What does Judas Priest cross ACTUALLY mean? Busting Heavy Metal myths

[@MetalPilgrim]

*What is your favourite variation of the Judas Priest cross?*

[@erikgour3475]

I've got a very old Judas Priest hat from the early 80s. The cross just looks like a cross with bent tips. Pretty cool, could be a vendor knock off, because I got it at the Worcester Centrum in the "way back machine". It's in box someplace in the attic.

[@josefdez4691]

The original one, i dont like the last jp logo version, neither the owens era

[@LIVS10]

Live Meltdown '98

[@brunovladimir4157]

The Epitaph logo 😎

[@sunn_bass]

Sad Wings version

[@arvindshastry1178]

The funny thing is that a lot of people think that us metalheads are mean and evil but in reality metalheads are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

[@MetalPilgrim]

Exactly!

[@danielgrohl6971]

This symbol to me it depicts the crucifix with a mask on it like the salvation of a dreamer, deceiver in our history. When i was a young man i wanted a large cross around my neck like K K Downing. I found someone on eBay who made a cross just like the one Tony Iommi wears, and just like that a dream came true for me came true for me..

[@arvindshastry1178]

@@danielgrohl6971 That's a very cool story man.

[@KittchenSink]

That's because each and every one of us are the only people who know that we do not play with ouija boards, Everyone else automatically assumes we do.

[@kimo63kimo1]

Amen Brother! ;)

[@Leon-uj7pc]

I have never really given the Judas Priest cross much of a thought beyond how bad ass it is. But then again everything about Judas Priest is bad ass. They were and still are an awesome band.

[@tonypoore440]

My opinion is that it simply represents Judas Priest as a logo. When you see it you instantly think of the band, Judas Priest.

[@paulzlotucha6944]

Is everyone stupid, the cross is a symbol of a satanic Church,,,there is a b film, horror from 1971 called ' werewolves on wheels, and as campy and poorly the movie is,,, there is more than one scene where the biker gang goes into a a Church where these satanic monks are holding the leader of the gang's girlfriend captive, , they bust in to go save her, but not before being drugged by the satanic monks by wine and bread,,,, anyway, there is one of these crosses outside the entrance of the church and the camera even focuses on it and you can see the cross many times,, so I love Judas Priest, I've been a fan for decades, but Halford and the rest of the band will never confirm or deny that this is an ancient satanic symbol, the band are a bunch of Demon Dogs,,, always have been, always will be, that's one of the reasons why I love them, the adapted the symbol for the band and will continue to use it,,,,I'm just surprised nobody has noticed it and brought this up a long time ago,,,and if you have any doubt about what I'm saying about the symbol,,,,do a little research on it, it's in many text ( that means books ) about the black arts, and NO, I don't mean black people who take art classes,,,if you dare, do some homework, so you will know that. jUDAS PRIEST that is the BEAST do mean business....thank you all you unknowledgeable fools. P. J.. Z.

[@jonlvstad2861]

@@paulzlotucha6944 Utterly different cross. The one in the movie is basically the sign of Mercury.

[@gregwears6580]

If u look at it from a short distance especially on painkiller it looks like a hypodermic needle stabbing into the earth causing a nuclear explosion

[@tonypoore440]

@@paulzlotucha6944 It's a logo, that's all.

[@paulzlotucha6944]

@@jockmctodger Jock I'm very familiar with the symbol, it's real alright, it is a werewolf movie but at least they were being symbolically correct.

[@chrisadams628]

I never thought about the logo other than it being a stylized cross. Maybe it's meant to be a trident. Maybe it's not. But like some have said, it's an icon that immediately make you think of the band. Like the Metallica M logo

[@edgarsifuentes3248]

It is a trident but I wouldn’t say they Priest themselves would believe in it you know. Remember Rob at Lemmys funeral? Rob was wearing a Crucifixi✝️, so I would simply say it’s a logo but yes it’s a trident and could be bended cross , both things on it as that’s what would exactly represent the name of the band Judas Priest as we know who Judas was, the other Judas Tadeous didn’t betray but the other did so yeah, they went for a logo and I feel like they did it well to grab attention but yes very controversial as what the results can be.

[@erikgour3475]

Right now, my man Halford needs some help from the real Cross. I'm glad he's doing well with the Cancer battle. It's not his time yet.

[@MetalPilgrim]

Yes!

