Alan John "Al" Atkins (born 11 October 1947 in West Bromwich, Birmingham, England) is a hard rock vocalist, perhaps best known for his association with Judas Priest. He began his musical career in 1964, singing in a succession of blues-rock outfits before forming a band in September 1969, named Judas Priest (named after the Bob Dylan song The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest). Featuring a musical direction unrelated to the future metal band