10 Best Rock Album Openers Of The 1980s
7. Breaking The Law - Judas Priest (British Steel)
Judas Priest had been slowly gaining momentum throughout the 1970s, but they exploded onto the scene with this release in the first year of the next decade.
1980's British Steel not only sold well in their native land, but it also granted the group a precious foothold in America. Once this was out into the world, there was no going back for the leather-clad lads.
They gave fans something special right from the get-go, as they offered up what would become their signature song as the album's opening salvo. Breaking the Law was written to be short, sweet, and simple, and it was all of those things and more.
The early '80s were a tumultuous time in UK politics, so the band reflected these anti-authority sentiments in their music. The song got people in the mood to jump around and smash stuff up, but gratefully not to the extent where they'd actually go out and kill somebody.
This mass appeal version of rebellion propelled the song to the UK top 15 and ensured its place on many a "Best Of" '80s metal countdown.
Hopefully nobody was actually inspired to break the law because of it.