[@erikgour3475]

@@MetalPilgrim It's just a hard pill to swallow. You forget that these guys are real people, too. In the back of your mind you know it could happen, but you just kind of take it for granted that they will always be back live next summer for a live show.. I grew up listening to Priest. I love it... All of it. I even appreciated the "Ripper" years, although, I honestly don't consider it Priest. When Halford went out on his own and formed the band "Fight", I was into that for a while, too. The truth is, I'm 50 years old, and Rob Halford had already lit up the Rock and Roll/ Metal scene before I was old enough to get to a show. I can't imagine him no longer being around..... Especially when a guy like Ozzy has been kicking the ever living shit out of himself for as long and is still kicking. It will be a very sad day for me when Rob Halford leaves this world. NOT FUCKING YET THOUGH!!

[@atranfanatic]

Amen to that man! Ozzy (Which we share the same birthday December 3rd) and Halford have huge places in the world of Metal! You have Ozzy the Godfather of Metal. And Halford the Metal God! God Bless them! And I will be sad when they finally leave this world.

[@CrazyBear65]

I understand the sentiment there, but for real a cross is a symbol of death, like a gallows, a guillotine, or an electric chair. In 73BC, Gannicus was crucified, along with several thousand other rebels, all along the Appian Way, from Capua to Rome. I agree that Halford needs a blessing from the Deity, but not help from an ancient instrument of capital punishment by torture and death. \m/

[@atranfanatic]

@@CrazyBear65 Well I cherish the cross as Jesus Christ my Savior died on it for our sins. But the Judas Priest cross is just one of their recognizable symbols to me.

[@isthisajoke2986]

I’ve been a priest fan for over 40 years now I remember the defenders albul and have always thought it represented defending the faith of rock and roll 🎸

[@marknbeckygoodell8763]

Defenders of the Faith was my first concert.

[@sniggleboots]

I've always thought the logo looks quite clunky when used as a T, but just as a logo it's great

[@theatomicpunkkid]

It's a quick and easy way to tell whether you've got one of those kind of clunky remasters or not.

[@davidsagarra9841]

I do not like the cross replacing the "t" in the logo. Actually my favorite logo is the one in the Stained Class front cover without any 3D or any other variant. The cross, by itself, is great.

[@theatomicpunkkid]

Well that's a quick and easy way to tell whether you've got one of those tinny quiet remasters or not.

[@theatomicpunkkid]

I'm blind so my hearing is incredibly honed if you hadn't honestly heard it I'm very sorry.

[@nikkisixx6042]

What the Golden head with the rod through it mean on Stained class album??

[@MGdelOeste]

@@nikkisixx6042 Honestly, no idea. I mean, I think I can't really see a 'stained class' there. But I guess it must mean corruption in some way.

[@atranfanatic]

Stained Class is my favorite Judas Priest album! And Beyond The Realms Of Death is my favorite Priest track!

[@georgioskaratsoris7350]

I think that every part of the Judas Priest cross is one of the letters of the band name Judas Priest. That's what I was always thinking since the first time I saw Judas Priest's cross. Keep rocking! 🤘🏻

[@WHACK_space_rock]

You can definitely see the "J" and the "P" in it....

[@jeromeboeglin3580]

I kinda remember my Mom who was an architect told me that it looked like a carpenter's tree. An old design to spread the columns further apart. And of course a carpenter's tree looks like a wicked cross.

[@pete7196]

I was under the impression it was a “ Devil’s Tuning Fork.”

[@runelund5600]

precise what It is .

[@gryphon-x]

To me it means nothing more than Judas Priest and it’s an awesome looking symbol actually.

[@bryanlasermagiktyler3132]

Man you did a good job presenting this video and great background of the origins

[@fivedogsranch9288]

The symbol itself is most similar to the symbol of Neptune. Like many symbols, there are variations to it. But, it was the only symbol that came close to its appearance as used by JP. If you look over the years of RH’s autograph, you’ll see he’s used it, most easily found on his page of the Painkiller tour book.

[@MarkLipka]

@5:25 --- *With all due respect, saying the Judas Priest symbol had Egyptian origins & therefore not christian would not be entirely accurate since quite a bit of the original christian legend was plagiarized from Egyptian mythos. JC himself is a character based largely on the same basic storyline as the Egyptian gäd, Horus. (Both had virgin mothers, both born on Dec 25, & much more) Of course, not JUST Horus. Jesus's story was also taken from Zarathustra and others. Use of the Hero Legend story template was a common practice at the time.* (*Submitted with all due respect because accuracy and truth matter*) 😁 🤘🏼 PS: KK describes himself in his autobiography as "an ardent non-believer" [in religion]. 🤘🏼

[@JSTNtheWZRD]

Not quite.

[@atranfanatic]

As many people have said on here. I never gave that cross much attention. To me is just symbolizes Judas Priest as a band. And as soon as I see it, I think Judas Priest!

