Scott Tady from Californiachronicle.com caught up with JUDAS PRIEST singer ROB HALFORD recently and discussed a number of topics. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Times: What's the secret to your longevity? You've still got that powerful voice. Do you do anything special to take care of it?

Halford: "No, not really. Well, I don't drink, I don't smoke. I try to stay fit as I can for a 59-year-old metalhead. The voice is an instrument so you've got to take care of it. If you bend a guitar string too much it breaks, or if you beat a drum skin too hard it's going to snap. So you got to watch your technique. But it's up to the gods after that. I feel fortunate. It's served me well and done its job."

Times: Many metal fans of an earlier generation - weaned on the singing of you, IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson and the late Ronnie James Dio - don't like how modern metal bands often have singers with those gruff, guttural voices.

Halford: "I don't know how they do it."

Times: But do you like it?

Halford: "I wouldn't say I'm a fan of it, but I can appreciate that style of performance. I'm old-fashioned, though. I like to hear a singer sing, if you know what I mean. That's what I'll be doing on Ozzfest. It's going to be great to be back out there with my mate Ozzy. But, yes, I like to hear a good singer sing."

Times: They call you the Metal God. Is that a heavy burden? Or do you relish the responsibility of representing heavy metal in every song and show that you do?

Halford: "I can't even remember when they first started calling me that. It's great, though. I do think about it and it does have some responsibilities. Sometimes when I meet someone and they say, 'Hey, it's the Metal God!' I'll go, 'Where?' They'll go, 'It's you,' and I'll say 'Really?' But I do accept it with good feeling. It makes me think about what I'm trying to do and achieve. It makes me put more effort into it. What's that quote from Spider-man: 'With great power comes great responsibility.' (Laughs). Not that I'd compare myself to Spider-man, of course."

Read more here.

Halford's new single called 'Made Of Metal' is available and those who order the Judas Priest frontman's new track will receive the coinciding animated video on it's worldwide release date of September 13th. To check out a sneak preview of the video and to order the song click here.

Check out a poor quality version below:

Halford are taking part in this year's Ozzfest and will perform on the main stage with OZZY OSBOURNE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, DEVILDRIVER and NONPOINT. Second stage headliners and six-time OZZFest veterans BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will be joined by DROWNING POOL, KINGDOM OF SORROW, GOATWHORE, SKELETONWITCH, SAVIOURS and KATAKLYSM.

Each Ozzfest date will include 13 bands on two stages with music beginning at 1 PM. In addition, concert-goers can once again visit the OZZFest “Village Of The Damned” featuring a mix of interactive activities, shopping and entertainment throughout the venue concourses.

2010 Ozzfest tour dates:

August

14 - San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheater
17 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amp.
19 - Pittsburgh, PA - First Niagara Pavilion
21 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre
22 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
24 - Boston, MA - Comcast Center