Judas Priest are pioneers of the Heavy Metal genre, and arguably created the "Metal" look. Priest were forerunners of the 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal' movement, laying the groundwork for the speed and thrash metal of the '80s and '90s. K. K. Downing and Ian Hill had known each other since early childhood, as they lived near one another and attended the same nursery and school in West Bromwich.