Glenn Tipton, one of metal’s greatest guitarists, was born today in England in 1947. Best known as half of Judas Priest’s dual-guitar attack, Tipton has been with the band since 1974. He joined just prior to their first album, “Rocka Rolla”, and has been on every album since then.

Tipton started off as virtually all British guitarists of that era started, playing blues-based rock and roll. He was heavily influenced by Rory Gallagher, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Winwood, Jimmy Page and Peter Green – all bluesmen in their own right – as well as the Stones and the Beatles. What he has evolved into is someone that now influences others, including Dave Mustaine and Kerry King.

When he joined Judas Priest they very much in the form of any other English blues rock band. As Tipton became more integrated into the band his songwriting became integral to Priest’s movement toward being a true metal band. It can be argued that the addition of Tipton is what led the band in this direction.

On their second album, 1976’s “Sad Wings of Destiny”, Tipton co-wrote every song and three of the nine songs were his creation alone, including the Priest standard “The Ripper”. This would continue on future albums with Tipton being involved in the lion’s share of songwriting.

Here is “The Ripper” live in 1979: