THE METAL GOD, ROB HALFORD, DISCUSSES HIS LOVE OF MICHAEL BUBLE AND PAVAROTTI
Elisabeth Vincentelli of the New York Post spoke with the ever charming Judas Priest frontman, Rob Halford. Excerpts from the interview appear below.
NY Post: You’re not afraid to talk about your love for Michael Bublé.
Rob Halford: Even though I’m a metal singer, the fact that I’ve been able to appreciate other types of performers has probably paid dividends.
When I listen to Michael Bublé, it’s exciting, it’s inspiring. I feel the same way with Michael Feinstein or Ryan Adams. I’m drawn to singers who have something different to say vocally, and Adele would be in there. I saw [Barbra] Streisand in Phoenix and that was mind-blowing. Her voice is just so pure.
NY Post: You’re definitely thinking outside of the metal box.
Rob Halford: I’ve also always had a passion for some types of opera — I’ve got a massive Pavarotti collection. I sing Nessun Dorma when I warm up backstage.
NY Post: Is Priest ever going to put out the tracks you guys did in ’88 with producers Stock Aitken Waterman, of Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley fame?
Rob Halford: I personally would love to release them, but there’s a different consensus within the band. Our rendition of [the Stylistics’] You Are Everything is just beautiful — it’s an ’80s megarock ballad, with big drums, big vocals, sweeping strings.
People are a lot more open-minded now, whereas in those days it could have created a bit of push-back, maybe even some damage to our reputation.
NY Post: Yet from Day 1, you’ve pushed the boundaries in your stage visuals, with all that leather and chains.
Rob Halford: The outfit I used to wear for our first three or four songs was like carrying one of those huge military backpacks! I had to have an operation on my spine a year ago.
My new outfits are just as visually strong but they’re about a quarter of the weight — we’ve reduced the tonnage of the studs [chuckles]. I’ve been in London working on them with Ray Brown. I look a bit like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz on the new tour.
Read more at the New York Post.
source: nypost.com
Eddie, is there any music other than rock you listen to? I actually like some old blues and R&B occasionally but only because I grew up with my dad playing that kind of stuff.
Hey Rob, Nine Inch Nails in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. Give Trent 9 inches and tell him the Priest is more worthy.
NIN being inducted is, again, yet another travesty perpetrated by the Hall. How many albums did they even do? They’re getting in because of ONE HIT ALBUM. F YOU, HALL OF FAME!!!! F YOU IN THE SKULL!!!
I would love to hear those Stock Aitken Waterman songs they did. This is probably the only band that has songs in the vault that are worth hearing. Fire Down Below is a killer song: Bon Jovi getting the Priest treatment.
brooklyn,ny show was great trunk.devils child was f n awesome!beyond the realms of death was epic.love bites was great.REDEEMER OF SOULS,flat,should have played COLD BLOODED,such a classic sounding priest song,would have fit better in the show.JUDAS PRIEST KICKED ASS,SHOW WAS ONE HOUR AND 42 MINUTES,but kicked ur ass,except redeemer,eddie were u there????????fly eagles fly,ur giants are going DOWN IN FLAMES!!
HE’S A CLASS ACT Thank you for what you have done for the world of Metal Music!!!!!!