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 is one of the band's better-known singles and is recognised by its opening guitar riff. The song has been performed countless times around the world and is known for its sound effects, including breaking glass and a police siren.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song name | Breaking the Law |
| Band | Judas Priest |
| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Year of release | 1980 |
| Album | British Steel |
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What You'll Learn
- The song 'Breaking the Law' is performed by British heavy metal band Judas Priest
- The song was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel
- The song is one of the band's better-known singles
- The song is recognised by its opening guitar riff
- The song features sound effects, including the sound of breaking glass and a police siren
The song 'Breaking the Law' is performed by British heavy metal band Judas Priest
The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton and Rob Halford, who also sings the chorus. Tipton recalled to *Billboard* magazine:
> We used to meet up at various houses to write, and we just broke into that riff one day and the song wrote itself. We wrote that song in about an hour, I think. Rob just started singing, 'Breaking the law, breaking the law,' and before we knew it we had a classic Priest song.
The song features sound effects, including the sound of breaking glass and a police siren. More recent live performances have featured a short solo by K. K. Downing over the bridge.
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The song was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel
'Breaking the Law' is a song by the English heavy metal band Judas Priest. The song was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel. Judas Priest are known for their powerful and distinctive sound, and 'Breaking the Law' is recognised as one of their most popular singles. The song is characterised by its memorable opening guitar riff, which was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton.
The song's origins can be traced back to a rainy day in a farmhouse in Staffordshire, where Tipton and the band convened to write music. The riff for 'Breaking the Law' came together quickly, with singer Rob Halford spontaneously singing the now-iconic chorus. The song was written in about an hour, according to Tipton, and it soon became a classic Judas Priest anthem.
The album British Steel is considered a landmark release in the band's career. It marked a shift in their sound towards a more commercial and accessible style, while still retaining the heavy metal edge that defined their earlier work. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike and helped to solidify Judas Priest's place as one of the leading heavy metal acts of the time.
'Breaking the Law' has since become a staple of the band's live performances, with Halford's powerful vocals and the song's anthemic chorus resonating with audiences around the world. The song's enduring popularity is a testament to its catchy riff and memorable lyrics, which have made it one of the most recognisable songs in the Judas Priest catalogue.
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The song is one of the band's better-known singles
'Breaking the Law' is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest. It was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel. The song is one of the band's better-known singles, and is recognised by its opening guitar riff.
The song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, who recalled to Billboard magazine: "We used to meet up at various houses to write, and we just broke into that riff one day and the song wrote itself. We wrote that song in about an hour, I think. Rob just started singing, 'Breaking the law, breaking the law,' and before we knew it we had a classic Priest song."
The song has been performed countless times around the world, from Rio to Texas to Honolulu. More recent live performances of the song have featured a short solo by K. K. Downing over the bridge. The outro of the song is the main riff played repeatedly with Halford singing the chorus and Downing playing power chords. The song features some sound effects, including the sound of breaking glass and a police siren.
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The song is recognised by its opening guitar riff
The song 'Breaking the Law' is recognised by its opening guitar riff. It was written and performed by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, and was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel. The song is one of the band's better-known singles, and has been performed countless times around the world.
The riff was written by Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, who recalled to Billboard magazine: "We used to meet up at various houses to write, and we just broke into that riff one day and the song wrote itself. We wrote that song in about an hour, I think. Rob just started singing, 'Breaking the law, breaking the law,' and before we knew it we had a classic Priest song."
The song features sound effects including the sound of breaking glass and a police siren. More recent live performances of the song have featured a short solo by K. K. Downing over the bridge. The outro of the song is the main riff played repeatedly with Halford singing the chorus and Downing playing power chords.
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The song features sound effects, including the sound of breaking glass and a police siren
The song 'Breaking the Law' is performed by the English heavy metal band Judas Priest. It was originally released on their 1980 album British Steel. The song is one of the band's better-known singles and is recognised by its opening guitar riff.
> We used to meet up at various houses to write, and we just broke into that riff one day and the song wrote itself. Rob just started singing, 'Breaking the law, breaking the law,' and before we knew it we had a classic Priest song.
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Frequently asked questions
'Breaking the Law' is a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest.
The song was originally released in 1980 on the album *British Steel*.
The lyrics include the line 'Breaking the law, breaking the law', as well as references to breaking glass and police sirens.
The song features a guitar riff and power chords.
