- Rob Halford's "Bible": Heavy metal, gay clubs and God
Rob Halford can't make much of the real Bible. The singer of heavy metal icons Judas Priest finds it boring. "But I do like the idea of a book that collects all the knowledge a person has gathered in their life, a kind of guide to their world understanding," the 72-year-old writes in the foreword to his second book.
"The Bible of Heavy Metal - Rob Halford's Holy Scriptures" is now available in German. "I really take a lot of liberties with the Holy Bible," Halford admits in an interview with the German Press Agency, grinning. "I'm sure God doesn't mind."
The singer with the gray Methuselah beard wears sunglasses. He is connected via Zoom from sunny Phoenix/Arizona, his second home besides his English hometown of Walsall near Birmingham. This year, he has published the 18th studio album "Invincible Shield" with Judas Priest. Currently, the band is taking a few weeks off from their extensive world tour. "I've just come from Istanbul," he says cheerfully. "Do you know what jet lag feels like?"
"The Metal God" chats from the knitting basket
With his brutally honest autobiography "Confess" in 2020, the rock veteran, who is called "Metal God" by his fans, caused a stir. His second literary work, created again with co-author Ian Gittins, is a collection of anecdotes from his long career spanning nearly 300 pages.
It's about "the many obstacles that arise when you want to be successful in the entertainment industry." The chapters revolve around early bands, apprenticeship and wandering years, band members, managers, and lawyers. It's about songwriting, riffs, and album covers, about tours, roadies, and even catering. After over 50 years in the music business, Halford has something to say about everything.
"Since it's not an autobiography, we didn't really have to think about what happened in 1982, for example," he says. "There were just different references. In 1978, you slept in the back of the van, in 2022, you're in the Ritz Carlton." Halford laughs. "That's the difference. That's the funny part of this professional journey."
Clearing up old rumors
Incidentally, Halford, who came out as gay in 1998, clears up some persistent rumors. Again and again, it's said that the leather and stud clothing of his band was "a gay statement," a suspicion that, according to Halford, can only come from heterosexual representatives of the rock'n'roll industry.
"When I came out, people would say, 'Oh, we knew you were gay because of how you dress.' Really? Because someone wears leather, they're automatically gay?" He laughs. "That probably comes from stereotypes from people who don't understand gay culture. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: When I first put on the leather jacket, I knew: That's the look, that's the identity."
Struggling with his own sexuality
On the other hand, he sang about visiting a gay club in New York in the Judas Priest song "Raw Deal" on the 1977 album "Sin After Sin." "It's also a bit about struggling with my sexual identity," Halford reveals. Neither bandmates, fans, nor the press noticed what the song was about at the time. "I don't know how that happened," the singer says, emphasizing that he had no agenda. "It was just a text that came out that way."
Besides his long-closeted homosexuality, he dedicates his book to other serious topics. He discusses mental health issues and the time when he struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. The 72-year-old, who has been sober for a long time, offers some explanations and advocates for rock stars to finally open up about their concerns.
In his book, it sometimes seems as if Rob Halford is trying to justify himself. He explains why he has reservations about autograph seekers and usually only signs one per person - because some sell them online - and hints that he appreciates being asked before taking a selfie with him, which doesn't always happen. And the guest list at concerts is another matter.
A Cult Singer with a Knack for Self-Irony
Halford's "Heavy Metal Bible," which was released in English two years ago under the title "Biblical," offers mostly entertaining and engaging reading for Judas Priest and heavy metal fans. Halford, who regularly amuses on Instagram with funny posts, once again proves that he is more than just a great rock singer. He is an entertainer with wit and self-irony - and rightfully considered a cult figure in his field.
The "Metal God," who describes himself as spiritual, sees parallels between religion and musical passion. "Like declaring oneself to a religion, one declares oneself to a band," he explains. However, there is a significant difference: "When you believe in religion, you believe in an idea, a thought. It's almost abstract, as it doesn't exist in our world but rather in another dimension. It's different with heavy metal."
The German Press Agency published an interview with Rob Halford, where he admits taking liberties with the Bible in his music and jokingly mentions that God probably doesn't mind. Rob Halford's latest book, a collection of anecdotes from his career, has been released in German by the German Press Agency.
