Judas Priest Un-Break the Law in ‘Simpsons’ Cameo
Judas Priest flipped the script on their metal anthem “Breaking the Law” during their cameo appearance on The Simpsons last night.
Readers’ Poll: The 10 Best Metal Albums of the 1980s
The cartoon’s January 5th installment, fittingly titled “Steal This Episode,” finds eternal doofus Homer discovering the seedy world of illegal downloading, which leads to an anti-piracy investigation from the FBI. When his family seeks refuge in a Swedish consulate, Priest frontman Rob Halford and his cohorts team up with the authorities, reinventing their metal classic as “Respecting the Law” to warn the Simpson family. “There’s only one surefire way to get fugitives out of a foreign building,” says an FBI agent. “Blasting death metal.”
“Respecting the law/ Copyright law!” wails Halford over the original track’s hellish guitars. But the death metal tactic doesn’t intimidate: “Swedes love death metal,” says the headbanging consulate member. “It reminds us of death!”
“Steal This Episode” also features voice appearances from non-musical guests, including director/producer Judd Apatow, actress Leslie Mann and actors Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Will Arnett and Channing Tatum. The show has been doubling down lately on musical guest appearances: last season included Sigur Ros, Tom Waits and the Decemberists.
More surprises are planned for future Simpsons episodes: back in October, executive producer Al Jean revealed that the series will be killing off a major character, and the show will also air an episode that was written by Apatow over 20 years ago.