Running Wild

Album: Hell Bent For Leather (1978)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was written by guitarist Glenn Tipton, and was a live staple from its release up to 1980, and also during 2001-2002 when Tim "Ripper" Owens was in as lead singer, replacing Rob Halford, who returned in 2003. Halford has also performed the song with his solo band.
  • "Running Wild" has a lot of Judas Priest hallmarks, including a twin-guitar attack from Tipton and KK Downing, and a lyric about living with unbridled abandon. Its propulsive energy made it a great live track.
  • The band wrote this in the studio at a time when they were crazy busy but united in their ambitions. After wrapping up their Stained Class tour in August 1978 with five shows in Japan, they returned home and got right to work on their next album, which included "Running Wild" and was called Killing Machine everywhere but America, where their record company didn't want it associated with recent school shootings. There, the album was called Hell Bent For Leather, named after one of the tracks. This worked out pretty well for them when American fans adopted that phrase as a kind of credo for Judas Priest, which was the first metal act to outfit themselves in leather and studs.
  • Some have accused Iron Maiden of stealing the song's riff and using it for their 2000 track "The Wicker Man."
  • The German heavy metal band Running Wild took their name from this song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jon - Sweden, for above 2

Comments: 2

  • Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcThis true ultimate Judas Priest headbanging heavy metal classic is wild and will always sound good.
  • Trent from Edmonton, AbMaiden didn't steal the riff for "The Wicker Man". In fact, they inspired the riff from the song in their concert video Raising Hell where the woman gets her head drilled apart.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.