**Rob Halford on Judas Priest Shaping Heavy Metal, Playing Live Aid, Coming Out, and Being Immortalized on The Simpsons**
Rob Halford of Judas Priest (Image credit: Jeff Hahne/Getty Images)
There are many iconic figures in heavy metal, but there’s only one Metal God. Rob Halford has spent five decades fronting Judas Priest, one of the most influential metal bands in history, and has almost single-handedly defined the genre’s look and sound. Despite his humble beginnings on a housing estate near Walsall in the West Midlands, his passion and love for metal remain as strong as ever. “I’m a metal singer, that’s what I do,” he says from his US home.
The last time we saw Halford in the UK, he was delivering an emotional headlining set at Bloodstock 2021 with Judas Priest.
“When I was onstage at Bloodstock, I felt incredibly grateful and humble for the long career I’ve had as a metal singer with a band that I love more than any other,” he says.
Halford’s attitude and the spectacular back catalogue he’s contributed to make him a true star. We asked him to reflect on some highlights of his life in metal.
**Metal Hammer Line Break**
What was your childhood like growing up on a housing estate in Sutton Coldfield?
“It was a remarkable time. The world was recovering from World War II, and these new housing estates represented hope and glory for the UK. Our family was blessed to get a house at 38 Kelvin Road on the Beechdale Estate near Walsall. It felt like a new beginning for everyone.”
