In retrospect, what Rob did was god tier trolling. He popularised the leather culture amongst the metal fans, wrote many lyrics that are gay as hell, all the while his fans thinking this was the manliest and most hetero thing ever.
@@firstditcheffort666 I remember when he "came out" during the 90s. They interviewed his former band mates and they laughed it off as an open secret)).
And yet... even in 1998, Rob wasn't ostracized nor did he have his name smeared. The idea they portray now, that everything before the year 2000 was filled with hatred of everyone else, is so damn ignorant.
@@FeatheredDino It was still illegal to marry someone of the same gender back then, what do you mean there wasn't hatred? And on a side note, as a gay teenager in 2022, i have been bullied several times because some people in my school found out about my sexuality. Most gay people still deal with homophobia today, and it is still seen as a big deal to come out.
@@alex2147 It's pretty normal for people who are 'different' to be teased, bullied, ostracized or any combination of them. That will never change my friend, it will continue that way until the end of humanity, because it's ingrained in our nature as a species. What I would suggest, is instead of living your life in misery, and spending so much time and heartache on trying to change other people's minds; make good with it, and live your damn life. I didn't say there was no hatred; but the world pre-2000 is not the hellscape it's made out too be today.
I’m getting old so sometimes I’m not sure if something actually happened long ago in my life or if I dreamed it 😂, but I could swear, long before 1998, back when I was in high school, sometime around 1984-85, that Rob Halford took part in a Gay Pride Parade. I keep seeing “1998” as the year Halford came out, but I can recall being completely unsurprised at that time. Now, I heard this second-hand from a classmate (and it was looooong before the internet came into our lives), so maybe all the facts aren’t in accord with each other, but even if I have some facts wrong, it still has Rob Halford as coming out a full decade-plus before he’s generally credited. Maybe he took part in the parade as a “friend” to gays, not as actually being gay himself, but where I went to school, metal was the music 90% of white kids were listing to (black kids were heavily into RUN-DMC and all those early, 80s hip hop groups & artists, as that was exploding at the time. It’s a major reason that Aerosmith began their comeback, because run dmc were HUGE). Anyone else recall anything like this? Nothing seems to come up when I google it, so Maybe I dreamed it? (I don’t believe I dreamed it, but who knows?)
@@alex2147 So you're also proving the point that hatred without reason doesn't fit into a certain category of time by mentioning the experience still continues on in 2022
Well that's precisely it and you have hit the nail on the head. I touched upon it in another post. People like Rob allowed us to be who we are in the mosh pit, rocking out to tunes that moved us emotionally. That only results in people being more true to themselves. When that spills over into breaking the barrier down on people's sexual persuasion it's even better. Life is short and love is paramount in this lifetime.
The leather should clue anyone in. That image has always (at least in my opinion) made the impression that the dude wearing it is gay. I have no qualms about it though. Rob Halford can love whoever he wants, and he is awesome \m/
I looked it up because I just read that part in Confess, and it's nearly put me in tears. It's heartbreaking to know the struggle that so many gay people have had to deal with, historically and presently.
Awesome. Interesting interview. Gay or not, Rob will ALWAYS be one of the best singers in the history of heavy metal and he will ALWAYS be THE METAL GOD. Hell Bent For Halford.
My mom worked at a bar he would frequent in the 80s/90s. Apparently it was known around there and she said that pretty much no one cared one bit past the fact that he was an awesome musician and a very kind and friendly human being. My mom HATED rock/metal but anytime I played Judas Priest she told me to turn it up haha.
Rob Halford, plays a show to a sold out crowd of tens of thousands in the arctic circle, gives interviews in ten languages, flies red eye to Japan and is welcomed like a living god. I’m not sure the sex of who ever he chooses to love is the most determinant thing about him, but he felt it was important enough to say so.. god bless you Rob, thank you for your courage and everything that you do. You’re only of the most brilliant vocalists and song writers in history and I wish you all the best.
Due to growing up in the south, I was around a lot of homophobia. Had it heavily dictated among my elders, peers, and others that it was a terrible thing. And I'd be lying if I didn't say I thought in that same manner. Then I got around more gay kids in my teens, and over the years, I just realized that they weren't what I'd been taught to think they were. Even more of a lesson was when friends I'd thought were straight had later came out. The saddest thing of all is the individuals that have been killed or killed themselves, because they love differently.
Yep. The biggest destroyer of discrimination is actually getting to know the people you are told to hate. Because then you realize that they are just normal people like the rest of us.
I was introduced to Rob in 1986 by his good friend Lemmy. (Lemmy had come to see my band practice and I drew the short straw to drive him around after. The band was Harum Scarum) Super nice guys! I'd been a huge fan of Priest (and Motorhead) since the mid 70's and was a bit starstruck. We met him at a gay bar by LAX. Lemmy said, "Yeah, Rob's a queen... and he's one of my best friends in the world." I was 19 years old at the time... It was an amazing experience. I kept it to myself for many, many years.
