10 Greatest Hard Rock Guitarists Of The '70s

Judas Priest marked the moment where metal found its true identity. After years of bands defying ownership of the genre, Priest ran with the title, creating the trademark denim and leather look that would become the unintended uniform for metalheads going forward. Even though it's easy to get caught up in the colossal notes of Rob Halford, the real musical magic came in the twin guitar assault of KK Downing and Glenn Tipton.

Right off the bat, the way that these two would lock in on a riff hits you like a wrecking ball, almost as if you're seeing a monster about to tear you limb from limb. It's almost strange to consider their cohesiveness when their solo stylings are almost contrary images of each other. On one side, Tipton would tear your head off with leads that were deadly accurate, whereas Downing's touch with a whammy bar made him an incredible showman when the group performed live.

Above all else, these two don't often get enough credit for changing with the times, as they grew from the juggernaut of Victim of Changes to You've Got Another Comin in the '80s and even Painkiller in the '90s. Though the Priest might not have either of these ministers at full capacity anymore, these signature licks have made believers out of fans for years now.