Rob Halford Shares Hilarious Stories Behind Classic Judas Priest Photos

There is only one Metal God, and his name is Rob Halford. Beyond his instantly recognizable, genre-defining vocals, the Judas Priest singer is a bona fide style icon that established the now-classic, leather-and-spike-clad, motorcycle-riding, metal-rebel look while creating some of the most impactful heavy music in the last five decades. In Revolver's Dec/Jan issue, we featured a collection of rock photographer Ross Halfin's iconic shots of classic-era Judas Priest, titled Leather, Whips and Motorcycles. We recently sat down with Halford to get the stories behind the moments: from pulling "bitch" poses in rural England and striking GQ looks in Rio to dealing with aggro Holiday Inn maids and the Judas Priest tour that likely inspired Spinal Tap.

[@soanmonte9706]

"That's me hitting a note only dogs can hear"

[@niagra898]

That was the funniest yet, somehow most humble thing he said..dude is a national treasure.

[@carvalhxs]

u ar funnyyyy😂

[@tvking1968]

Loved that

[@chezbe]

Timecode please

[@yeltsin6817]

Funny shit man!

[@onparole849]

"It's my bitch pose. He's not gay" hahahahh :D Rob is the best. Love his sense of humor .

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Humour*

[@jazmindodds]

You respond to someone years later just to correct spelling that isn't wrong. Alright.

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

@jazmindodds It is wrong. Hence the correction. Dopey.

[@KB-rv7md]

You wouldn't expect a guy with such a chill voice to be the same guy who sang firepower

[@palliare-carpediemz.u.pall569]

Amazing LP

[@LoganSewell83]

Halford and King Diamond come off as polite European gentlemen.

[@havefunbesafe]

Painkiller!💊

[@MaxLujan]

I could listen to a 2 hour version of this, Rob is the best

[@Micas099]

What's so special about Rob? He's one of the best hard rock vocalists to ever live, a metal icon (god), and an inspiration to countless musicians. You, on the other hand, are a bitter and jealous troll, a nothing who nobody will remember after your can't-come-soon-enough demise.

[@gokism1]

He seems like a genuinely nice guy and still sings like he did 40 years ago. I wish all the bands from back then had lead singers that could still sing as well as he does.

[@dougmiller8221]

What happen to David Holland

[@UnYin99]

doug miller www.google.com type in "dave holland wikipedia" then enter

[@UnYin99]

Seriously, hand this man some more pictures!

[@qxpxqx]

How can you not adore this man?

[@yourweakling]

I h8 musick! Animated music for lyfe!

[@HotStrange]

very droll So what? Lots of people do. The majority of human beings suck men’s cocks.

[@MickeyD2012]

I understand not wanting to be around homosexuality in general, I guess, but I can't think of any reason I wouldn't want to be around Rob Halford, except for him being naked.

[@verydroll8545]

+renge99O9 eat the bait fuckstain

[@verydroll8545]

+Haut Strange ooh La di fucking da aren't you an intellectual giant

[@hinjurock70]

Rob should have his own KZbin show - he's so intelligent and witty.

[@mrgigoustic8332]

Exactly. He owned that court case. When he went up there and played the band's own backwards interpretations, the case was over.

[@ollieahokas9179]

Rob is not just an outstanding vocalist but a funny bloke as well!!!

[@eyellgeteven9928]

He's one classy guy as well.

[@roberthouston3824]

Yep, instantly recognized world wide yet humble and decent toward his fans.

[@dsaltlife2925]

Metal god

[@TheAxeGrinder]

Rob could talk about getting groceries or sing the alphabet and I'd hang on every word.

[@brokenteethalbumreviews5388]

Same here!!! I wanna give him a box of cake and let him read off the ingredients

[@RobertSmith-sq1wg]

THAT WOULDNT SURPRISE ME IN THE LEAST, YOU AS WE ALL KNOW ARE EASILY PLEASED

[@jondalardynamite5199]

@@brokenteethalbumreviews5388 a box of cereal

[@edgelord8644]

aww hell naw, who's eating Rob's groceries ?

[@metalmaniac4669]

Melissa 🤘

[@Backyardmech1]

😂 I love how Rob can look back and just clown himself. Anyone with some age, a sense of where they’re at in life, and a sense of humor would do the same. Makes me like him more as an artist.

[@Akron162]

"He is not gay..." Yeah. How nobody figured back then is amazing.