@@AdaltheRighteous Lemmy just asked me directly not to say anything because it would hurt his friend. But I was never going to reveal that kind of personal information, especially knowing what the social climate was at that time. To be honest, after the initial shock wore off of just getting to hang out with these two legends on a very personal level, I wasn’t really surprised. And it never changed my opinion of Rob as the incredible artist that he is. They were both so nice and engaging to me ( we just talked about music and songwriting and metal and the industry and our influences most of the night. I had always played with musicians older than me, but to be taken seriously in conversation by actual rock stars, I can’t even express how life changing and incredible that was for me. One of the high points of my life) Rob would respond to me, “Yeah! That’s exactly right!” and Lemmy would say, “I’ve seen him. He get’s it!”. On the way home, I asked Lemmy what he really thought of my songs and playing and he replied, “Well, most of it’s shit. I liked a couple tunes. Keep it up; you’ll get better”.
@jonnyroxx7172 this is a genuinely cool story. Those nights of hanging out with some you admire who also gets it are the kind that make life worth living. Rock on dude 🤘
Top bloke, always breaking down barriers and allowing people to be more free and true to themselves, be that via the music he wrote / writes or leading by example where sexuality is concerned. I remember back in the day I never felt more free than in the mosh pit. Those moments cannot happen without the hard work and creativity from the likes of Rob Halford. Whilst I am not gay I can only imagine gay people feel that same level of liberation when people like Rob Halford come out. It's no wonder the man is a living legend.
My neighbor threw every JP record in the trash bin after he found out Rob was a gaF. He was from an old school Italian Family. I eventually rescued those records from the Trash and still have them somewhere in a storage box.
Nobody should be made to feel ashamed or wrong because of who they are. My uncle was gay and it took him until he was in his 70s, and i was in my 30s for him to get the nerve to tell me about his sexual orientation. He was so scared that i wouldn't love him anymore. His trusting me with that information only made us closer.
And that's the way it should be. My sister was the same way. It took her until her late 30s to confess it. I think she even wanted to deny it for herself. In the country and culture and religion i come from, is still very conservative and backward when it comes to addressing topics like this.
I never understood people who bash gay people, or bash anybody really. It's real easy to get along with people. All you have to do is NOT be an asshole
But you understand how to bash people who don't like what you like by calling them an asshole. Obviously not everyone bashes them. They just want nothing to do with gays. It's their right.
I get that but, some gays define their life or image on sex acts. Thats what most people have a problem with. I have a few friends who are gay and i never heard them once say who they would like to suck or anything nasty like that. Straight men dont wanna have that image in their head. Please. They can keep their fantasies in their heads.
@@Kgio-2112 "Some gays" and some straight people define their public image through some kind of overt sexualization. That kind of thinking just encourages them to stay in the closet, hiding a large part of their personal being from society, which is why Rob Halford made it such a big deal to reveal himself being homosexual. People have this kind of thought that expressing yourself as gay makes someone a sex-addicted degenerate or something, instead it's just someone being attracted to the same gender and not much else after that. I've known straight people who have talked more about sex than any gay person I know. There are tons of shit in the world such as videos of Islamic beheadings, news articles about child abuse, murder, plenty of images of dead bodies, and more. I mean I also don't want to see images of gay porn as a straight man, but that's the least of my worries if anything and it's anyones god given right to view them if they want to.
@@IHateTH-camHandlesVeryMuch I agree but the idea of man on man sex is repulsive and does not create life. Like I said, I have gay friends and have worked with gay men and women. No one should define their life on sex, straight or gay. But I definitely don't wanna hear about men blowing each other.
I was a teenager around 19 years old when Rob did this interview, and I was not shocked at all when he admitted that he has been a gay man most of his life. The only reason why I always suspected that he was gay was because of the Police Academy movies with the Blue Oyster Bar scenes. The way they were dressed was very identical to the way Rob Halford dressed. It was never an issue for me because in my eyes Rob Halford was and still is the greatest lead singer ever. What he and other musicians do in their private life is none of my business. Since this interview, Rob has released some amazing albums with his solo band Halford, and had return to Judas Priest back in 2004 and has done some amazing albums with them as well.
I'm a bisexual metalhead and I looked up to Rob when he came out since I love Judas Priest growing up. I know how difficult it is to come out especially to loved ones since you fear you might be disowned. I already came out to most of my friends and they were accepting yet haven't came out to my family yet since i don't know how they will feel. I feel very proud for him and others in the LGBTQ+ community for expressing themselves and I am proud to be a Bisexual guy. 💙💜💗
I was a teenager in the 80's, we always expected it, wasn't a big deal. I did laugh a little decades later when I realized we used to wear studded cockrings on our wrists. Thanks Rob! LOL
It's nearly brought me to tears on multiple occasions. It's difficult to hear about the struggle of having to hide such a significant part of your identity. It's a good read with some genuine emotions throughout.
