If Rob Halford hadn’t left Judas Priest, I’m not sure this tale would be so finely-woven. And I remember as plain as it was yesterday in 1991, August 19th to be exact. The Operation Rock N’ Roll tour was winding it’s way through North America and Sony Music came this close to pulling the plug on the event ‘cause metal had seemingly hit a wall. The heavy-hitting line-up was headlined by Alice Cooper, along with Motörhead, Metal Church and Dangerous Toys. Judas Priest were second on the bill. All top-notch, but bad timing. It was the final date on the tour and unbeknownst to the crowd, it would be the final Priest show for over a decade to feature the Metal God on the mic. Halford would go on to form Fight and the controversial 2wo, before he would overshadow the output of his former band by launching Halford and kick-starting his new career, embracing his old image full-on via Resurrection in 2000. BraveWords followed Halford like a groupie during those years (aside from the Trent Reznor-related hiccup of course) and I have many stories surrounding our various rendezvous! Some day these will see the light of day, but in the meantime, Rob Halford was gracious enough to help BraveWords celebrate our 20th anniversary. So the following is a more personal chat with one of the most iconic voices in heavy music for over 40 years!

 

 

BraveWords: Thanks for celebrating our 20th anniversary!

Halford: "It's quite an achievement because BraveWords and Priest have been together since day one. I remember the very early days of your incredible magazine and now look where you are - look at what it has grown into! The site is definitely a cool place to go hangout and see what kinda stuff is happening in metal!”

BraveWords: We go way back with the Priest, so congratulations on 40 years of Judas Priest. Did you think in 1974 you would be talking to some guy in Ontario about the band you are still in?

Halford: "No (laughs). Any band starts off as a dream - it all starts off as a dream, an ambition. You start off with some crappy equipment, with barely enough money to pay for the rental of the room or the gear in the garage. You are somewhere where the pureness - the innocence of metal - was accrued, and I think that was the case with Priest. You really have no idea where you are going to end up. Sometimes you end up managing to just cross the street to the first club you are going to play, and sometimes you go around the world so many times you can't remember. So, it's just an amazing place to be for Priest right now in terms of recollections and significant moments and nostalgia. It's definitely a combination of strong emotions and metal memories.”

BraveWords: Going over the past 20 years, your solo career had a huge impact on our readership and all the writers. I just want to go back in time and ask you a few questions and get your thoughts on those times, if you don't mind.

Halford: "Yeah, yeah... for sure!”

BraveWords: As I said, Judas Priest has been kinda like a big brother since I encountered Unleashed In The East and moved backwards from there catalog-wise. So it was that live record that hit me very hard, and I know some people kinda joke about it being Unleashed In The Studio, but I don't care as it's one of the greatest live records of all time. 

Halford: "I tend to believe that great things in music generally end towards the beginning of every decade, and that was certainly the case of Unleashed In The East. Thinking back, in 1980 things exploded - the whole global reach of metal took off in a massive way from 1980 onwards. So, maybe that live recording from Priest from Japan was like a catalyst or a touchstone for many people. It's one thing to hear a band come out from a studio recording, but the essence of the bulk of the material on Unleashed In The East is genuinely live. Just to clarify that whole Unleashed In The Studio, because it's important to me. The fact was, that while we were in Japan recording the album, we were kind of caught off guard by the label who approached saying they were going to record the show, so we weren't really prepared. The second issue was that I was having a fucking horrific time with jet lag, and I was trying to stay awake all day to perform that night. Because of this, my voice got really, really shot. So, fast-forwarding to Ringo's (Starr's) house, and I said to Tom Allom (producer) that I was going to sing the entire show, without taking any breaks. I just wanted to sing the entire performance live. So, I just wanted to clarify that my vocal performance is as live as it could be - in the respect that there were absolutely no double-takes, and there was no going over and fixing things. That was a genuine front-to-end live performance. It was just a different country (laughs). The band was in Japan while I was in the UK. Now that I've got that off my chest, I feel better (laughs). Unleashed was a very powerful, important moment for Priest and for metal... there is no doubt about that.”

BraveWords: Fast-forward a couple of years to your US Festival performance, because that was really, really on the cusp of when things were really about to explode for Judas Priest, especially in America.

Halford: "Yes. That was, to our knowledge, the largest attended festival of its type. It was about three days with many different genres, but the metal day was the most attended, and its numbers are still being disputed - was it 300,000 or was it 350,000. Either way, it was a shitload of people. I think, again, you know, that it sent a message around the world that here was this kind of music that was dominating the festival. It was definitely a tremendous opportunity, not only for Priest, but for all the other bands that performed that day and showed their stuff off, and play loud and proud and send the metal message to all four corners of the planet.”