[@tomjones6376]

you missed the bus, years ago, still on the "gay" thing?

[@Akron162]

He brought it up, im just commenting on it.

[@1251wire]

it's because we in the metal crowds were not into village people, how would we know?? plus Rob is fucking huge !!! who wants to go against him ???

[@mickyjones8500]

Actually my dad did. Lol. I showed him the inside sleeve of Screaming For Vengeance and he pointed to Rob and said he's gay. I told him he didn't know what he was talking about and just didn't understand metal.

[@jmaguilarr]

he had a good sense of humor about that now , he said in other interviews that in the past was dificult for him accept it ,

[@smileysatanson3404]

He's just so sweet and funny and not afraid to poke fun at himself, so down to earth

[@Akyuz1000]

5:43, ''The Greenhouse I tried growing Pot in that just would not grow!'' Lol!

[@scottsrush]

27 seconds in he’s not gay cracked me up.cause Rob is such a cool guy and knows how to talk and have a great time.long live Priest!

[@DeadGlassEyes]

I really wish I could meet him and just shake his hand and thank him for all the years of kick ass metal. What a legend.

[@johnramos8078]

soulless I got to do just that on the painkiller tour Irvine Meadows California

[@vandrive5687]

Just buy a floor ticket at one of their concerts. Walk up to the stage after their encore when the arena lights come on. He & bandmates will be at the front of the stage acknowledging, interacting, thanking, and shaking hands with their fans.

[@LoganFK]

John you’re so lucky, I’d do anything to see a show on the painkiller tour, meet the guys. I have Irvine on DVD

[@orbitsnoogslaghouse1188]

They should release a photo book of all the Priest pics.

[@bradonj]

Yep, shut up and take my money.

[@rockaddict3744]

I need this

[@tsburn]

That 7 minuets seemed like it lasted 30 seconds.

[@eyellgeteven9928]

Yep, usually a seven minute video will drag on for what seems like a lot longer...I'd love to sit down with him for a day and listen to his stories of being on the road and what it's been like to be the Metal God for all these decades.

[@MileOfJoy]

Can’t believe it was 7 minutes long! I had to go and check it after reading your comment

[@metalheart16]

Exactly!

[@agunemnon]

I never realized what a charming, funny bloke he is! Loved the early albums and still do but now love them even more.

[@moonlighter6]

My parents absolutely hated hearing Breaking The Law, I played it as much as possible.

[@boataxe4605]

A buddy of mine got backstage at a Priest concert in the 80”s and Rob hit on him, when he told our circle of friends nobody believed him! When Rob came out, we apologized! Rob was cool about being turned down and my buddy had a great time with the rest of the band and some groupies.

[@luigi1456]

Boat Axe haaa that's hilarious!

[@gawthic1]

I'm straight, but I would have been flattered. Still, it would be pretty awkward.

[@sunnyztmoney]

Man your buddy got spitroasted in the back for sure

[@9983sp]

To be hit on by Halford, epic!

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

I would do anything for Halford

[@zxggwrt]

There's nothing more metal than at the end of a super successful tour finding you're broke. Brutal!

[@brpadington]

Firepower is an amazing album. No other band has managed to accomplish something that amazing this far into their career.

[@PROGROCK-tr9hw]

No band ever will

[@davidknichal6629]

There is no discussion about it. For me one of the TOP 3 albums of the 2010's era

[@DJBFAD]

My absolute favourite metal singer...

[@IamSquirrel]

Screaming for Vengeance got me through some of the worst years of my life. They may look scary but their music has the most uplifting and positive messages. Halford is really funny in this video. I appreciate Judas Priest so much.

[@andreask3218]

Rob has never been cooler than he is today. Like good wine - gets better over the years. Good guy 👍🤘!

[@moserr11]

Rob is the man.

[@HotStrange]

Andreas K new album is great, too!

[@andreask3218]

Haut Strange : I have heard a few Songs from it so far, and yes I agree. Seems to be a very fine piece of Metal🤘👍

[@microbus99]

Couldnt agree more. Even back in 2011 when Richie took over for KK he was just so damn awesome. Now he's 66 and has a best selling Metal album. Amazing.

@@HotStrange Totally did not expect Firepower to be that good to be honest

[@lexbeltran1354]

Rob is, after all the Metal God. He's a great story teller.

