Rob Halford is one of the most respected performers in hard rock music. As the charismatic, leather-wearing vocalist for Judas Priest, Halford has helped lead the band’s charge to the top of commercial rock music since the band formed in 1969. Halford is also a hero in the LGBTQ community since announcing he was gay in the 1990s.
While homosexuality has become much more accepted by mainstream society over the last quarter of a century, brave men and women like Halford weren’t without experiencing some kind of trauma caused by homophobic views in past decades. With the arrival of “Pride Month” throughout more progressive parts of the world in June, Halford has opened up about the difficulties he (and many others) have faced during more conservative time periods in society.
“I was surrounded by homophobia, which still exists today. There are places I can’t go back to because I’ll be stoned to death,” Halford admitted in the new interview with the Edmonton Journal. “As far as that whole business, I discovered when I did come out that I was in this trap gay people find themselves living in that you’re living your life for everyone else, but not yourself. During the ’70s and ’80s it was incredibly difficult … I love Priest more than anything, so while always in my mind — I have to be careful how I say this — it’s not important to the music. Though I will say, a straight man can’t do my job [laughs]. That’s the way I view it.”
Judas Priest spent last summer touring around North America alongside Deep Purple in support of their 18th studio album, Firepower. The band returned to North America last month for their 2019 tour in continued support of the album, with their next performance scheduled for Tuesday (June 11th) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB.
Head to the band’s website for tickets to upcoming shows.
[H/T Edmonton Journal]