Rob is the greatest voice in the history of metal. He's also one of the most kind down to earth humans on earth. Sexual preference is simply a preference
im a straight man ,it doesint matter if your straight or gay or whatever as long as your a good person,your happy,and your loved ,ive been a priest fan since about 1980 i could tell Rob was gay who cares he is an amazing person,artist,im so sick of all these haters out there
Back in 85', I met Rob in the club Heaven and ended up having a one night stand with him. I didn't even know he was famous until years later when I saw the "Painkiller" video while watching MTV. I was like "hey, the guy looks awfully familiar!" LOL
I could care less if he is gay, that's his business, but I never understood how hardcore metalheads back in the day couldn't see it. Had a friend as a youth who was big into metal, loved Priest and had Halford's poster on his wall. The funny thing was he was also homophobic as hell, yet couldn't spot Halford as a flamer. I mean if the leather hat, leather vest and chaps didn't give it away, come on.... makes me wonder if a lot of people are as straight as they claim to be.
Rob did an interview with Dean del Ray where he talked about how they heavy metal learher fashion trend that he helped to start had it’s roots (Atleast for him) in 60’s/70’s gay leather biker fashion.
Brave Man Halford. Mercurial Voice of the Hellion. The listener, spectator, admirer, with a good sense of musicality and Metal-kin belonging, couldn't care less either their vocal hero was gay, bi, or whatever possible sexual orientation there might exist in the human condition. If it is Music and Metal, there's a tribal communion in the air that binds everyone, like in an ancient battlefield. But he did well being frank with millions of fans worldwide. Guess he doubled the respect he always got from us. Long live Rob.
I remember this like yesterday. A friend of a friend in that community i was with back then who was a major Judas Priest fan had a really hard time accepting this. I remember he started to burn all his JP LP's and posters and throw away all memorabilia etc... Now, he was very conservative and religious, just as his parents and siblings were. He first discovered JP when he was drafted to the military and it helped him get through it back in the 80s. And he said that he felt like he had been betrayed in the worst possible way. And it was the deceivement done by the devil etc... Thankfully as the years went by he calmed down and started using that thing that's between your ears. He came to terms with it but i don't think he'll ever buy another Priest album. And sadly back in those dsys, especially with many ppl from the 1980s era they were like that. And i just say... Well, their loss. JP is awsome and Rob is the metal god! 🤘 🔥
What does it matter what somebody else like or dosn’t like. They won’t change just because it suits you, or they’d be lying. Be who you want to be and go with whatever floats your boat...
@@nobody5228 I'm a musician. I listen to lots of music, even stuff I don't like and I like to know about the culture of music in general. That's how I know about Rob Halford
I cant say I would personally support it....I just don't care what other people decide to do. I am not gay or even thought about being that way. Some people get offended when I say I dont support it but its not the same thing as saying I dont think it belongs here or anything. I treat all people like humans regardless of their sexuality. I might nit live the lifestyle that they do but I still treat them with respect. My dad had me growing up with bands like ACDC, Metallica, Poison, Whitesnake, Ozzy, Judas and many others. I used to listen to You've got another thing coming on GTA Vice City quite a lot and really liked it. Rob Halford is pretty awesome and I could care less if he is gay. Keep on rockin!
@@RebelGaming4U yess ppl like us exist. Me personally also can't say i support them (lgbtq) in context sexuality but i also dont against them, i'm just being neutral, they do what they wanna do, they can be anything they want and do their own business, i'm here just wanna listen to their music and his sexuality, his race, his nationality etc are his fucking business. Treat him like human and just dont give a fuck abt his privacy and life \m/
How the hell no one saw it way back then?? I knew it the first time I saw them.. I figured they all were but knew for sure Rob was. He was flaming as hell....
Gay or not Rob halford fucking rocks ..... When he drove that bike down the aisle of the stadium , ride up on stage and started singing " u got another thing comming " I was in fucking AWE
Not gay but quite sexually ambiguous... He helped me understand that it was not all sexuality, it was about living a life in a certain way, outside the cliche. This guy made us dress bdsm i mean, lol he doesnt follow, he leads.
Im 55. My fiancee isn't into metal. She looked at photos of Rob and said you didn't know he was gay?? Look at him! In high school i was wearing a Crue shirt one day. The metal kids made fun and said you like fa# bands, listen to Priest lol
I remember the furore after he came out in the music press and other bands chiming in with opinions . Seeing the band play live it’s not like he was trying to hide anything and it’s nobody’s business anyway, it doesn’t change the way the songs made them feel.
I don’t think anyone was shocked, because it was very obvious with how he dressed and some of the song names. I think people were just glad he finally came out.