[@sixstringb71]

Rock ‘n’ roll stories are the best, rob is the guy to tell the tales🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@PhilipAlexanderHassialis]

Him an Bruce (taking into account his drunken interview with Clarckson). I would love to have them both do together a reminisce of all the crazy stuff they have experienced all these years :)

[@UnholyTruth333]

Lemmy is fucking awesome to hear! He was hilarious, wise and just a fucking badass!

[@Thelorenzband9]

I could listen to his stories all day! Just Awesome!

[@kukko83]

He's hilarious! I love that self deprecating British humor.

[@ARealKefOne]

Rob is a nice guy.

[@eyellgeteven9928]

He's a real class act.

[@greasey520]

Just saw Priest in concert 3 days ago. They still kicked ass!

[@matthewmcpeek7324]

Rob is the coolest guy in the world. It's hilarious how he can tell everybody that the joke was on them when it came to how Judas Priest dressed. As a gay man, he enjoy wearing the S&M leather and that whole look. And then he would see armies of white kids wearing the same stuff because he did, and he always claimed that he had a private chuckle over this. I can remember being in high school in the 80s and commenting on how they all dressed like that one member of the Village People, but yet nobody believe me

[@9983sp]

And after he came out, it all made sense why he never posed with women. The thing is, most of us were like, " who cares?".

[@metalheadpriest2626]

@@9983sp He has pictures with women

[@bortgunn9079]

@@metalheadpriest2626 He had a beard relationship with some Penthouse model iirc.

[@blagamuffin]

@@bortgunn9079 thanks! I swore I remembered that too but wasn't sure it was just my imagination.

[@mattbauckman9907]

I could listen to Rob tell stories all day long. A straight up cool guy and down to earth. This was cool.

[@sunghwoa]

I'm from South Korea and born in 1981. I've started listenning Judas Priest when I was 19-year-old which is year in 1999. The first song that I started with was "Ripper" in Sad Wings of Destiny album. I was shocked because the song gradually build up the tense and Halford shows switching vocal styles many times in 2 and a half minutes running time of the song! Shocked again that Sad Wings of Destiny album released in 1976.... omg... Since that for now Judas Priest is the best band for my life, love all of Priest heavy metal but yeah I like Judas Priest in early years more. Like Ripper, Victim of Changes, Dissident Aggressor, Sinner, Raw Deal, Heroes End, Hell Bent for Leather, Tyrant, Delivering the goods, Running wild and Etc.. So I love to seeing live in recent becasue band plays some of classics! Hope Tipton getting better and Metal Gods forever!

[@Rhino1277HotRails]

Shawn you are the young generation. Keep this alive. We OG's will, but now it's your turn. Peace. See ya round

[@sunghwoa]

@@Rhino1277HotRails Dear, classic metal never die because it is classic. Young generation like me and even younger metal heads will find out pure sound of course the best is Priest. Thanks comment me and rock forever~! Peace!

[@vandrive5687]

I first saw Priest the year you were born mate, fourth row center stage in Dallas. I was 16. Iron Maiden was the warm-up band. ‘Twas a religious experience!

[@sunghwoa]

@@vandrive5687 Tell me about it mate! Sound of Priest is the real experience!

[@clb5717]

Shawn, I started listening to JP, around the time you were born. I love those classics still. Keep the faith alive!

[@ox8833]

Rob just seems like a genuinely good dude. Much respect sir

[@bakerXderek]

Thanks for making this, it was a treat listening to this legend tell stories.

[@whitetransgirlwithdreads]

You know, I was stunned when Halford came out of the closet. It was simply inconceivable that this guy, with his leather and spikes and the bike and all of that, had ever actually been in the closet in the first place.

[@ArtUniverse]

0:46 "That's obviously somewhere in Great Britain because we only have that kind of bizarre wallpaper..." *Eastern Europe would like to have a word with you*

[@gabrielurielsantos6398]

😆

[@Lakk6Metal]

:) I love his line " i dont feel dressed until i stick on a couple of cows and a hardware store " .

[@shawns9971]

Rob having a senior moment where he said photo where he had a beer in his hand was around the time of Ram it Down. Rob was sober from Turbo forward, I believe that photo is from Screaming for Vengeance and the jacket looks like it was used in the the You Got Another Thing Comin' video.

[@tarathelen9844]

Rob looks like one of the nicest guys ever to talk to.

[@RickGibbonsOfficial]

Dude's awfully personable and humble and charming for being the most influential metal singer in history.

