Rob Halford, who in my eyes will always be “The Beast from Judas Priest”, continues to make his triumphant return with the band he left back in 1991 after nearly 20 years as their lead singer and rejoined in 2003. Rob Halford is known as the “Metal God” for his tremendous influence on heavy metal since forming the band Judas Priest 35 years ago back in 1973.
While many credit Ozzie Ozbourne’s Black Sabbath or Led Zepplin with the origin of heavy metal, Rob Halford’s Judas Priest would be the first to popularize and define a new genre of “pure” heavy metal.
In 1998, Halford revealed he was homosexual in an interview on MTV. His sexual orientation was known to Judas Priest band members, and somewhat of an open secret among fans and the heavy metal press. The response from the heavy metal community has been widely accepting.
Here is a VH1 Video about his coming out:
The movie Rock Star (2001) with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston (original title of the movie was Metal God) depicts the fictional firing of flamboyant lead singer Bobby Beers and subsequent hiring of the lead singer from a cover band played by Wahlberg. 
It was inspired by the story of Tim “Ripper” Owens, the singer from a Judas Priest cover band, who left it to join the real Judas Priest and replace Rob Halford.
Since coming out Rob Halford has appeared as grand marshal of at the Gay Pride Parade in Phoenix going back as long as 10 years ago along with a cover article in The Advocate about being gay.
Judas Priest performs at the WAMU Theatre July 22. The show begins at 7:30 pm with a performance by the band Testament. Tickets go on sale Saturday May 10 at 10 am!
Here is the 1982 video You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’:
I have included this 1984 video from Freewheel Burning, and one of my personal favorites, to demonstrate Rob Halford’s incredible vocal range. A four and a half octave vocal range to be exact! (Wait! is that child playing ‘Pole Position’?)
