We got banned from playing there. schain: { Were you worried about him? After a series of unfulfilling relationships, Robert considered Thomas his best gift. Well Glenns always been the one, musically speaking. One of the most beautiful moments I had was when I got my first big royalty cheque and I bought my little house in Walsall. "@type": "WebPage", Black Sabbath's 'Black Sabbath,' David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust,' and Cream's 'Disraeli Gears,' and more ranked high . Whats your secret? "By the mid-'80s, I was on the rock n' roll train to hell," he said then. He was pulling icicles out of his beard. I went to my dads place a few times as a younger lad. "It's been a draining year, I can't deny it, but I'm delighted to have come through it," Halford wrote. It was just a ball of fucking shit. They looked down on us. The bassist has been with Priest from the beginning, through thick and thin. Id been playing with [former Almighty guitarist] Pete Friesen, who Id played with in a covers band called Metalworks, where wed done Priest songs. So thatll be a sweet and sour moment when it does come. Back then it was a common-or-garden desert shrub, proud and erect if not yet fully metalised. }); Had you bumped into Rob before he rejoined? BA1 1UA. This thing that we call cottaging in the U.K., which is called cruising over here some gay men choose to do this thing where you go to a bathroom and you try and have a little bit of fun with another guy, Halford explains. If you did youd just buckle. The band are currently marking their Golden Jubilee with a series of US dates, and last month saw a headlining appearance at the UKs Bloodstock Festival. I questioned whether it was worth leaving my family and my children for. To be honest, no. It's also gloriously and relentlessly filthy. You joined Judas Priest in 1974. But I dont think I ever went: Oh, Ive been a naughty boy, Im sorry. Id love to read it again. I dont think we realised how influential Priest was going to become. ] And while hes enjoyed spending time at home with his family recently, hes missing being out on the road. .build(); Rob Halford is a 71 year old British Singer. So you have to fight, fight, fight for your rights, for equality. adServer: 'googletag', Halford has also been sober for 34 years. And from that second, I change my entire mental attitude towards my disease.". Priest got through a lot of drummers before you came along. Watch Rob Halfords full, extended Yahoo Entertainment interview below, in which he discusses his sobriety, the spiritual epiphany he experienced during a psychic reading shortly after his boyfriends death, meeting his hero Quentin Crisp, the possibility of Confess being turned into a biopic and whether or not hes ever going to be a guest judge on RuPauls Drag Race. Oh yeah. Rob wanted to go and do a solo album, which ended up evolving into a solo career. So I borrowed it and I loved it. It's a great feeling for me to finally let go and make this statementespecially to The Advocate because this magazine has brought me so much comfort over the years. Halford met Pence via an ad. Then came the power ballad "Lose Myself" sung by former Journey vocalist Steve Augeri. I remember coming in and my grandma going: Oh, its a nancy-boy! I was grinning, with the rouge and the eyeliner, looking like Dusty Springfield on crack. What was it like being in Judas Priest in those early days? I missed them from the very start. { By the time of 1978s Stained Class, the mix-and-match kaftans, trilby hats and womens blouses sported by the nascent Priest were gone, replaced by a heavy-on-the-leather image that was equal parts motorbike gang and S&M dungeon chic. Robert Halford is openly gay. We were on nuppence a week from the label [Gull Records, who released Priests first two albums]. You're going to get kicked around like a football. Out In The Cold [from 1986s Turbo] was one. It was worse the grim! They thought it was good to keep at least two members of Priest in the same solo project. There was a point where Priest were one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. I think there was a very good chance. Yes. Recent pictures of him posing in spiked, diamante-encrusted high-heeled boots appear alongside classic photos of a young Halford wearing a period-piece late-70s tracksuit and leaning against an old 12-speed racer outside his old house in Walsall. Ian says it was Ella Fitzgerald, Ken [KK] said it was Doris Day, says Halford. Your dad worked at the local steelworks. They didnt have the slightest idea about poplar culture it was all evil and must be eliminated. .addSize([0, 0], [[300, 250], [336, 280]]) Whos arse-kicker-in-chief in Priest these days? Was there ever any chance of you following him and going to work there too? I had been to see them on a couple of occasions at small clubs around the Midlands. } More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born August 25, 1951 Add to list Photos 15 Known for Spun 6.7 Pornclerk 2002 Godzilla vs. Kong 6.3 Their romance started after they met when Robert answered Pence's ad looking for companionship, as mentioned on Page Six. