Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers-An Illustrated History
by Martin Popoff
Our Price: $99.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Martin PopoffEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-12-01
ISBN: 155022784X
Number of pages: 360
Publisher: ECW Press
Book Reviews of Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers-An Illustrated History
Book Review: As comprehensive as you're gonna get with Priest...
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is good enough and thorough enough that I don't feel I would need to seek out any other written work on Priest to connect the dots. Unless of course, when it's all over Priest actually writes their own tale, as their level of secrecy could only be cracked from the inside.
When a writer tackles an entire history of a band whose been around as long as Priest, I prefer that they primarily focus on the music. Popoff does this in spades. The chronological, album by album structure ties everything into the particular time frame of the albums. Thus, Popoff sticks to the music, the making of the albums, and what was going on with the band at the particular time.
I LOVE that this book in not sensationalized in any way. I'm not sure if this is because Priest keeps their inner workings so shrouded in mystery or because Popoff truly does not prefer to spend chapters on the PMRC, the Reno suicides, Dave Holland's extracurricalar activities, or Rob Halford's coming out. Ultimately, I like that these more gossipy tidbits are covered briefly and relevantly within the context of the time frame at hand.
Popoff is smart to start off with the disclaimer that Priest are quite protective of their legacy and their inner workings, and that they often do not give a lot of the grit in their responses to questions. I think this is a strength of Priest. They do not give us the Dirt as it were. This keeps a healthy element of mystery to them, which intrigues me and keeps me interested in what they do. Priest do load their interviews with metal cliches and are smoothly protective in defending their work. Somehow, Popoff still manages to give us a great deal of insight and history into the band.
Popoff does an excellent job of letting the band, or those involved with the band, tell the story, while injecting a nice balance of his own views and opinions. This is top-rate journalism.
As for his opinions, I agree with many and disagree with quite a few as well. I agree with Popoff's disappointment with the album British Steel, which is probably the most overrated album in Priest's catalog. I am a bit more partial to most of Priest's 80's (Screaming, Defenders, even Turbo and Ram It Down) work, while Popoff is more impressed with the 70's output, which is fantastic in it's own right.
Like many, I find the debate and argument over the song Loch Ness most fascinating. Popoff clearly does not like the song. It is one of my favorite Priest songs. There are many who do not have the tolerance for this epic song, feeling that it meanders on too long and doesn't really grab you anywhere. I was more in agreement with KK's take on the song. It is a great mood piece. It takes you on a long journey, which you can really sit and get into, rather than the song ending just after you catch the wave. Like another reviewer said, it is to Popoff's credit in this instance and with many others, that he presents opposing opinions to his. Debating over songs and albums is part of what makes metal the joy that it is.
Lastly, I appreciate that Popoff gives detailed attention to the Ripper years as well as the bands outside projects (Glenn Tipton, Fight, Two, Halford). He could've easily brushed over those quickly, or not even included some of it. Also, the visual elements of the book are top notch! You really get the feel of each particular era through the inclusion of the photos and visuals (ticket stubs, singles, t-shirts). This is great stuff!
Summary of Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers-An Illustrated History
With the 2005 release of their acclaimed new album Angel of Retribution, a comprehensive biography of the legendary heavy metal band Judas Priest was long overdue. Packed with full-color photos from the stage, album covers, and memorabilia shots, each album is recounted song by song alongside interviews that span the rocky, often comical ride of heavy metal?s proudest ambassadors in this definitive biography. Covering all the major moments—from Rob Halford's outing as gay, to their notorious subliminal message trial, to the fan who inspired the Mark Wahlberg film Rockstar by becoming the lead singer—this collector?s item is sure to satisfy true metalheads and rock aficionados alike.
Music Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Music Books
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brainby Oliver Sacks
Knopf Publishing Group; Published: 2008; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.45
Listenby Joseph Kerman, Gary Tomlinson
Bedford/St. Martin's; Published: 2007-02-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $23.00
The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Centuryby Alex Ross
Picador; Published: 2008-10-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.84
Price in other shops:
Forever Young: Photographs of Bob Dylanby Douglas R. Gilbert, Dave Marsh
Da Capo Press; Published: 2006-10-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.55
Price in other shops:
Heroes And Villains: The True Story Of The Beach Boysby Steven Gaines
Da Capo Press; Published: 1995-08-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.15
Price in other shops:
Handbook for Sound Engineers, Third Editionby Glen Ballou
Focal Press; Published: 2002-01-21; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
Jazz Anecdotesby Bill Crow
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1990-05-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $24.18
Lovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williamsby Paul Hemphill
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2006-08-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
How to Train Singers/ Book and Tapeby Larra Browning Henderson
Parker; Published: 1991-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.95
Price in other shops:
I, Tina: My Life Story (icon!t)by Tina Turner, Kurt Loder
It Books; Published: 2010-06-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
AC/ DC: High-Voltage Rock 'n' Roll: The Ultimate Illustrated Historyby Phil Sutcliffe
Voyageur Press; Published: 2010-10-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.06
Price in other shops:
Judas Priest - Rocka RollaRelease date: 2000-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.40
Price in other shops:
Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metalby Eddie Trunk
Abrams Image; Published: 2011-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.50
Price in other shops:
Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbathby Tony Iommi
Da Capo Press; Published: 2011-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.91
Price in other shops:
Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith (Exp)Release date: 2001-05-29; Music CD
Best price: $4.82
Price in other shops:
Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozzby Rudy Sarzo
TOO SMART! Publishing; Published: 2008-09-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.04
Price in other shops:
White Line Fever: The Autobiographyby Lemmy Kilmister
Citadel; Published: 2004-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.73
Price in other shops:
Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose: An Illustrated Historyby Martin Popoff
ECW Press; Published: 2006-08-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.83
Price in other shops:
Judas Priest: Metal Gods (Rebels of Rock)by Brian J. Bowe
Enslow Publishers, Inc.; Published: 2009-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95