Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Judas Priest, the metal gods themselves. Judas Priest has been one of the most influential bands both in the sound and look of heavy metal. They one of the most important heavy metal bands and although sometimes wrongly lumped in with the NWOBHM, they were playing much earlier than any of those bands. The vast majority of Priest music has been written by Halford, K.K., and Glenn. On earlier albums Ian contributed to the writing. Since Redeemer of Souls Richie has taken K.K.’s spot on guitar and writing. This list will focus on the core line up of Halford, Glenn, K.K., Ian as well as Richie for the main list but I will mention other members below.

Bessie Smith

Mel Tormé

Frank Sinatra

As Important as Halford has been to metal, it could be said Little Richard held that position of importance in early rock n roll. Little Richard was one of the singers Halford was listening to as a teen.

Tony Bennett

Elvis was at the forefront of the rock n roll explosion in the 50’s. Halford named him as an influence.

David Bowie was quite different from the others playing rock in his time. Halford is a big fan saying he has all of his stuff and calls The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars his favorite album from him. — David Bowie was quite different from the others playing rock in his time. Halford is a big fan saying he has all of his stuff and calls *The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars* his favorite album from him.

One of the early bands to push rock into a harder sound, The who has influenced many. Halford named Robert Daltrey as an early influence.

The Rolling Stones are among the most classic of rock bands. Halford said they sounded classic even when they were new.

Jimi Hendrix is one of the most influential guitar players of his time and after. He was one of the inspirations for Halford to get into music. K.K. named him as his main influence saying Hendrix was the future of guitar playing when he started. Gl… — Jimi Hendrix is one of the most influential guitar players of his time and after. He was one of the inspirations for Halford to get into music. K.K. named him as his main influence saying Hendrix was the future of guitar playing when he started. Glenn also names Hendrix as a huge influence. Ian and Richie also names Hendrix as an influence.

Janis Joplin was as soul/blues singer in the psychedelic late 60’s. Halford named her as one of the singers he was listing to in his teen years.

Cream were heavy psychedelic rockers in the lat 60’s with Eric Clapton being very inspirational. Halford named Cream as one of the bands that inspired him to get into music. Ian also names Cream as an influence.

John Mayall’s band was an influential blues/rock band in their time. Halford said they were an important band to him. Ian names them as a influence noting all the amazing players that had stents in the band.

Deep Purple started more of a rock band before going to a heavier hard rock and metal sound at times. They are hugely influential on metal as a whole. Glenn named them as an influence. — Deep Purple started more of a rock band before going to a heavier hard rock and metal sound at times. They are hugely influential on metal as a whole. Glenn and Richie named them as an influence.

Fleetwood Mac started as a blues band with Peter Green. Ian named them as an influence.

The biggest most influential hard rock band in their time, Led Zeppelin had a big impact on music. Halford named Robert Plant as one of his influences as well as a peer and friend. Glenn and Ian also names them as a big influence.

Rory Gallagher was an Irish blues guitarist and a band called Taste. Glenn names him as a huge influence and a guitar player that made him want to play guitar.

Free was a progressive rock band and is named as an influence on Ian.

Colosseum was a jazz rock/ progressive rock band. Ian was a big fan.

King Crimson was a progressive rock band that influenced many. Halford named them as one of the bands that inspired him to get into music.

Alice Cooper was for sure the original king of shock rock. Halford says he was inspired by his stage performance.

Queen took rock to new places and have become hugely influential. Halford said they were a life changing band for him. Richie also named Brian May as an influence.

Pantera completely changed the world of metal when they released Cowboys from Hell. It interesting to see a band inspired by Priest to someday be an inspiration back on Priest. Halford said they was a inspiration on Priest and notes how they chan… — Pantera completely changed the world of metal when they released *Cowboys from Hell*. It interesting to see a band inspired by Priest to someday be an inspiration back on Priest. Halford said they was a inspiration on Priest and notes how they changed the metal world.

Late Phase

With the addition of Richie much later in the career of the band, he brings new influences to the band

The Fathers of Heavy Metal, Black Sabbath. They were named as an influence by Richie

Thin Lizzy were a Rock band and metal dabblers known for their harmonies. Richie named them as an influence.

UFO were a hard rock band that has influenced many bands. Richie named them and Michael Schenker as an influence.

As with many big bands with long careers, when eventually bringing in younger musicians the band becomes an influence on its self. Richie named Priest as an influence.

Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple formed Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio on vocals. Ritchie named Rainbow as an influence as well.

Van Halen had a huge impact in the musical world. Richie named Eddie as an influence.

Iron Maiden has been one of the most influential metal bands. Richie names them as one of his influences and more specifically named Dave Murray.

After starting off in Black Sabbath, Ozzy went on to form his own band featuring many great and influential musicians. Richie named both Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde as influences.

Fathers of Thrash metal, Metallica became one of the most influential metal bands of all time. Richie named them as an influence and specifically named James Hetfield.

