The phrase "hell bent for leather" became a maxim for Judas Priest, encapsulating their attitude that life should be lived with the throttle open. The song is about a mysterious rider who appears like a flash on his motorbike and is always faster than the rest.
Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton was a riff-making machine when he came up with this one in the studio after laying down what would be another Priest classic, "Take On The World." When lead singer Rob Halford heard it, he hit on the phrase "hell bent for leather," which the band loved. Starting with that title, he fashioned the rest of the lyric.
Judas Priest was the first metal band to rock a leather-and-studs look, which came together in 1978 when they were trying to develop their image. The effort was spearheaded by lead singer Rob Halford and guitarist KK Downing, who thought a unified, signature look could help them get to the next level - they were confident their music was where it needed to be. They had leather outfits made in London for each band member, which evolved over time but were ready for prime time when they made the album. The song "Hell Bent For Leather" validated the look, which other hard rockers soon adapted.
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