BraveWords: Not to overlook all the crucial ‘80s material, but BraveWords did not really come into fruition until about the early ‘90s. Going back to another moment for me, this one at Rock N' Roll Heaven (Toronto live venue) with Pantera, and you step out on the stage, and I'm about 20 feet from you looking at the metal god with my jaw hitting the floor.

Halford: "I loved the opportunity, even now doing a couple of things with Five Finger Death Punch. I think it's instinct from experience, as I can sense when something really good is happening, and that was the case with jumping onstage with Pantera at that show. So, there ya go, as Pantera went on to be such a tremendous force in that particular part of the world, dominating metal in the early ‘90s - and they shook the whole place up. They were an unbelievably different and unusual band and no one could touch them and what Dime was doing. So, to get the opportunity to be there from the embryo of the genesis of Pantera is a tremendous, exciting memory for me. In fact, I can remember it just as if it were yesterday.”

BraveWords: That makes two of us! The other moment, which we have talked about in great lengths in the past, was the infamous Operation Rock N’ Roll when it came into Toronto (August 19, 1991). How does that incident sit right now? Did you hit a point when you desperately needed a break from Judas Priest?

Halford: "I think, as I've always said, a band is very fragile. It doesn't matter how big and tough and masculine you are in a metal band - it can still be a very fragile experience. Things can happen and, at that point, because of a lot of extraneous things that were going on around me, it just felt like I kind of needed to depressurize and go off and try something else. I've always said that that is the makeup of a lot of bands - it's talented people that come together and create a common cause, a foundation of the sound of the group that you are in. That said, each band member has those days where they question other opportunities and experiences. To me, music is a very broad world, and encompasses many opportunities to complete and fulfill your desires and wishes. In hindsight, I wish that it could of turned out differently - but that's life, isn't it? I don't have any regrets, even though I look back at things that I wish I had tried out differently. But, you just have to accept that what is done is done. I think my past and some of my solo activities were quite valuable. So, I'm all good with what happened with that time of my musical career.”

BraveWords: Our first official meeting was in Phoenix, Arizona with War Of Words, and it was so bloody hot. And I remember lying in my hotel room, being invaded scorpions and not the German kind!

Halford: "(laughs) It was very heavy metal! We had scorpions, rattlesnakes, giant spiders, and enormous cacti that could fall over at any moment (laughs). Speaking of Phoenix, there are some really cool things coming outta there right now. I still have my house there and I go back every so often. I love that state for different reasons, I also hate it... but we won't go into that.”

BraveWords: ... and the infamous Mason Jar gig too! I've seen you in a lot of small places, but nothing like when that first Fight record came out.

Halford: "That's the way it should be. If you are good at what you do, it should be just as strong, and just as potent in front of 50 people as it is in front of 50,000 people. Admittedly, when it is in a more intimate environment, it becomes more volatile and physical. When you stand on a festival stage it can seem quite distant. There is nothing wrong with what goes into a festival performance, but I love the sheer, raw power and energy of an intimate gig. I really enjoy it as it is very tangible. It's just as electric for the band members as it is the fans. I would love to see Priest play a tiny little club, as I think it would be mind-blowing for many different reasons. If you are capable of pulling that off it just speaks volumes about your abilities.”

BraveWords: Our first cover with you when you came out under the Halford banner, I quoted the famous Rods song “Let Them Eat Metal” - it “fit” perfectly. I recall this is when Resurrection came out and I flew out to New York City and you and I had dinner together at an Italian Restaurant. I'll never forget it as it was a very surreal time to have a little chin-wag with you, crossing that line talking about family and personal things. When Halford came out it was vicious - there was a lot of pent-up emotions within Resurrection.

Halford: "Yeah, I'd like to think that at the heart of all these musical ventures there is a true spirit, passion, and loyalty to the sound that you are involved with. That's just been part and parcel of what makes who I am, and I've always given it a 1000 percent and pushing myself to the limits. That said, I'm still never happy. In fact, I'm still not happy with some stuff on Redeemer Of Souls. It's like the search for the holy metal grail, in terms of perfection. But, let's face it, Tim, rock and roll was never meant to be perfect - it's meant to be a bit chaotic and frayed around the edges, falling off stages and bumping into things. If it didn't have those moments it wouldn't be quite real. The reality is that you are understand what you are about and what you are trying to do - you've got remain grounded, avoiding that aloof Zeus on-top of the mountain mentality. That just doesn't work in metal. Once you start creating those heirs and graces it becomes rather distasteful.”

 

 

BraveWords: Talk to me about the exclusive announcement on CNN that revealed you were returning to the Priest, and here in 2014 you have three records under your belts. Do you miss K.K. (Downing, guitarist) at all?