I have been a long time and if you just breathe since the late 80s I'm 43 years old now and it never changed my opinion of him or the band I've seen in concert many times and have all the respect in the world for Rob Halford.... If you listen to a lot of the lyrics on the album defenders of the faith you'll hear a lot of homophobic references
Rob kicks ass, and I admire him for coming out. although he certainly did steal Judas Priest thunder here lol they had just gotten Tim Ripper Owens in the band and that was a whole story in itself.
Breaking the law is about him getting arrested for soliciting down on the beach were the gays would hangout. It makes you think about some priest songs. Ram it down, point of entry, the sentinel, living after midnight. I always figured the original name of turbo lover was bunghole lover. I could careless that he's gay. He's the metal God & will always be. I've met him several times with fight & halford. He was very nice, respectful, quiet & reserved person to meet.
In retrospect, what Rob did was god tier trolling. He popularised the leather culture amongst the metal fans, wrote many lyrics that are gay as hell, all the while his fans thinking this was the manliest and most hetero thing ever.
he was never in a closet. pretty sure he "announced" it only to promote his album.
@@CoolGobyFishespecially back in the day, everyone was in the closet until they come out.
@@quimquim89 he was open about it. Come on. He simply didn't talk about it on TV. Everyone around him knew
According to his autobiographies, no @@CoolGobyFish
@@firstditcheffort666 I remember when he "came out" during the 90s. They interviewed his former band mates and they laughed it off as an open secret)).
This doesn't seem like a big deal in 2021, but in 1998 it was a pretty big deal. Props to Rob.
And yet... even in 1998, Rob wasn't ostracized nor did he have his name smeared.
The idea they portray now, that everything before the year 2000 was filled with hatred of everyone else, is so damn ignorant.
@@FeatheredDino It was still illegal to marry someone of the same gender back then, what do you mean there wasn't hatred?
And on a side note, as a gay teenager in 2022, i have been bullied several times because some people in my school found out about my sexuality. Most gay people still deal with homophobia today, and it is still seen as a big deal to come out.
@@alex2147 It's pretty normal for people who are 'different' to be teased, bullied, ostracized or any combination of them. That will never change my friend, it will continue that way until the end of humanity, because it's ingrained in our nature as a species. What I would suggest, is instead of living your life in misery, and spending so much time and heartache on trying to change other people's minds; make good with it, and live your damn life.
I didn't say there was no hatred; but the world pre-2000 is not the hellscape it's made out too be today.
I’m getting old so sometimes I’m not sure if something actually happened long ago in my life or if I dreamed it 😂, but I could swear, long before 1998, back when I was in high school, sometime around 1984-85, that Rob Halford took part in a Gay Pride Parade. I keep seeing “1998” as the year Halford came out, but I can recall being completely unsurprised at that time.
Now, I heard this second-hand from a classmate (and it was looooong before the internet came into our lives), so maybe all the facts aren’t in accord with each other, but even if I have some facts wrong, it still has Rob Halford as coming out a full decade-plus before he’s generally credited.
Maybe he took part in the parade as a “friend” to gays, not as actually being gay himself, but where I went to school, metal was the music 90% of white kids were listing to (black kids were heavily into RUN-DMC and all those early, 80s hip hop groups & artists, as that was exploding at the time. It’s a major reason that Aerosmith began their comeback, because run dmc were HUGE).
Anyone else recall anything like this? Nothing seems to come up when I google it, so Maybe I dreamed it? (I don’t believe I dreamed it, but who knows?)
@@alex2147 So you're also proving the point that hatred without reason doesn't fit into a certain category of time by mentioning the experience still continues on in 2022
I'm not gay but people like Rob help us all to be who we are. Love each other, people. We're all going to die.
Well that's precisely it and you have hit the nail on the head. I touched upon it in another post. People like Rob allowed us to be who we are in the mosh pit, rocking out to tunes that moved us emotionally. That only results in people being more true to themselves. When that spills over into breaking the barrier down on people's sexual persuasion it's even better. Life is short and love is paramount in this lifetime.
The world is a better place for having Rob Halford in it 🤘
I feel like he helped a lot of people accept homosexuality, I know he helped my dad with it
tell ur dad im proud of him!
yeah hes helped me with my homosexuality hes probably one of my role models
🤓😑
Especially in metal and rock community
The fact that he always looked like he could slip into the Village People line up had me suspicious.Rock on Rob!
He was in the village people. Many people don't know that.
I think it's Village People who copied Judas Priest. Priest had already adopted the leathers by the time YMCA charted in 1978.
@@jeni3148 The Leather dude has always been around in the Gay community in my observation.Rob is a great singer and seems like a nice guy.
The leather should clue anyone in. That image has always (at least in my opinion) made the impression that the dude wearing it is gay. I have no qualms about it though. Rob Halford can love whoever he wants, and he is awesome \m/
He was flaming. People had to be blind or dumb not to see it or suspect it lol
Halford made me finally tell my parents they're gay.
