The Pete Waterman Collab with Judas Priest We Never Got to Hear

In a fusion of heavy metal and pop music, Judas Priest's collaboration with Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) was an ambitious project that never saw the light of day. The project, dating back to the late 1980s, involved the legendary heavy metal band Judas Priest recording tracks with the equally renowned British pop production team of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. The trio, known for producing hits for artists like Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue, crafted three songs with the band, including a cover of “You Are Everything” by The Stylistics. This unlikely partnership aimed to create a groundbreaking crossover, blending the raw power of metal with the catchiness of pop.

The project has since become a source of intrigue and nostalgia for the involved parties and fans alike. Pete Waterman, in particular, has recently expressed his lingering regret over the collaboration's shelving. Describing it as “the biggest hit we never had,” Waterman lamented what could have been a global sensation. He reflected on the vibrant recording sessions in Paris, noting the potential global success that the collaboration might have achieved. However, concerns over Judas Priest's image and the possibility of the pop tracks overshadowing their heavy metal identity led to the project's abandonment. Despite the regret, Waterman fondly recalled the mutual respect and the musical energy shared during those sessions.

Frontman Rob Halford has also voiced his nostalgia and support for the unreleased tracks. In interviews, Halford reminisced about the excitement of the Paris recording sessions and the innovative spirit that drove the collaboration. He shares Waterman's sentiment that the songs had the potential to be significant hits and appreciates the quality of the music produced. Halford suggests a more liberal approach to the music's release, hoping to see the tracks eventually leaked, perhaps on platforms like TikTok, to gauge public reaction.

The project was not without internal debate within Judas Priest. While Halford championed the collaboration as an artistic experiment, other band members were more cautious. Concerns about the band's credibility in the heavy metal community and potential backlash from fans contributed to their decision to keep the collaboration under wraps. Guitarist K.K. Downing has mentioned the band's decision to shelve the tracks despite acknowledging their professional quality. The fears of compromising their identity were too significant to ignore, leading to a unanimous decision not to release the music.

Yet, as time progresses, perspectives on the unreleased tracks are shifting. The collaboration has gained a mythical status, and there is growing curiosity about what might have been. The music industry has evolved, and the stigma around genre-blending has diminished, leading key figures, including Halford, to openly advocate for the music's release. The concept that blending metal and pop could “kill Judas Priest” seems less relevant today as audiences embrace diverse musical expressions. Furthermore, with examples of artists successfully crossing genre boundaries, there is a potential audience ready to appreciate the unique sound born from this distinctive collaboration.