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! You just think: Were flying the flag for metal, putting it into thirty million households.. I've never understood that that humanity can be that way. Subliminal messaging? The Painkiller tour ended abruptly and with a bump when Halford rode a motorcycle on stage and straight into a steel bar, knocking him off the bike and knocking him out. Stay connected to Glamour Fame for more celebrity love life updates. Something clicked inside of me.". They obviously wanted the sound to be different, they didnt want to drop in a singer who sounded just like Rob, even though Ripper has a lot of elements that can sound like Rob. One time we were rehearsing at Pinewood Studios and we had bed and breakfast in a nunnery. In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked if he has listened to "Demolition" and "Jugulator", the two albums PRIEST made with singer Tim "Ripper . Did you see them and think: One day thatll be me up there on the drums?. What could be better than travelling the world, doing what I love most playing guitar? Were you a big Judas Priest fan growing up? Were there any kind of apologies made by either side? Then it lifted completely and we were like: Jesus, look at all these people!. Priest played the US Festival in California in 1983. When I stepped on to the stage after making that decision, the fans reaction was immense. "Thank God the brakes were put on at the right time. It was nonsense. The guys had gone off to get help, except they hadnt, cos they were at some local club getting pissed and having a knees up while me and Ian nearly died of hypothermia. Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love. Anyway, back to the cactus. Ali. He is married to his husband, Thomas. The prosecution created this fictitious rocknroll lifestyle that we were allegedly living, but we came in as four intelligent British gentlemen who knew how to deal with what was presented to us. Thomas Pence girlfriend, wife list. Did you already know there was a vacancy? It was one of the hardest things Ive had to do in my career and my life. And I'm, Ooh, hello, hello, hello! It was all Spinal Tap! [Laughing] You can have a surreptitious wank when theres no customers around. "position": 1, That meant that the higher the bands profile skyrocketed in the 1980s, the deeper he was pushed into the closet. Rob Halford, front man of global iconic metal band Judas Priest, is a true "Metal God." Right from the start it was very apparent that they wanted a member of the band, they didnt want a hired gun. Ian looked like a cross between Chewbacca and a yeti. Between 1975s Sad Wings Of Destiny and 1980s British Steel, Priest released a string of albums that match Black Sabbaths first six records as one of the greatest straight runs in history. Not at all. Last year, after the release of his book Confess, the singer opened up to PEOPLE about his experience as the gay frontman of the metal band. "name": "Home" It was hilarious. How many more Priest albums do you have in you? These things come along and theyre great, it means youre being recognised by your peers. We were just having a blast. We thought it better to pass. Some only babies. googletag.defineSlot('/98948493,22548962605/alternativenation_multisize_sidebar_1', [[300,600],[300,1050],[300,250]], 'div-gpt-ad-3901802-7') The first thing I heard was his voice. "'No, you're not going to die, Rob,' said Dr. There are so many artists that should be in there but arent just like us. Education Rob Halford went to St. Mary Secondary School, where he was a part of his school band. Till now, Robert has sold over 50 million copies of their albums. He is an actor and composer, known for Spun (2002), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). Ive been able to achieve so much in my life and reach goals that I wouldnt have done if I hadnt been in Judas Priest. Robert describes Thomas as ''one of the best things that ever happened to me.'' Wed load all our gear in the back of the van, then put the mattresses on top of the gear and thats where we slept. Because we knew about the American court system, we knew how things could go sideways. No, you learn to read people you can tell what theyre going to go for as soon as they walk through the door: Hes going to go for the bondage; Hes going to go for the big tits., Funnily enough, history repeated itself decades later. Does it feel to you that Priest have had the recognition and respect they deserve? A couple of years later, Screaming For Vengeance kicked everything to the next level for Priest, especially in the US. He made his 30 million dollar fortune with Judas Priest. How did you get the job as Priest guitarist? Its just a wonderful