You’re so brave! My dads have been gay for years but I haven’t the heart to tell them :/
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hahaha
Lol
Very brave! xD
This interview hits so damn different after reading his Confess autobiography
I looked it up because I just read that part in Confess, and it's nearly put me in tears. It's heartbreaking to know the struggle that so many gay people have had to deal with, historically and presently.
@@joshua.merrill couldn't agree more, it's very eye opening
I just finished reading that too. Great book.
Reading it currently, I'm on page 180 and it's one of the best autobiographys I've ever read and I've read quite a few
I am here because of that !!
Awesome. Interesting interview. Gay or not, Rob will ALWAYS be one of the best singers in the history of heavy metal and he will ALWAYS be THE METAL GOD. Hell Bent For Halford.
I remember laughing to myself for YEARS because none of my straight friends had a clue.
with all the whips and the leather jackets
I didn't get it until I'd moved to San Francisco and had lived there for a few years. One night I saw an old video and said, "Oh, shit! He's gay!"
That's a good thing (tho he was very gay in those years)
My mom worked at a bar he would frequent in the 80s/90s. Apparently it was known around there and she said that pretty much no one cared one bit past the fact that he was an awesome musician and a very kind and friendly human being. My mom HATED rock/metal but anytime I played Judas Priest she told me to turn it up haha.
Rob Halford, plays a show to a sold out crowd of tens of thousands in the arctic circle, gives interviews in ten languages, flies red eye to Japan and is welcomed like a living god. I’m not sure the sex of who ever he chooses to love is the most determinant thing about him, but he felt it was important enough to say so.. god bless you Rob, thank you for your courage and everything that you do. You’re only of the most brilliant vocalists and song writers in history and I wish you all the best.
10 languages
Due to growing up in the south, I was around a lot of homophobia. Had it heavily dictated among my elders, peers, and others that it was a terrible thing. And I'd be lying if I didn't say I thought in that same manner. Then I got around more gay kids in my teens, and over the years, I just realized that they weren't what I'd been taught to think they were. Even more of a lesson was when friends I'd thought were straight had later came out. The saddest thing of all is the individuals that have been killed or killed themselves, because they love differently.
Glad you came around.
That's AIDS man
@@crypticreality8484 huh? Wym
@@gumbly4174 that was killing homosexuals in the late 80's early 90's
Yep. The biggest destroyer of discrimination is actually getting to know the people you are told to hate. Because then you realize that they are just normal people like the rest of us.
dont care if hes gay or not. hes still an amazing singer
He transcended homophobia . Even homophobic fans knew he was gay and still loved him
Daniel Wickham I know right
Daniel Treadwell HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
It's all that throat coat.
@@eerievibes6854 It's so good at preserving ones' voice.
Rob is a fellow metalhead and biker. Appreciate the Music and your bravery.
I was introduced to Rob in 1986 by his good friend Lemmy. (Lemmy had come to see my band practice and I drew the short straw to drive him around after. The band was Harum Scarum) Super nice guys! I'd been a huge fan of Priest (and Motorhead) since the mid 70's and was a bit starstruck. We met him at a gay bar by LAX. Lemmy said, "Yeah, Rob's a queen... and he's one of my best friends in the world." I was 19 years old at the time... It was an amazing experience. I kept it to myself for many, many years.
Good on you for keeping that to yourself. That’s a real ally
@@AdaltheRighteous !
@@AdaltheRighteous Lemmy just asked me directly not to say anything because it would hurt his friend. But I was never going to reveal that kind of personal information, especially knowing what the social climate was at that time. To be honest, after the initial shock wore off of just getting to hang out with these two legends on a very personal level, I wasn’t really surprised. And it never changed my opinion of Rob as the incredible artist that he is. They were both so nice and engaging to me ( we just talked about music and songwriting and metal and the industry and our influences most of the night. I had always played with musicians older than me, but to be taken seriously in conversation by actual rock stars, I can’t even express how life changing and incredible that was for me. One of the high points of my life) Rob would respond to me, “Yeah! That’s exactly right!” and Lemmy would say, “I’ve seen him. He get’s it!”. On the way home, I asked Lemmy what he really thought of my songs and playing and he replied, “Well, most of it’s shit. I liked a couple tunes. Keep it up; you’ll get better”.
@jonnyroxx7172 this is a genuinely cool story. Those nights of hanging out with some you admire who also gets it are the kind that make life worth living. Rock on dude 🤘
@@AdaltheRighteous Thank you so much for replying. My experience was amazing. Getting to share it with beautiful people like you; priceless.
It doesnt change the fact hes the most metal man ever
Top bloke, always breaking down barriers and allowing people to be more free and true to themselves, be that via the music he wrote / writes or leading by example where sexuality is concerned. I remember back in the day I never felt more free than in the mosh pit. Those moments cannot happen without the hard work and creativity from the likes of Rob Halford. Whilst I am not gay I can only imagine gay people feel that same level of liberation when people like Rob Halford come out. It's no wonder the man is a living legend.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Good on you rob you are and will always be the metal god
My neighbor threw every JP record in the trash bin after he found out Rob was a gaF.