[@abdelillahmouhib2025]

Hey man your channel is one of the bests when it comes to Metal, I'm not a native English speaker and you talk fast, can't catch all what you say. If you could and we'd appreciate it to make subtitles option. Keep up man 🤘🏼

[@MetalPilgrim]

Hey man, thanks a lot! I actually make subtitles for every video, so just make sure to turn them on

[@abdelillahmouhib2025]

@@MetalPilgrim yes yes I've just noticed it. Thanks for the feedback

[@mr.jamesvincent3519]

It stands for Judas Priest. If you look closely at it, it even has the letters "J" & "P" as part of the design.

[@gulliverthegullible6667]

Where? I don t see such letters.

[@newlenmedia]

My favorite is of course on the Sad Wings of Destiny album because that is one of my favorite albums by them. To me it symbolizes Judas Priest. I definitely think you should do a deep dive into their various logos. As a graphic designer myself, I find these conversations useful and informative. Plus, as JP is my favorite heavy metal band, I just want to know more. Rock on and keep the faith!

[@bongo_baggins]

I've always heard and read of it referred to as the Trident.

[@RobHellfire666]

It's really easy to figure out people. It's taken from a rune. Nothing to with Christianity or Nazis. occam's razor. Algiz (also Elhaz) is the name conventionally given to the "z-rune" ᛉ of the Elder Futhark runic alphabet. Its transliteration is z, understood as a phoneme of the Proto-Germanic language, the terminal *z continuing Proto-Indo-European terminal *s. In Proto-Norse and Old Norse, the Germanic *z phoneme developed into an R sound, perhaps realized as a retroflex approximant [ɻ], which is usually transcribed as ʀ. This sound was written in the Younger Futhark using the Yr rune ᛦ, the Algiz rune turned upside down, from about the 7th century. This phoneme eventually became indistinguishable from the regular r sound in the later stages of Old Norse, at about the 11th or 12th century.

[@alexojeda9048]

I've always referred to it as the "Defenders of the Faith Cross" since that's what priest does... Defend the faith that is Metal for us true believers. Where's my Kool-Aid?!!!!

[@Sam-ko1lo]

It's not just a Priest logo. It's found on many metal stage shows. Open your eyes and take a look around sometime.

[@zandig666]

I remember skipping school and listening to sabbath and sad wings from a buddies brothers collection !!!!

[@davidknichal6629]

You must be a matured one Mr.!

[@darrengray1239]

Weird. I always thought it was a design that implemented the letters J and P together into a face.

[@pietrayday9915]

Interesting that this video refers near the end to Iron Maiden album cover art - as most Iron Maiden fans are aware, there's a similar recurring symbol on all of Iron Maiden's iconic album cover art since their first album, which is, of course, simply the initials of the artist who painted those album covers - Derek Riggs - assembled into a cryptic-looking symbol. Bisect the Judas Priest cross in half from top to bottom, and you've got the initials "JP", with the J on top and on its side. Maybe a coincidence, but to me, it's the band's initials assembled together into a cryptic-looking symbol, which makes sense in context, and it wouldn't be the only such example of this sort of thing from heavy metal art from the era.

[@leonardosilva-xu2lu]

my favorite appearance of the jp cross is when it appeared as the pendant on a necklace i'm waiting to be delivered.

[@josefdez4691]

My top 5 JP Albums: 1. Painkiller 2. Defenders 3. Turbo 4. Killing Machine 5. Screaming My Live Album fav: Unleashed in the East

[@Ncrveteran4035]

Hell yea another turbo fan!

[@fredricclack7137]

Trident- Rob, KK, Glenn!

[@ejminkhashaki6187]

Rock hard, ride free was my all time favorite song along with Heaven and hell of Black Sabbath.

[@philipibaugh2925]

This was interesting I respect priest but am into heavier stuff. The thing is people read into things way too much. It was proven in court their isn't any subliminal message in their music. Even when I was a kid I knew their isn't anything evil about this band except the awesome music can sound that way. I can think of a bunch of true satanic metal that dosen't try to hide the fact in any way. Good video, good band!

[@P.A.T.]

It represents the Cross of The Metal Gods…DHAAAAA!

[@jamesramsey2419]

I just saw Judas priest on their 2024 invincible shield tour. In the center of the stage a huge 10' Judas priest cross is lowered in front of the whole stage. I'm going to have to say it's the most epic and my favorite version of the symbol!

[@mr.potatohead6138]

For me the cross does have significant meaning and I don't really like demeaning it. The band's name also implies some sort of mystery of what their intent is with it. I love their music, probably top 3 for me. As these guys are starting to get health issues maybe realizing the true meaning of the cross could give them some peace.

