Judas Priest
The afternoon has hardly begun and the US National Weather Service has already issued an ‘Excessive Heat Warning’ for the greater Phoenix area. As the thermostat approaches 45°C, news outlets caution locals to remain indoors or risk terminal heat stroke. It’s quite metal, actually, and it’s where we find Rob Halford today, comfortably ensconced in his air-conditioned home. The legendary Judas Priest vocalist and long-time Phoenix resident turned 69 yesterday and he is still basking in the online birthday wishes. “It’s just absolutely overwhelming emotionally to see so much love coming back from every possible place,” he tells Metal Hammer, “particularly on social media, like Instagram and Facebook. I spent quite a bit of time yesterday reading the beautiful comments and things that people were saying about Priest and the metal we make.”
In its wild and colourful history, metal culture has suffered no shortage of legends, but only Rob Halford is known as the Metal God. Exceedingly friendly, he calls us by our first name throughout the interview and shares his insights with a thoughtful intensity. Rob’s autobiography, Confess, will soon be released and Judas Priest are celebrating their 50th anniversary, putting him in a reflective mood. “It’s a really powerful moment to read these beautiful comments,” he says, “because it all pertains to the chat that we’re going to have today about how metal is so immersed in the lives of so many metal maniacs around the world. Particularly, in this instance, with Judas Priest.”
We are indeed here to talk about one of the most important bands in metal history and all that they have accomplished, inspired, overcome and conquered in over a half-century. But talking about Judas Priest’s influence on heavy metal is like talking about the round part of a football. Metal, as we know it today, could