He was from an old school Italian Family.
I eventually rescued those records
from the Trash and still have them somewhere in a storage box.
Why would he toss them? I mean, the music sounds exactly the same before Rob Halford came out than after, right?
I’m so glad Rob returned to priest. I love tim but priest isn’t the same without rob
Nobody should be made to feel ashamed or wrong because of who they are. My uncle was gay and it took him until he was in his 70s, and i was in my 30s for him to get the nerve to tell me about his sexual orientation. He was so scared that i wouldn't love him anymore. His trusting me with that information only made us closer.
And that's the way it should be. My sister was the same way. It took her until her late 30s to confess it. I think she even wanted to deny it for herself.
In the country and culture and religion i come from, is still very conservative and backward when it comes to addressing topics like this.
I never understood people who bash gay people, or bash anybody really. It's real easy to get along with people. All you have to do is NOT be an asshole
But you understand how to bash people who don't like what you like by calling them an asshole. Obviously not everyone bashes them. They just want nothing to do with gays. It's their right.
I get that but, some gays define their life or image on sex acts. Thats what most people have a problem with. I have a few friends who are gay and i never heard them once say who they would like to suck or anything nasty like that. Straight men dont wanna have that image in their head. Please. They can keep their fantasies in their heads.
@@Kgio-2112 "Some gays" and some straight people define their public image through some kind of overt sexualization. That kind of thinking just encourages them to stay in the closet, hiding a large part of their personal being from society, which is why Rob Halford made it such a big deal to reveal himself being homosexual. People have this kind of thought that expressing yourself as gay makes someone a sex-addicted degenerate or something, instead it's just someone being attracted to the same gender and not much else after that. I've known straight people who have talked more about sex than any gay person I know. There are tons of shit in the world such as videos of Islamic beheadings, news articles about child abuse, murder, plenty of images of dead bodies, and more. I mean I also don't want to see images of gay porn as a straight man, but that's the least of my worries if anything and it's anyones god given right to view them if they want to.
@@IHateTH-camHandlesVeryMuch I agree but the idea of man on man sex is repulsive and does not create life. Like I said, I have gay friends and have worked with gay men and women. No one should define their life on sex, straight or gay. But I definitely don't wanna hear about men blowing each other.
Robert Klone Excellent comment Robert!
I'm glad Judas Priest was my first concert. Rob Halford is legendary ❤
I do wish he'd come or sooner, but I understand.
I was a teenager around 19 years old when Rob did this interview, and I was not shocked at all when he admitted that he has been a gay man most of his life. The only reason why I always suspected that he was gay was because of the Police Academy movies with the Blue Oyster Bar scenes. The way they were dressed was very identical to the way Rob Halford dressed. It was never an issue for me because in my eyes Rob Halford was and still is the greatest lead singer ever. What he and other musicians do in their private life is none of my business. Since this interview, Rob has released some amazing albums with his solo band Halford, and had return to Judas Priest back in 2004 and has done some amazing albums with them as well.
😂😂😂 I hear that song that plays once the gay men start dancing with the two jabornis that were spying on Mahoney 😂
HA! Rob totally dresses like the dudes at the gay bar in the first Police Academy movie!
Oh, then people who saw "Cruising" should've suspected it even more :D
Thank you for posting this. I love Rob Halford! He's as Metal as it GETS!
I love u Brave Man 💜
I have just finished reading his book Confess, would strongly recommend it!
I love as you are and I’m grateful for the gift of your voice❤
The Gay uncle we wish we had
I am straight and younger than Rob yet this makes me want to give him a huge hug and tell him I'm proud of him.
I'm a bisexual metalhead and I looked up to Rob when he came out since I love Judas Priest growing up. I know how difficult it is to come out especially to loved ones since you fear you might be disowned. I already came out to most of my friends and they were accepting yet haven't came out to my family yet since i don't know how they will feel. I feel very proud for him and others in the LGBTQ+ community for expressing themselves and I am proud to be a Bisexual guy. 💙💜💗
He's an amazing vocalist...God bless him and having the courage to stand up for what he believes in
Love your honesty Rob. Love your music xx
I was a teenager in the 80's, we always expected it, wasn't a big deal. I did laugh a little decades later when I realized we used to wear studded cockrings on our wrists. Thanks Rob! LOL
I love him. He is a legend.
Got Rob book the other day can't wait to read it bet it will be amazing
It's nearly brought me to tears on multiple occasions. It's difficult to hear about the struggle of having to hide such a significant part of your identity. It's a good read with some genuine emotions throughout.
Halford is a god.
