Judas Priest - "Defenders Of The Faith" 35th Anniversary

In 1984, Heavy Metal had broken into the mainstream. Judas Priest releases their 9th studio album, "Defenders Of The Faith," on this day in 1984.  Judas Priest is riding high after a successful album, "Screaming For Vengeance," (1982) and tour, which includes a midday performance at the Us Festival in May, '83.

"Defenders Of The Faith," is recorded in Spain and mixed in Miami, Florida in the fall of 1983. "Freewheel Burning," is released as a promotional single in December and by January, 1984, Judas Priest launches the Metal Conqueror Tour across North America, Europe and Japan. Tracks include fan favorites, "Freewheel Burning," "Love Bites," and "Eat Me Alive," which was listed as number 3 on the PMRC's (Parent Music Resource Center) "Filthy Fifteen," list of the most objectionable songs. Senator's wife Tipper Gore, who suffered from sex on the brain and too much time on her hands, believed "Eat Me Alive" was about oral sex at gun point. Maybe it was. But nobody asked you, Tipper. "Parental Guidance" on Priest's 1986 album "Turbo," would be their response to the unelected busy body.

For the 30th anniversary of "Screaming For Vengeance," Judas Priest reissues the album to include two full CDs worth of live audio recorded at the May 5,1984 show at the legendary Long Beach Arena.