[@ericp3573]

rob is down to earth and at his age has seen so much metal, so much history, met so many legends which many of those no longer here

[@The1WhoKnowsTheTruth]

The fastest 7 minutes of my life. Rob is pure class.

[@Rick-O-Shay60]

Rob, No matter how old we get... You sir, will forever be... The METAL GOD!!!

[@AlexRazorGame]

"me hitting the note only dogs can hear" LOOL

[@sabbathtribute]

I love you, Mr. Rob Halford

[@Henncat69]

Hysterical. You HAVE to love Rob Halford. Long live the Priest!!

[@eyellgeteven9928]

I work with an older guy that looks just like Rob, right down to the goatie, so I started calling him the Metal God. He wasn't familiar with Priest, so I showed him some pics of Rob and he kind of got a kick out of it. One day he comes up to me and says, "You got me with the Metal God thing!" I asked him what he meant, and he told me that he mentioned how I call him that to his son, who told him about Rob being gay. He thought I was kind of making fun of him, like it was some kind of prank...I told him that wasn't the case and that I don't waste time worrying about Rob being gay, to me, he's just the Metal God and the fact that he is gay is irrelevant. It took a little convincing that I wasn't laughing at him or whatever and that I genuinely dearly love and respect Rob and the fact that he's gay doesn't even enter my mind, unless someone brings it up. I could give two shits whether he's gay or not, the guy is a legend and one class act and nothing changes that fact. I don't get why some people are so hung up on the gay thing.

[@belitaseckingerrockinspire8026]

Ray Brown‼️‼️ Amazing design work over the years. The thought and time he puts into their stage clothing is phenomenal. Rob is so kind. 😻

[@jerseyforhawks]

I am a Priest fan since 1979, yeah, no surprise, love Rob.

[@laszlozoltan5021]

I am amazed at how impoverished the lead of such a successful band lived at the time. No wonder so many bands and artists hated the record companies they signed to

[@kennedykiser557]

Love the trip back in time Rob. Only wish it could have been longer. Learned some things about the PRIEST I never knew. A real big fan ever since Rocka Rolla. Thanks for all the Heavy Metal Entertainment over the years. A real inspiration to you're craft. You are indeed the "Metal God". All Hail the PRIEST

[@leeDs718]

rob has a sense of humor and never loses his cool

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

Humour*

[@giovannideldio]

That was awesome! ! Rob Halford rules and hearing his stories is incredible! !

[@Amadeus-ms9lt]

I could watch 2 hours of this.

[@zefolantar]

More of Rob Halford, please! 🤟😎🤟

[@ShakespearesBruv]

I’m so glad I live in the same world as Rob.

[@SuperFreedomRock1]

Was 11 yrs old in 1980 and by '82-''83 I was reading every Circus/Hit Parader mag and buying every Priest, Sabbath and Maiden album I could steal or afford, grew-up with all this stuff when I had a teenage brain primed for it. So lucky to have grown-up in the late 70's/early 80's, seems like a century ago, like a dream.

[@walterotte3478]

Pretty frickin' amazing and such great fun to watch! Thanks Revolver! Thanks Judas Priest!

[@NZWarriors1995]

Fun as

[@philstone3859]

Oh man! ROB’s fucking hilarious! I really want to meet him now!

[@Chibekoe]

I had a lot of fun watching this. I could listen to Rob relive the past all day. On a side note, the one dislike is from the rock and roll hall of fame. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER GUYS!!!

[@metalheart16]

The man is *adorable*! Wonderful demonstration of the difference between stage persona and real person. I could listen to him on a podcast or a talk show all day long. Or buy him a soft drink and just quietly chat about metal silliness. :-D

[@tomjones6376]

as a teenager in the late 70's, I would buy EVERY Priest picture I saw, (small record stores sold 8 by 10s) in fact in the Marines, my Sergent Major made me take down a poster cause he said, they were commies!. LOL

[@gokism1]

Commies? Priest? Hell no. Funny, as an USAF E-5 I had a poster of Guns & Roses on my office wall and my African American, E-7 boss told me they were racists. Um, you do know Slash is half black, right?

[@MosoKaiser]

@@gokism1at least the lyrics of "One In A Million" must have had something to do with that.

[@gokism1]

Axel was reported as saying he differenciates between blacks and the "n-word." I think Axel's a dick. Funny, my boss was a dick too. Hmmm.

