Introduction to a Legendary Band

The ballad of a legendary British Heavy-Metal band and Rock’n’roll Hall of Fame members is based on Sony Music Vision. No publication date was announced for the film, which was compiled by the documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn and Tom Morello in his directorial debut.

The Band’s History and Achievements

Judas Priest is one of the real pioneers of heavy metal. The band sold more than 50 million records and published 19 studio albums as a band in their 50 years. With their album "Invincible Shield" 2024, the band was the first heavy metal band that published the studio albums for 50 years from each other. This autumn, they will be accompanied by Alice Cooper for a co-headliner tour in 22 North American cities.

Inspiration Behind the Documentary

The title of the document reflects the inspiration for the name of the band, Bob Dylan’s song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" from 1967. This nod to their namesake sets the stage for a documentary that explores the band’s history and legacy.

A Glimpse into the Band’s Life

In a collective explanation, the band members said: "We have lived and breathed metal for over five decades and finally in this documentary, we summon our community in order to officially observe our lives how it is uncensored, in a way that has never seen before … The cassock comes off and reveals Priester in all of its metal-Ruhm!" This statement hints at the intimate and unfiltered look at the band’s life that the documentary promises to deliver.

The Documentary’s Perspective

Co-Directors Morello and Dunn added, "While some Judas priests know for their huge hits who have shaped the heavy metal genre, their history has so much more. This film follows her incredible 50-year journey and captures how Judas priests both defined the sound and appearance of metal, but also to a more integrative place." They expressed their gratitude to the band for allowing them to have intimate, unrestricted access to their lives and look forward to bringing this film to the metal masses around the world.

Production and Distribution

The documentary is a production of Banger films, directed by Sam Dunn and Tom Morello. The producers include Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, with Tom Morello, Rick Krim, Sheila Stepanek, and Jayne Andrews serving as producers. Tom Mackay, Krista Wegener, and Abby Davis act as executive producers for Sony Music Vision, and Sylvia Rhone is an executive producer of Epic Records. The film is presented and distributed by Sony Music Vision.