Halford has an eclectic taste in music saying he doesn’t think a true musician should limit what they listen to and take inspiration from anything that moves them.

Halford names his three favorite singers as Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson, and Robert Plant.

Glenn mentions being influenced by classical music but doesn’t name any particular composers. He also mentions listening to Robert Johnson when he first started playing, but consistently names Hendrix and Gallagher as his two biggest influences.

Although none of the classic members of Priest name Sabbath as an influence, Glenn names “Paranoid” as one of his favorite songs.

K.K. names Hendrix as his main and biggest influence.

Les Binks wrote the music of “Beyond the Realms of Death” and drummed on three albums. He said he grew up listening to Hendrix, Cream, Zeppelin, Deep Purple. When he began doing session drumming he branched out and got into bands like The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Billy Cobham on drums, also Chic Corea’s Return to Forever with Lenny White on drums.

Scott Travis only has one co-writting credit but certainly helped take Priest’s sound to a new level when he joined. For influences he named John Bonham and Neil Peart and Alex Van Halen, Tommy Aldridge, Ian Paice as well as Ringo Starr.

Richie Faulkner names influences as Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, UFO, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Metallica, Brian May, Eddie VanHalen, Michael Schenker, Zakk Wylde, Dave Murray, James Hetfield, and Randy Rhoads.

Tim “Ripper” Owens has not writing credits with the band (minus a bonus track). His first intrest in music was from stuff his dad listened to such as Elvis, Dion and the Belmonts, Bachman–Turner Overdrive, Aerosmith, Rolling Stones, and Johnny Cash. As a kid he was in choir and music classes. He then got into Kiss, Reo Speedwagon, and metal when he first heard Judas Priest’s album Screaming for Vengeance. Other bands he liked include Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Death Angel. He said he didn’t really get into the more glam stuff. He said early on he could only sing like either Brian Johnson (AC/DC) or Halford. He said he widened his skill from listening to Chris Cornell. He names his influences as Halford, Dio, David Wayne (Metal Church), Jon Oliva (Savatage), Chris Cornell (Sound Garden), and David Bowie.

Al Atkins sung in Priest before Halford and has writing credits on the first few albums but was not on any albums with the band. He named influences as The Who, Cream, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple.

Bands influenced by Judas Priest!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

German Thrash and first wave black metal

German Heavy/Speed/Power metal band Grave Digger!

FUCKIN’ SLAYER!!!!!!!!

Often considered the fathers of Death Metal

Classic Death Metal

Symphonic Metal leaders, Bassist Marco is mostly inspired by traditional heavy metal.

Ensiferum are folk metalers with a heavy traditional metal influence

Warbringer are among the the biggest of modern thrash bands.

If you are a complete newb that has yet to hear the greatness of Judas Priest check out Judas Priest 101.

Judas Priest 101

Judas Priest: Albums Ranked

Sources:

http://www.vh1.com/video-clips/80egpv/digital-originals-rob-halford-s-vocal-influences
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/rg7xqr/judas-preists-rob-halford-unrepentant-63-year-old-metalhead
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/judas_priests_rob_halford_names_top_3_favorite_singers_answers_if_politics_belong_in_metal.html
https://www.loudersound.com/features/rob-halford-there-was-only-one-pantera
https://koreaguitar1.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/20-questions-with-k-k-downing/
https://metalinjection.net/shocking-revelations/k-k-downing-says-jimi-hendrix-influenced-judas-priests-riffs-more-than-black-sabbath
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ex-judas-priest-guitarist-kk-downing-talks-heavy-metal-new-book-jimi-hendrix-728477/
https://web.archive.org/web/20171023230535/http://www.guitarhoo.com/interviews/kk-downing-93
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http://www.glenntipton.co.uk/musical-influences/
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http://www.wikimetal.com.br/interview-with-glenn-tipton-judas-priest/
http://bravewords.com/news/judas-priest-guitarist-glenn-tipton-jimi-hendrix-was-my-first-guitar-inspiration
https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/ten-albums-that-changed-judas-priest-bassist-ian-hills-life#:~:text=While%20vocalist%20Rob%20Halford%20screamed,through%20London%20in%20the%20'60s.
https://thecosmickview.blogspot.com/2020/01/interview-with-legendary-drummer-les.html
https://www.njarts.net/pop-rock/judas-priests-scott-travis-talks-about-new-firepower-album/
http://mhf-mag.com/interviews/al-atkins-founder-of-judas-priest-interview/#:~:text=A%20big%20influence%20on%20myself,Purple%20with%20vocalist%20Ian%20Gillan%20%E2%80%A6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=23&v=N76U5YPrh5c
https://www.themusiczoo.com/blogs/news/the-music-zoo-interviews-richie-faulkner-of-judas-priest
http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=12722
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https://vinylwritermusic.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/an-interview-with-tim-ripper-owens-of-k-k-s-priest/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS9k0ckKmdU&t=153s