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)).
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.
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.
@@PotatoeJoe69 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
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/
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
I stopped listening to Judas Priest when Rob came out. .... Only for a second, while I praised Rob for his bravery and honesty. Then I got right back on the music. He's a great man - it's a shame so many had/have issues with whom he wishes to embrace.
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.
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.
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.
@@IHateRU-vidHandlesVeryMuch 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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 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/
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.
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. 💙💜💗
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.
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
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...
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
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....
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.
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.
he should come out in a show, before the most heavy song ever, so I could show to my girls and to my gay friends who dont like metal ps: Fight and his solo carrer are awesome!
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 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.
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.
Metal heads are the least homophobic fans on the planet. Nobody I knew gave a shit that he was gay in the 80's and 90's. We loved Rob for his music and respect him for his music.
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.