He and Freddie single handedly got so many straight men in studs leather and spandex.
😂 ♥
Rob is the greatest voice in the history of metal. He's also one of the most kind down to earth humans on earth. Sexual preference is simply a preference
im a straight man ,it doesint matter if your straight or gay or whatever as long as your a good person,your happy,and your loved ,ive been a priest fan since about 1980 i could tell Rob was gay who cares he is an amazing person,artist,im so sick of all these haters out there
Agreed! Thats excatly what im saying!
Back in 85', I met Rob in the club Heaven and ended up having a one night stand with him. I didn't even know he was famous until years later when I saw the "Painkiller" video while watching MTV. I was like "hey, the guy looks awfully familiar!" LOL
It's hard to believee you.
Was you the one who stole his wallet?
Wait...hOW
@@stanimirivanov4052 No.
@@amphiphone How what?
I could care less if he is gay, that's his business, but I never understood how hardcore metalheads back in the day couldn't see it. Had a friend as a youth who was big into metal, loved Priest and had Halford's poster on his wall. The funny thing was he was also homophobic as hell, yet couldn't spot Halford as a flamer. I mean if the leather hat, leather vest and chaps didn't give it away, come on.... makes me wonder if a lot of people are as straight as they claim to be.
Rob did an interview with Dean del Ray where he talked about how they heavy metal learher fashion trend that he helped to start had it’s roots (Atleast for him) in 60’s/70’s gay leather biker fashion.
What was the friend's reaction after hearing Rob come out?
@@b3fr1enderbetr4yer8 crying and screaming, probably
Brilliant man.
Brave Man Halford. Mercurial Voice of the Hellion. The listener, spectator, admirer, with a good sense of musicality and Metal-kin belonging, couldn't care less either their vocal hero was gay, bi, or whatever possible sexual orientation there might exist in the human condition. If it is Music and Metal, there's a tribal communion in the air that binds everyone, like in an ancient battlefield. But he did well being frank with millions of fans worldwide. Guess he doubled the respect he always got from us. Long live Rob.
Looked Anton Lavey back then.
💀
Gay or not. He's the metal god
I remember this like yesterday. A friend of a friend in that community i was with back then who was a major Judas Priest fan had a really hard time accepting this.
I remember he started to burn all his JP LP's and posters and throw away all memorabilia etc... Now, he was very conservative and religious, just as his parents and siblings were. He first discovered JP when he was drafted to the military and it helped him get through it back in the 80s. And he said that he felt like he had been betrayed in the worst possible way. And it was the deceivement done by the devil etc...
Thankfully as the years went by he calmed down and started using that thing that's between your ears.
He came to terms with it but i don't think he'll ever buy another Priest album. And sadly back in those dsys, especially with many ppl from the 1980s era they were like that.
And i just say... Well, their loss.
JP is awsome and Rob is the metal god! 🤘 🔥
What does it matter what somebody else like or dosn’t like. They won’t change just because it suits you, or they’d be lying. Be who you want to be and go with whatever floats your boat...
I don't care if he is gay, he is a badass and Judas Priest is one of the greatest bands ever! I love Judas Priest!
I think most people knew he was gay anyways
WHAT!!?! ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME ROB WAS A HOMOSEXUAL!?
@@tanner3285 Still is, by all accounts. ;)
@@nodiggity9472 No. Never. Rob is a manly man who likes motorcycles and women.
@@tanner3285 Hey, I'm not gonna argue. Anyway, its only gay if you cuddle afterwards. Or so I'm told.
By my straight, manly friends.
We knew and we love Rob.
rob will always be a personal hero to me.
I'm a straight bloke who doesn't like heavy metal, but I think Rob Halford is awesome.
How are you aware of him?
@@nobody5228 I'm a musician. I listen to lots of music, even stuff I don't like and I like to know about the culture of music in general. That's how I know about Rob Halford
@@jupitermoongauge4055 pretty cool
its okay to be gay :), though im not gay, but i support it.
Gayest comment ever.
I cant say I would personally support it....I just don't care what other people decide to do. I am not gay or even thought about being that way. Some people get offended when I say I dont support it but its not the same thing as saying I dont think it belongs here or anything. I treat all people like humans regardless of their sexuality. I might nit live the lifestyle that they do but I still treat them with respect. My dad had me growing up with bands like ACDC, Metallica, Poison, Whitesnake, Ozzy, Judas and many others. I used to listen to You've got another thing coming on GTA Vice City quite a lot and really liked it. Rob Halford is pretty awesome and I could care less if he is gay. Keep on rockin!
@@RebelGaming4U yess ppl like us exist. Me personally also can't say i support them (lgbtq) in context sexuality but i also dont against them, i'm just being neutral, they do what they wanna do, they can be anything they want and do their own business, i'm here just wanna listen to their music and his sexuality, his race, his nationality etc are his fucking business. Treat him like human and just dont give a fuck abt his privacy and life \m/
@@nodiggity9472 no
When will James and Lars have the balls to do this too?