[@defkon3299]

"some sort of mystery"...The band took its name from from the Bob Dylan song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"..which appeared on "John Wesly Hardin" 1967.

[@jonjackson1968]

Thank you for Clarification and I've seen priest 6x Bflo NY and the last was 2020 and the cross was up top above drummer great show sounded amazing

[@MKO-USA]

It always struck to me as a hybrid between a cross and Judaica hanukkah.

[@ilovebutterstuff]

Well, I'm about 38 seconds in, and I already like it.

[@travisreed1730]

Keep the Faith, my brothers and sisters.

[@robertrowan9893]

Surely, aren't there any Emeritus Professors who've got an opinion on this? Maybe ask that Yorkshire lass who did the Egyptian documentary series for The Beeb not too long ago. Likely it's one third and 2/3 something else. Or maybe just a pure piece of lines, circles and proportions.

[@giorgosgalanos9888]

It looks like the menorah, the jewish candle holder, and since we are talking about Judas Priest it seems that it fits.

[@TheCruelVerdict]

Yep. It's the tree candle holders in the middle of the menorah.

[@ronelferrolino3269]

Yep im also having some thoughts about it , longtime ago ...thing has a deep meaning cant duscuss it here.

[@giorgosgalanos9888]

​@@ronelferrolino3269 Why not here? Just curious...

[@Vabrejuro]

Nothing that sounds that amazing could be evil.

[@clinerandalee3789]

I never really thought about it. I just like the way it looks on my JP t-shirts. It's bad ass!

[@supremelorddaddyemperorpre6365]

I can only ever think of Judas Priest when I see the JP cross. To me it's just a symbol of the band and of Heavy Metal.

[@quintork4100]

firstly all our love to rob halford !we love you metal king! for me i always seen jp ,back to front ,upside down! jp ,and id like to shout out to patrick woodroffe who painted sad wings!if anyone who loves the art but never seen his art,try and find his books,mythopykien (my spelling is a bit wrong)techniques of fantasy art,he is one of the greatest british painters from the last century !his faery art is up there with brian froud,enjoy !

[@jimdandypicker11]

The theory at 3:54 is growing on me, but you could take it one step farther. You could say that it stands for: The singer in the middle, guitarists on either side and then the two smaller prongs below represent the rhythm section, Ian and the drummer. Mind Blown!!!

[@lucymolockian1849]

Greek Trident shaped candleholder.

[@tydra74]

i have always thought it was just a logo or, at least the "horns" symbol made with the hand (similar to Ronnie James Dio always did) but with the thumb added.

[@rodrigocarus2436]

Always seen it as a stylized monogram: both the J and the P can be seen in it

[@knockoutbang101]

the symbol is an enigma, yes, but for me it's REALITY, A NEW BEGINNING, the phoenix idea that rob has always loved

[@prinzmetal1890]

1000%agree defenders of the faith is the quintessential -top-of-thier-game album for priest.Simply put it's the sh*t

[@brianh5803]

LONG LIVE THE METALLIAN!

[@scottashe984]

It looks like the letters J and P in a stylized cross. The kind of thing an advertiser would come up with as a logo.

[@marcosrs4614]

No hay mejor Videos de Iron Maiden que los tuyos … queremos ver un video de los grupos de Heavy de Latinoamérica !!

[@MetalPilgrim]

Muchas gracias! 🤘

[@johnfletcher948]

DEFENDERS my fav too fella!!!

[@racheladkins6060]

Looks like a combination of a J and P in some way. Like a cypher.

[@quintork4100]

yes me too !x

[@Anthony-ev7hx]

J mirrored on top, the P mirrored for the shaft. Simply really.

[@zandig666]

I never knew that existed till seeing them for angel of retribution

[@clair_high]

I never really paid it any attention… didn’t even really notice it until YEARS after I’d listened/purchased my first JP album. To me it’s nothing other than a supplementary piece of the JP brand.

[@OscarBuenrostro-b2o]

My uncle who passed away 5 years ago, said that is jesus seeing from behind, he got that cross tattoed and I got it too becuz of him.. as a tribute and a memorie

[@doommetalgames666]

That cross appeared on Sad Wings of Destiny album cover around the angel's neck, you said it wasn't until Defenders of the Faith.

[@davidknichal6629]

Patrick Woodroffe could answer this interesting question but sadly he died few years ago

[@gwain7179]

I think Halford knew what the symbol & asked the guy to draw it. If HE didn't, then the guy that drew it certainly knew. Whether he got it out of a book randomly or not, the symbol IS what it IS. We can't just change meanings of symbols to suit ourselves. A symbol was created to stand for something & it stays that way. WE can't change what gets drawn to that symbol. It IS what it IS & it always will stand for what it was originally intended to represent. So when you figure out which Egyptian demon it represents, then you'll know what direction your band is coming from. Regardless of what they say ~

[@furyomori3896]

They do not look alike, but the JP cross has always made me think of the Egyptian Ankh/Key of LIfe.