Halford: "Yes, of course I do... absolutely. I'd be a liar if I didn't. Ken's place in Priest is still there and it will always be there. He is one of the pillars in the heavy metal world. But, what happened in Priest as far as K.K. and I stepping away has happened to a lot of bands. Going back to that word 'fragile', the components of keeping a band together can be quite difficult. Even when things are going smooth there is always that undercurrent of friction there. There should always be some element of friction. If everything ran smooth all the time the music would be very dull. So, yeah, I do miss K.K., and I wish him all the best. Now I get to share the stage with a phenomenal performer in Richie "The Falcon' Faulkner who is doing amazing things for Priest and for metal right now.”

BraveWords: How is to have those young, creative juices injected into a forty-year old band right now - and I don't mean to push that point in your face (laughs)?

Halford: "No, no, I think you can see. I mean, when I see Richie (Faulkner) doing his part on the stage with all his shakes, and I try to out-shake him and his heavy metal gymnastics (laughs). Really, it's quite phenomenal and he is a tremendously respectful and professional guy. He is a perfectionist when it comes to the stage, writing, and studio. He loves Judas Priest to death and was raised on Judas Priest's music. Really, it's quite infectious to have that personality around you. So, yeah, I think you can see it onstage, and you can most definitely hear it in the music and energy that pours out of Redeemer Of Souls. It's extraordinary that forty fucking years later we can put an album out like that.”

BraveWords: There really is a lot meat on Redeemer Of Souls - a lot of depth. It's certainly a headbanging experience, and your voice hasn't wavered in the least. It's like the planets had aligned once again for Judas Priest.

Halford: "Yeah, I think all of the components and things you want to hear are very much in place. It was an unusual record for me in the respect that I was thinking that this was going to be quite, not exactly difficult, but I was occupied by thoughts such as 'is this gonna work?' as the record that, internally, all of us want to do. I genuinely feel we've hit the mark. I mean, I haven't been listening to it everyday, though I was when we got back from the studio mastering. I listened to it again yesterday from front to back and it was giving me goosebumps and my palms were sweating. It's doing all things to me that a great record should - and I just happen to be in the band, which is pretty cool (laughs). It's a wonderful achievement and we are all very proud as Priest fans. I think for metal in general this is an important record, especially with the amazing record from Black Sabbath which will put us in the same amazing company.”

 

 

BraveWords: Looking back, what achievement are you most proud of?

Halford: "I think it would have to do something with consistency, staying the course as best I could and to be solid and inline with my metal achievements. I don't think it comes down to any one particular moment, it's just being here nearly 40 years later in a band that's in a strong position in the world of metal. I know what the buzz is going on around this band, as I read what people are saying about us and these early songs, and it's just a very, very exciting place to be. Really, just being here 40 years later and ready to go out to the world again.”

BraveWords: Do you remember the moment you first embraced the 'Metal God' tag and being 'yeah, that fits!"?

Halford: "“Oh no, I can't do that! (laughs). Now, I go 'I am the fucking metal god!' (laughs). It's because I'm old and I've become entitled to say that about myself (laughs). But, honestly, I've never really looked at myself in the mirror and said 'Oh! You are the metal god!' (laughs). It might have come about from some of my friends in the press, or whether it was somebody in the band, or a producer - I don't really know. But, it went out into the world and it stuck. It's a wonderful title, well, not really a title, more of a moniker. Either way, I embrace it and it's something I don't take lightly. I actually have a lot of fun with it, and it's a wonderful compliment that's been bestowed upon me. So, yeah, I use it but I don't abuse it. In fact, if I'm on the stage and my voice isn't cooperating, I say to myself 'you are the fucking metal god!', and I get on with it (laughs). It's a very powerful and useful tool to have in my head.”

BraveWords: There are millions who are star-struck by you; but who is Rob Halford star-struck by?

Halford: “(Laughs). It would probably be someone like Brian Cranston from Breaking Bad or somebody like Jeremy Piven, or Meryl Streep. I think that what these great actors do is not too dissimilar from what being in a band is like, especially in terms of perfection and honing your craft and being really good at what you do. But, because I love movies, and authors as well, I'm drawn to that just like any fan is drawn to their favourite band. I do get star-struck just as everyone does... it's very natural.”

BraveWords: Excellent. We'll have to get together for another Italian dinner soon.

Halford: "We will, as I'd love to see you again.”

BraveWords: Awesome. Thank you so much, and take care on the road. Once again, congratulations on Redeemer Of Souls.

Halford: "I appreciate it Tim. Look after yourself. Bye bye.”

(All Rob Halford / Judas Priest live photos by Mark Gromen)