As soon as you and your dad do.
You can be good bros with someone without being gay
lmao
XD
Best comment!
Nobody cares about his sexual life. He was and still is the Metal God with superhuman vocal skills, that's the only thing that matter.
I've been trying to find the clip where someone asks Lemmy if he knew Rob was gay. And he's like duh. But he's still his friend anyways
I don't see what his sexuality has to do with the music he produces? Gay or not he is still more metal then most of us!
You want to taste his steel!?
You mean his big Rod Halford
it has everything to do with the music he produces lol, just not in a bad way whatsoever
How the hell no one saw it way back then?? I knew it the first time I saw them.. I figured they all were but knew for sure Rob was. He was flaming as hell....
everyone knew Rob was gay. it was never a secret. he just wanted to promote his new album, so he "came out".
Gay or not Rob halford fucking rocks ..... When he drove that bike down the aisle of the stadium , ride up on stage and started singing " u got another thing comming " I was in fucking AWE
Dont care about his sexuality. The mans a legend and i love him.
He's a fantastic singer in a good band. It doesn't matter.
He just confirmed what everybody knew, I guess his public did not have any problems to accept it in earlier days
My favorite gay person 🏳️🌈☺
I don't know who needs to hear this but, All sexualities are perfectly natural whether it being homosexual heterosexual lesbian bisexual.
well most.
Not gay but quite sexually ambiguous... He helped me understand that it was not all sexuality, it was about living a life in a certain way, outside the cliche. This guy made us dress bdsm i mean, lol he doesnt follow, he leads.
I'm not gay but I have huge respect for Rob for coming out in such a hostile time
“We know!”
Love that cost he's wearing
Im 55. My fiancee isn't into metal. She looked at photos of Rob and said you didn't know he was gay?? Look at him! In high school i was wearing a Crue shirt one day. The metal kids made fun and said you like fa# bands, listen to Priest lol
So what he's gay he's still a bad ass singer
... Did you understand anything ?
THE MOST OPEN CLOSET IN THE WORLD
Just finished "Confess". Quite a read. I'll never walk into a truck stop man's toilet the same again.
Good one:D
He was doing what we in the LGBTQ community call "coding" if you where gay yourself you knew what he was talking about
Who cares? He's famous and can use his platform to raise awareness, yeah. But he's just a cool singer. Who gives a toss about who he's buggering?
I don't care about his sexuality, after reading his book, he is a good person. Not a prima donna like most rock stars.
I remember they played this interview a lot after he came out
I remember the furore after he came out in the music press and other bands chiming in with opinions . Seeing the band play live it’s not like he was trying to hide anything and it’s nobody’s business anyway, it doesn’t change the way the songs made them feel.
I don’t think anyone was shocked, because it was very obvious with how he dressed and some of the song names. I think people were just glad he finally came out.
And how couldn’t people see it from the beginning. He dressed like the dam Village people.
Not easy in 1998. In 2024 it's like coming out as left handed.
Ehh not really. it's 100% easier but still very very hard
The Metal God… no matter what
\m/ H A L F O R D \m/
I have been a long time and if you just breathe since the late 80s I'm 43 years old now and it never changed my opinion of him or the band I've seen in concert many times and have all the respect in the world for Rob Halford.... If you listen to a lot of the lyrics on the album defenders of the faith you'll hear a lot of homophobic references
The big surprise to me is that people didn’t know
You got another thing comin… out.
Rob kicks ass, and I admire him for coming out. although he certainly did steal Judas Priest thunder here lol they had just gotten Tim Ripper Owens in the band and that was a whole story in itself.
The band is called 2wo, not Voyeurs godddddd!! Oh well but this is still a great video, I love Halford soooo much
Who cares he’s still the METAL GOD!
Evidently he does that's why he did an interview.
Why is the sign for the " D Train " so prominently displayed behind him ?
Gay or straight, he’s still one of the greatest metal vocalists
Breaking the law is about him getting arrested for soliciting down on the beach were the gays would hangout. It makes you think about some priest songs. Ram it down, point of entry, the sentinel, living after midnight. I always figured the original name of turbo lover was bunghole lover. I could careless that he's gay. He's the metal God & will always be. I've met him several times with fight & halford. He was very nice, respectful, quiet & reserved person to meet.
He's still "The Metal God" no matter what his preferences are 🤟🤟
Still a God. Gay, Straight, Bi or pan. 🤘🏻🔥🤘🏻
Hell yeah 🤘🤘
Greatest peter puffer in all of metal. God tier voice.
Gay or not he is THE voice of heavy metal
It was no secret.
Anybody who saw the cover of
"Unleash In The East" knew right away.
Don't know how anyone could have missed it.
Is that Tricky’s Hell is Round the Corner in the beginning of the video??
Yes