[@conradbarnes6133]

ts litterally an old powerline post, you can still see them in the rural parts of the west midlands lol

[@robertrowan9893]

Looking at it in a larger scale, the designs that make up the figurative stones the original is supposedly hewn from is not without significance. Put it all together and you might just have a different answer than what you originally might have opted for. Just a thought.

[@rgx420s]

I think Queensryche's symbol the same way I view Priest's. Just the symbol of the band.

[@metallicmark8362]

It is not a cross...it is a trident which is a three prong spear....what next?...playing their music backwards?

[@phoen31]

To me it's always seemed to be a clever way to mash up the letters J and P and then mirror it.

[@pauljollyroger]

I orderered that cross on a necklace online & it's being sold as the "Fallen Angel Cross"...

[@wanderingheart2023]

Actually, it's origin looks like it comes from a Germanic/Viking rune called, Hagal's Aet: Algiz. It symbolizes Elk for protection.

[@masterchiefthunder1504]

is the greek letter ψ.It symbolizes something but i dont recall .You have to find it on your own

[@ericv7720]

The true meaning: it simply looks cool, like so many other things metal.

[@KANA-mr3ly]

I think their logo is like the combination of 1&3 from the number 13 considering Judas is the 13th person who arrived at the last supper

[@skatedd2451]

Good stuff

[@BrotherMan321]

I read somewhere in the past that it was a tuning fork .. more specifically, the devil's tuning fork.

[@memyopinionsche6610]

I wouldn't say it's a cross more like a trident. But I live through the satanic panic of the 80s. And I believe in the concept of everything is not what you think.. An art can be interpreted in many different ways. And art is in the mind of beholder.

[@todddavis4274]

So VERY WELL said!

[@Big-Chungus1]

Rob has the JP cross of his right arm. You can see it in the Painkiller video

[@leaderofleaders]

Looks like the menorah, the seven-light lamp! It is my favorite cross!

[@naadde]

Defenders of the Faith is also your favorite album? You are as awesome as I am 😜

[@image30p]

To me it looks like an altered menorah. 🕎 So it sort of looks like a Christian cross, but the branches are curved upward for lamps or candle holders. The smaller one would be on top and the larger below, then another larger branch of two lamps below that.

[@giorgosgalanos9888]

A menorah and a cross at the same time.

[@darrenangle4493]

I personally feel like people put too much thought behind what it is and what it stands for. My personal opinion it's just JP's logo.

[@yoohootube]

good answer

[@memyopinionsche6610]

And honestly a pitchfork has four spikes or like a fork hence the name. But a trident three spikes.

[@alfamalen]

There's no rule that says a fork must have four tines.

[@SamPlaysBass49]

It means Judas Priest, to me. Also see a J and a P in the cross. My favorite version of it is the one they are using on stage in 2022

[@ANOK541]

Always thought it was Egyptian or at least inspired by that period of time..or a fallen angel symbol

[@MetalDetectoristMick]

Not to mention JP and the mirror image is clearly visible.

[@Nissardpertugiu]

There s an interview for M6 in 1990 and Rob says joking or not ( hard to say ) that was the diapason of the devil ...

[@EattheApple666]

if you look long enough you will eventually see something.

[@mikeriville2359]

I always thought the JP cross was officially called a trident

[@todddavis4274]

Screaming For Vengence.

[@CrazyBear65]

Long before Buttweiper had a party-ball, Iron City had a pumper. _Judas Pumper!_ (Did you just pump her?) \m/

[@insane_assailant1197]

I don't know which is my favorite Judas Priest album.its too difficult to say

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

Stained Class is my favorite.

[@atranfanatic]

Stained Class for me!

[@bryansmith5980]

It is not a Cross. It's a Trident

[@doric_historic]

Judas, Jew, it is a Menorah.

[@slobodanmitic1354]

Well, I do see letters J and P in that cross...

[@mikepercival7906]

It's like their mascot, and that's it.

[@bygsyxx4271]

It's the band's initials...yes i know that's a dumb answer but it's in fact true.

[@HarrietHare]

Point Of Entry👑

[@EgoChip]

It's simply a logo that represents a band. That is not evil, how can it be?

[@timg185]

I always thought it looked more like a candelabra than a cross.

[@danielcortez7672]

I’ll say that the menorah and the cross made a fusion