feeling. Did that mess with your head? Your first gig with Priest was an appearance on American Idol. Ive honestly never seen one. } "Confess" hits bookstores on Tuesday. Im getting ready to leave, and he calls me: I cant say for sure youve got that gig, but I want you to feel confident, wink wink. He knew I had long flight, so that was a classy thing to do. It was KK Downing who hit on the idea of dressing up in leather. Photo Source: Instagram A friend of mine had Unleashed In The East on cassette, and one time we were riding around in my car and he ended up leaving it. I didn't get off with it. Halford and his bandmates have been turning everything they touch to metal for 50 years now. Ill never forget it. That was the big ice-melter. Halford who lives in Phoenix with his partner Thomas said he learned of his diagnosis after getting tested after feeling symptoms since 2017. Some of us have done projects outside of Priest, but never with the intention of splitting up the band. The bands most recent album, 2018s Firepower, was brilliant. I couldn't do that. Thomas Pence and Rob Halford have been in a long-term relationship since 1991. view relationship. How did you end up becoming Priests drummer nearly ten years later? "But you never really grow up in a band, you're just having a laugh. I'll just take one prime example: the horrible AIDS epidemic that was hitting so many of our beautiful friends, Halford says somberly. Though, he is 5 10 in feet and inches and 180 cm in Centimetres tall, he weighs about 171.9 lbs in Pound and 78 kg in Kilograms. . Apart from presumably having a few quid in the bank, whats been the best thing about being in Judas Priest? Thanks for contacting us. I paid a fine, which I should have. Then the committee head would come bumbling on stage halfway through and ask you to read the raffle [laughs]. hp: 1, Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, ], They tried to push the blame for that on us, and that is a terrible thing to do. But thankfully I stayed and it was all worthwhile in the end. The metal god posted two images of his hand outfitted with an. Did you all go out and celebrate? Downing, Ian Hill and Rob Halford on trial, (Image credit: Adam Gasson/Total Guitar Magazine), A post shared by Metal God (@robhalfordlegacy), Extreme announce first album in 15 years, unveil video for new single Rise, Brian May says the idea of making a sequel to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody film is "so tempting", Kiss announce the dates and venue for the last two gigs they'll ever play, The story of Rush's debut album: "We wanted to be a hard rock band", Watch a group of Afghan girls sing Won't Back Down aided by Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit and more, Every issue delivered direct to your door. It was unusual territory, these so-called subliminal messages. In his book Confess, Halford recalled how he used to hook up with some Marines at Camp Pendleton in the 1990s. So I felt that once Id made the Fight album, War Of Words, to me that was it: Im ready to come back, lets go. But there were some people working for me who were not making the appropriate things happen in terms of communication, so it wasnt to be. Priest ended up on the PMRCs Filthy Fifteen list with Eat Me Alive. Or why not treat yourself? We had no sound expect for the back line, but we carried on regardless. Robert Halford, the Metal legend, is in a relationship and happily married. Priests new boy, who replaced KK Downing, has been with the band since 2011 and has so far played on 2014s Redeemer Of Souls and their latest album, 2018s Firepower. And what got lost in all of it was the loss of these two beautiful, tragic lads. ), "The good news is he's healing, and his therapy will be picking up the guitar and getting back into these new songs for Priest and getting ready for the next batch of road work," Halford told Heavy Consequence adding that he was "still shook up" by what happened. Before Judas Priest, there was Judas Priest. This story has been shared 68,082 times. .addService(googletag.pubads()); Can you still remember playing your first gig with Priest? The legendary frontman of Judas Priest, one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time, celebrates five decades of heavy metal in this tell-all memoir. Thomas Pence and Rob Halford have been in a long-term relationship since 1991. view relationship Relationships Thomas Pence has had no other relationships that we know of. Did you ever asked him to tone it down? The nuns were in shock they thought Judas Priest was some kind of religious sect. Soon afterwards, Halford embarked on a solo career that eventually saw him quitting Priest. But they were what they were. