ROCK MOMENT – Judas Priest ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin”
When Judas Priest released Screaming for Vengeance in July 1982, the band was already a heavy metal powerhouse—but it was the single ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”’ that catapulted them into the global mainstream. Written by Rob Halford, K.K. Downing, and Glenn Tipton, the track became a defiant anthem of perseverance and heavy metal resilience, capturing the band’s no-compromise attitude.
Recorded between Ibiza Sound Studios in Spain and Beejay Recording Studios in Florida, the song came together late in the sessions. “It was almost an afterthought,” Halford recalled years later. “We’d finished the record, but we thought it needed one more kick—something that said, ‘We’re here to fight.’ That’s what ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’’ became.”
Driven by Tipton’s razor-edged riff and a pounding dual-guitar attack, the track blended power and melody in a way that connected with both hardcore metal fans and mainstream rock listeners. When the song hit U.S. radio and MTV in 1982, it exploded. The video—set in a gritty, industrial scene—showcased the band’s signature leather-and-studs image, and helped Priest break into the American mainstream at a time when MTV was redefining rock stardom.
The song’s success pushed Screaming for Vengeance to multi-platinum status and solidified Priest’s dominance on the arena circuit. Guitarist Glenn Tipton later said, “That track really opened the doors for us in America. It had the energy of our live shows but with a hook that radio could grab onto. It showed the world what heavy metal could be.”
Onstage, ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’’ quickly became the band’s ultimate crowd-pleaser—usually closing shows with roaring fireworks and Rob Halford’s iconic Harley-Davidson entrance. Its message of standing tall and defying the odds continues to define Judas Priest’s legacy decades later.
