Judas Priests Rob Halford: The metal community has always been inclusive, yet weve been kicked around like a football over the years – NME.com

Rob Halford loves Christmas almost as much as he loves metal. To mark the release of his second festive solo collection, 'Celestial', he talks to James McMahon about home improvements, National Coming Out Day and why he "fucking loves" Christmas trees

Its 2pm in Phoenix, Arizona, when we call Rob Halford, longterm singer of heavy metal greats Judas Priest.

Halford joined the West Bromwich band in 1973, fronted the group as they tore through an unparalleled run of classic albums throughout the 80s (the best known of which, sixth record, British Steel, turns 40 next year), before leaving the group in 1992 and reinventing himself as an industrial metal solo artist. He reunited with Priest 11 years later, and has remained there ever since. Rob Halford is a man his fans call The Metal God with no irony whatsoever its a justified moniker.

Ive got to head down to London this Christmas, says the 68-year-old, when we inform him where NME is calling from. Ive got to go to the American Embassy to renew my visa. He laughs. I hate getting my visa renewed. Last time I was at the Embassy I was waiting for three hours. Everyone came and went until I was the only person left in the room. Im sat there for ages holding my ticket like Im in bloody Argos or something, and then I realise that nobody else is there. This woman comes over and says, What are you doing here? Were closed now. Theyd totally forgotten I was there. It got sorted out, but what a carry on

Was there not a part of you that thought, This is no way to treat The Metal God? we ask. He laughs again.

I didnt feel much like The Metal God waiting in that room

Earlier this month, Halford released an album called Celestial, his second Christmas-themed record (the first being 2009s Winter Songs), which features heavy metal arrangements of the likes of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Deck The Halls, as well as four new original songs (of which the song Donner And Blitzen is an absolute jam). Its a true family affair. Halfords brother Nigel plays drums, nephew Alex (son of Judas Priests Ian Hill) the bass, while his sister Sue plays the sleigh bells. Guitars come courtesy of Robert Jones and Jon Blakely. And why? Because Rob Halford is The Metal God, thats why. But also because as well learn the iconic singer thinks Christmas in the modern age can teach the world a host of valuable lessons.

But first, some heavy metal home improvement

Hello Rob. What are you up to today?

Im at the house in Phoenix. Im trying to get some work done on the house, but Ive just learned about the existence of the hillside committee. I dont know who these people are, but there I was working, and some people came round and said, You need to stop. I asked why, and they said, what youre doing hasnt been approved by the hillside committee. I mean, who the fucking hell are the hillside committee?

They sound like some kind of residents collective?

I think so. I live in an area of Phoenix called Paradise Valley and theyre a bit funny around here. Its certainly not the kind of place where youll pop around to your neighbours to borrow a cup of sugar. Im drowning in bureaucracy! I own the house. I own the land. And still I cant do what I want to do. Ive lived here since 1984. Its not like Im trying to build a great big fucking pink palace. Im just trying to plan for floods because we get these great big monsoons. Im not sure Im The Metal God would wash around here. Everyone here is a bit, dont you know who I am? What can I say? Im from the Midlands. We dont think like that and we certainly dont say it.

I hope you resolve your differences with the hillside committee. Right, lets talk about Christmas

Oh, I love Christmas. I look forward to that time of year all year. The older I get, the more it means to me. I think theres probably a bit of mortality creeping in there, but I just think its a fantastic time to reflect about what really matters to you. I love Christmas trees. I fucking love them! Ive got far too many. I just like dressing them up and theres a great heavy metal soundtrack to do it to. Theres my friend Ronnie [James Dio and his 2008 cover of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen], Lemmy [and his cover of Chuck Berrys Run Run Rudolph] This Christmas Ill be spoiling my grandniece to death. Shes only one, but Ill be getting her a bazillion Christmas gifts.

Have you started on your Christmas shopping yet?

Im a procrastinator. I always leave these things until the last minute. Basically, although I gave up drinking and drugs a long time ago now, Im always on the hunt for new addictions. Mine is currently Amazon Prime. Ill be on my phone at two in the morning when I cant sleep just buying shit I dont need. Ill be like, Oooh, I need a new pair of scissors! Stuff turns up a few days later and Ive always forgotten what Ive bought. Im always confused about why there are so many boxes

I read about how religion became a part of your life after you got clean and sober in 1986. How important is the religious aspect of Christmas to you?

Im just into the basics really. Try to be a good person, treat others as youd like to be treated that stuff was instilled in me as a kid. Im not much for labels, but I think theres a big difference between religion and spirituality. I think this time of year is especially important because of whats happening in the world right now. I think music, more than anything really, is a respite its one of the reasons why I got my friends and family together to make Celestial. The shit thats going down in America right now is ridiculous, not that its much better at home with Brexit. The world is so complicated right now.

If you dont mind me asking, whats it like being a famous gay man living in America as the country seemingly lunges further and further towards the conservative right?

Im so pleased youve asked me that question, because today [October 11th] is National Coming Out Day here in the States. I mean, I didnt know that until I logged into my Instagram this morning and everyone was telling me that. There was a thing on my Instagram feed from the MTV Studios in 1998 where I said for the first time that I was a gay guy. Obviously I nicked it and re-edited it a bit and put it on my own feed It was wonderful watching the comments coming in. Anyone with social media has to be prepared for negative comments, but some of the stuff people were saying was so beautiful. There was real love and understanding there

But

But dont get me started on the Christian right pushing the LGBTQ community under the bus. Theyre passing laws here where if youre gay you can lose your job, based on whether the people who run a company follow a religion that doesnt accept people like us. Its horrible. America is supposed to be the worlds leading superpower and some of this stuff is medieval. Its not a country where you feel especially safe, and I do think I feel less safe now. You are aware that by walking down the supermarket you might get shot. But I try not to let that stuff intrude on my life. The politicians, the media, they want you to be scared and I refuse to be.

Isnt it ironic that for all the shit heavy metal has got over the years accusations of Satanism and the corruption of youth and so on that heres one of the most famous names in heavy metal talking about peace and love while the world burns all around him?

Oh, totally! The metal community has always been inclusive and yet weve been kicked around like a football over the years. It just makes us stronger though. I genuinely believe that metal is the strongest component of rock n roll. Its still growing only today I was listening to a new band I really like from my old stomping ground in the Midlands; theyre called Wolf Jaw and theyre great. Metal will always be there. Well always be loud! Well always be proud!

You announced last year that youre writing an autobiography. How is that coming on?

Its going great. Im having a good time with it and Im working with some good people who are helping draw the stories out of me. Thats the thing with being clean and sober and being open about your sexuality. Its all laid out. Theres nothing to be afraid of

Damn straight. To wrap things up, how is your old mate Ozzy doing? He hasnt been well and the tour that Judas Priest are doing with him keeps getting put back

I only know what the world knows. Sharon [Osbourne] rang our office recently and told us how hard everyone was working to support him and help him get better. But were totally committed to doing these shows when he is. I think that tour is going to be really important when it happens. Ozzy is a UK national treasure and between the two of us we were at the beginning of this thing we love called heavy metal. He just needs to get well. Can you tell everyone reading this piece that they need to send Ozzy their love?

Celestial by Rob Halford With Family & Friends is out now

View original post here:

Judas Priests Rob Halford: The metal community has always been inclusive, yet weve been kicked around like a football over the years - NME.com