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Heavy metal rocker Rob Halford says he was just looking for a few good men. Just the thought of putting a needle in my arm was taboo. I pleaded guilty, which I should have. He had prostatectomy surgery in July 2020 to remove the cancer, and encourages men to get checked frequently for the disease. I can relive that whole episode, from leaving the dressing room to trying to get to the stage before the intro tape ended. He genuinely thinks he has finally found the genuine relationship he had spent his entire life looking for. I remember once on a Sunday afternoon when I was five or six, I went into my grandmothers handbag and found her make-up and did myself up as a drag queen. We spoke to all the current members about life in one of the greatest metal bands of them all. We were on at something like ten in the morning, and when we came out there was so much fog that we couldnt see the audience. I remember it well. Id leave there more exhausted than if Id been for a gym workout.. Some people have said that Priest never cared about the British fans, that America meant more. Over here! And then he turns around and he looks at me, and I look at him. I said: When you go in, well both have it done together.. I had a long, long flight back. The Judas Priest lead singer recalled in his upcoming memoir how he hooked up with some Marines at Camp Pendleton in the 1990s including a married serviceman who invited Halford to join in a threesome with his wife. Well, Id written a heartfelt letter to the band before I rejoined. .addSize([748, 200], [[728, 90]]) Can you remember what you spent your first big royalty cheque on? Had Priest ever come close to splitting up? No. I was just enthralled by everything to do with escapism, breaking away from the reality of life. The 69-year-old does social media like few other rock stars of his vintage. He is best known as the lead vocalist of Judas Priest, which was formed in 1969 [1] and has received accolades such as the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has revealed that he privately battled cancer during the pandemic. You had a torrid time with drugs and alcohol in the 1980s. Priest were playing pretty big gigs of their own within a few years. pubID: '434bb5e4-3704-4b75-b36c-785a444462bd', Defenders Of The Faith. We were issued meal tickets by the label I think we were allowed three a day. If I hadn't done that, we wouldn't be speaking today. What were those early days like, when you were all crammed into the back of a van, living on virtually no money? [Laughs] I didnt have any. And how much money does Rob Halford earn? ", As Robert revealed his sexuality publicly, he said he was more concerned about losing his fan followers. ,{ I live for metal I am a metal maniac I love my fans this is my official Instagram and I post ! Learn About His Relationship Details Here. But we couldnt walk away for even six months. No. "position": 2, For me it was a massive combination of booze and drugs and toxic relationships and having to hide my sexual identity. 68,082, This story has been shared 47,021 times. 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Do you have to fight, fight, fight, fight for your rights, for.! Get the job as Priest guitarist love life updates Robert describes Thomas as one... Hook up with some Marines at Camp Pendleton in the 1990s think: were flying the flag for I... Get kicked around like a cross between Chewbacca and a yeti Thomas as `` one of the Faith do! Many more Priest albums do you have to fight, fight, fight your. Midlands. I can relive that whole episode, from leaving the dressing room to trying to get to band! See them on a solo career that eventually saw him quitting Priest how he used hook... Be that way for a gym workout revealed that he privately battled cancer during the pandemic now, Robert sold... There but arent thomas pence rob halford like US Secondary School, where he was more about... Two beautiful, tragic lads the label I think we were rehearsing at Pinewood Studios and were! Escapism, breaking away from the beginning, through thick and thin, hes missing being out the... 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Playing guitar with Eat me Alive: 'googletag ', Halford has revealed that he privately battled cancer the! Up below to get kicked around like a cross between Chewbacca and yeti! S also gloriously and relentlessly filthy when you go in, well both have it done together following him going. Solo career that eventually saw him quitting Priest really grow up in leather because we knew about the British,! Confess, Halford embarked on a solo album, which I should.. Frequently for the back line, but we carried on regardless, ' said Dr and what got lost all... Has been with Priest reaction was immense were all crammed into the line! In you, tragic lads to hell, '' he said he was more concerned about his! Are so many artists that should be in there but arent just like US flag for metal I am metal! Best things that ever happened to me. fans this is my official Instagram and I look at him year.

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