[@sunnyztmoney]

@@gokism1 what's the n word? Ooh it's so forbidden I can't even use it in context for fear, so ashamed of being white

[@gokism1]

Negative. I don't like the word and refuse to write it down. I don't like the word so much that when my dad decided to use it in my apartment in 1986 I told him to not use it or leave.

[@ZeusNoTenshi]

This video really shows the power of photography. Rob Halford is one of he greats, and has no doubt created great memories and fondness for millions around the world. That these photos can capture even a snapshot of that is a wonderful thing.

[@gryzew]

Rob Halford in concert: the only person I've ever seen wearing and also pulling off a denim long coat. Somehow he can be fabulous and still be more metal than anybody around at the same time, it just doesn't compute. I guess being a great band frontman is about presence, and wherever his comes from, there's a lot of it.

[@Guitar387]

He seems like a lovely guy.

[@theonlyjamiebourgeois9703]

Just love this man more and more.

[@FuturesquashArchive4Concerts]

“‘That’s the butchest, straightest guy I know, he’s mean as fuck’ which I am by the way” ~ Rob Halford

[@martonkormendy6150]

6:34 "Kai Kai" :D

[@mhsigrist]

Hands down to Rob and Priest. Living legends that changed my life.

[@Kiera_Jackson74]

Always the orange lighting theme with Priest stage shows

[@CoreyChambersLA]

Loved Halford's recount of Judas Priest history.

[@TxpNoveske]

Thanks Rob for your stories. Love Judas Priest

[@beyondtheveilofdeath4195]

...have been a Judas priest fan since "Stained class>" was released (before I was way too young....) - great memories to share, Robbo...thank ya!!!

[@eeko5227]

3:30 "That's just me hitting the note only dogs can hear." Lol JUST

[@microbus99]

This is cool. Love Rob and the Band to death. Rob is a badass no matter what!

[@trentshimmonsiilaogreens4074]

That was great Rob Halford is truly The metal god.

[@rsl6767]

Best metal voice ever... , and a pretty cool dude as well 👍

[@orangepeelx]

The Painkiller tour jacket was given away in a competition via Kerrang! Magazine (or Metal Hammer), I remember seeing it advertised.

[@williamashford-payne2416]

Rob Halford what a awesome voice he's got

[@StenSturesKanal]

Why does one person get this charming, photogenic and so amazing at singing. It's not fair!

[@danacoleman4007]

Man, he has such a great sense of humor! And a great intellect as well! I think he could probably get away with doing stand-up comedy too!

[@diegom-a7970]

Real motherfuckin Rock Star!! 🤘

[@timmyotool3615]

GRACIAS querida Inglaterra por crear a la mas GRANDE banda de METAL DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS...JP por los proximos 100años.

[@sniffrat3646]

estoy de acuerdo....saludos desde Inglaterra

[@kryptonite2734]

Thank you, Rob Halford, for sharing! And for always putting on a great show - you love your fans, and we love you.

[@Robylazarus]

Man Rob has an incredible sense of humour....LMAO...🤣🤣

[@tomtomthepipersson6675]

My life is better because of Judas Priest Killer music social lessons and a middle finger at the establishment.

[@SilverTounge85]

More please, sure there's gotta be more.

[@demantim]

Can't help but smile when he starts speaking.

[@Lakk6Metal]

:) I could listen to Rob for days :)

[@norcalvirg]

Man, i didn't want that to end...awesome! JP \m/

[@perrymatherne2021]

I still say hell bent for leather is their masterpiece 👊

[@analogkid4957]

Perry Matherne yes I love “ Evening Star”

[@paulwalsh2344]

I think that's when their masterpieces started...

[@kaylynnhuddleston5533]

Remember seeing him in the 70s ride that motorcycle right on stage. Break the law Break the law.

[@jewelmathews1444]

I love Rob! have lived him since 1983!! seen him perform several times!

[@danmang923]

Love this man.

[@NigelFortune]

I was at the first Monsters of Rock festival at Donnington and Priest went down a storm. The whole day was just fucking awesome even the opening bands kicked ass..

[@kamalaharry9514]

Legend.

[@alaskatikiroom6802]

The most interesting and coolest man in the world!! Love you Rob!!

[@mitchellcox1912]

I really enjoyed this. Thank you!

[@justme8108]

Love this interview.

[@Jacobwilliam79]

That was great. Just saw em on Thursday. Brilliant as always.

[@michaelheintz1833]

All the things this man has seen....great interview