Diamonds And Rust

Zoo Freaks, get ready to dive into some killer trivia about Judas Priest's rendition of "Diamonds And Rust" from their 1977 album Sin After Sin. This track is a cover of a folk classic originally written and performed by Joan Baez in 1975, reflecting on her past relationship with Bob Dylan. Judas Priest transformed this delicate acoustic ballad into a thundering heavy metal anthem, a move that shocked their label and fans alike. In an interview with The Washington Post, lead singer Rob Halford recalled the band's initial reaction when their label suggested the cover: they were skeptical, thinking, "This isn’t heavy metal!" But after a few listens, they realized the song’s strength could shine in any genre. Halford noted it was an "epiphany" for the band, proving a great song could be reimagined as a "big metal monster." This cover became their first song to gain radio play, opening doors to American audiences.

Joan Baez herself was thrilled with Judas Priest’s version. In a 2010 interview with Blabbermouth.net, she said, "I love that! I was so stunned when I first heard it. I thought it was wonderful." She even shared a heartwarming story at Live Aid in 1985, when she met Halford backstage. Baez told him her son preferred Judas Priest’s version over hers, a moment Halford described as humbling, given Baez’s legendary status. The band’s producer, Roger Glover of Deep Purple fame, pushed for the cover to add commercial appeal, a decision that paid off as it became a staple in their live sets. Fans on Reddit’s Judas Priest community often debate which version reigns supreme, with some praising the raw energy of the earlier, heavier take recorded for Sad Wings of Destiny but left off that album.

Judas Priest’s journey to covering "Diamonds And Rust" began in the gritty streets of Birmingham, England, where the band formed in 1969. Emerging from the industrial heartland, they were influenced by the raw energy of bands like Black Sabbath. Bassist Ian Hill and guitarist K.K. Downing, schoolmates with a passion for rock, started the group, initially playing covers before crafting their own sound. Rob Halford joined in 1973, introduced by Hill’s girlfriend, who was Halford’s sister. His soaring vocals and theatrical presence became a defining element of their style. By 1974, they released their debut album, Rocka Rolla, on the small Gull Records label, but it was their move to Columbia Records and the release of Sin After Sin that marked their major-label breakthrough. Their leather-and-studs aesthetic, pioneered in the late ’70s, gave heavy metal a bold new visual identity.

The band’s early years were marked by struggles with indifferent production and a revolving door of drummers, but their innovative sound—blending rapid guitar riffs, double bass drumming, and Halford’s operatic screams—set them apart. By 1980, their album British Steel catapulted them to global fame, cementing their status as "Metal Gods," a nickname inspired by their song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" by Bob Dylan. With over 50 million albums sold, Judas Priest remains a titan of heavy metal, known for their relentless energy and genre-defining work. You can keep up with them on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather at sites like Encyclopaedia Metallum and the Judas Priest Fan Club on Facebook to share their love for the band’s legacy.