Keith Mack
Breaking the Law is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, originally released on their 1980 album *British Steel*. The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing. It has since been covered by the likes of Motorhead, Saxon and Doro, and has received interpretations on harp guitar, grand piano, and by a Buddhist monk playing percussion and a stringed instrument.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Band | Judas Priest |
| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Year of release | 1980 |
| Album | British Steel |
| Band members | Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing, Ian Hill, John Ellis |
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What You'll Learn
- Judas Priest wrote and originally sang 'Breaking the Law'
- The song was released on their 1980 album 'British Steel'
- The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing
- The song reached No. 12 in the UK charts
- The song has been covered by Motorhead, Saxon and Doro
Judas Priest wrote and originally sang 'Breaking the Law'
The song has since been covered by peers like Motorhead, Saxon, and Doro, and has received interpretations on harp guitar, grand piano, and by a Buddhist monk playing percussion and a stringed instrument. It has also been performed countless times around the world, in places such as Rio, Texas and Honolulu.
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The song was released on their 1980 album 'British Steel'
The song 'Breaking the Law' was originally released by British heavy metal band Judas Priest on their 1980 album British Steel. The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist K.K. Downing. The song was conceived in a farmhouse in Staffordshire, with Tipton taking the basic framework of the song to his writing partners, who helped with the final arrangement. The song features crunching guitars, metronome drums and a bellow-your-lungs-out chorus.
The song has since been covered by Motorhead, Saxon and Doro, and has been interpreted on harp guitar, grand piano, and by a Buddhist monk playing percussion and a stringed instrument. It has also been performed countless times around the world, in places such as Rio, Texas and Honolulu.
'Breaking the Law' reached No. 12 in the U.K. and gradually became a mainstream rock radio staple during the 1980s and beyond. Judas Priest have played the song at almost every show over the last many decades, including at their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
The song's original lyrics were "sexing the butt, sexing the butt", but this was deemed too explicit for record labels. The lyrics were then changed to "Breaking the Law", and the song was approved for release.
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The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing
Judas Priest originally sang 'Breaking the Law'. The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing. It was released on their 1980 album British Steel.
'Breaking the Law' was written in a farmhouse in Staffordshire. Tipton took the basic framework of the song to his writing partners, who helped with the final arrangement. The song balances crunching guitars, metronome drums and a bellow-your-lungs-out chorus.
The song has been covered by Motorhead, Saxon and Doro, and has received interpretations on harp guitar, grand piano and by a Buddhist monk playing percussion and a stringed instrument. It has become a staple of mainstream rock radio.
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The song reached No. 12 in the UK charts
Judas Priest's song 'Breaking the Law' reached No. 12 in the UK charts. The song was originally released on their 1980 album *British Steel*. It was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing.
The song was inspired by Tipton's experience of a confrontation with a police officer. The original lyrics were "sexing the butt, sexing the butt", but this was deemed too explicit for record labels, so the band changed it to "Breaking the Law".
'Breaking the Law' has since been covered by Motorhead, Saxon, and Doro, and has been interpreted on harp guitar, grand piano, and by a Buddhist monk playing percussion and a stringed instrument. It has become a staple of mainstream rock radio and is one of the band's most famous songs.
Judas Priest were founded in 1969 in Birmingham, England, after a local band named Judas Priest (after a Bob Dylan song) split up. The band's singer, Al Atkins, approached KK Downing and Ian Hill, who were playing as a power trio with drummer John Ellis, and asked to become their singer.
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The song has been covered by Motorhead, Saxon and Doro
'Breaking the Law' was originally released by British heavy metal band Judas Priest on their 1980 album *British Steel*. The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, vocalist Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing.
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Frequently asked questions
Judas Priest.
1980.
*British Steel*.
