Metal Gods

I hear that the writers strike may be coming to an end, and as exciting as that may be in the cold months of winter we have more important work to do. Honor the Metal Gods and letting this blog earn its metal name. So let me introduce another artist, known around the world as : The Metal God

Rob Halford

Born in 1951 he came out of the same industrial/mill towns of England that produced Sabbath's Ozzy, and Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson. Rob Halford joined the band Judas Priest on the recommendation of his sister who was dating the bassist. Their early sound was more rock 'n roll, but his range, high octave screams and on stage presence took them to another level.

Now during the 70's Judas Priest, like Sabbath and Maiden took awhile to break away from the bell bottoms and hippie image of Zeppelin and Bowie, but then something happened -- the 80's.

Rob Halford came out on stage, minus hair, with a whip and as the title of their album suggested . . . he was hellbent for leather.



This was the image that would take the band and Halford to Metal God status. Yes, we can look back on it now and laugh. Also as many know he did come out in 1998 and officially announce his status as a homosexual. Something quite obvious today.

With over thirty years of music and still going strong Judas Priest will put out another album in 2008. Most fans don't care what he wears or who he dates, they just want music. It is difficult to express in a short space his influence on music and metal. Not just on the many uses of leather, but on the many artist he he has inspired. He has fought censorship and bias to get where he is.

I leave you with a song from his solo career, where Halford looks back on what he has done: Silent Screams:



*Pictures from http://www.rhapsody.com
~Seth