, radio-friendly metal anthems. The band cycled through drummers—Dave Holland joined for British Steel—and faced production challenges in the 1970s, but their persistence paid off. By 1980, they were pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, influencing thrash and power metal. Their leather-and-studs aesthetic, cemented in the late 1970s, became a metal staple, with Halford’s soaring vocals and the twin-guitar attack of Downing and Tipton setting them apart.

Stay connected with Judas Priest through their official website, where you can find tour dates and merch. Follow them on Facebook, with over 3.9 million likes, for updates on albums like Invincible Shield. Their Instagram offers behind-the-scenes glimpses, while X keeps fans in the loop with posts like their recent nod to British Steel’s 45th anniversary. For Zoo Freaks who want to dive deeper, check out the r/judaspriest subreddit, a vibrant fan hub for memes, concert stories, and debates about the best Halford screams. Fan sites like The Judas Priest offer detailed discographies and news, making it easy to keep the metal spirit alive.