In a new interview with the Rochester City Newspaper, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford was asked if he would ever consider writing songs from a different lyrical perspective, like writing political songs or stepping out of his “metal comfort zone.”
He responded: “I could do that, and I never say never. I think if you’re a musician, there’s a great open field of opportunity. But when you walk into that world of politics, you really have to be sure and committed about making that kind of a move. I have some good friends that make those kinds of songs, and it takes a lot of strength to maintain your platform in some of those areas.”
Halford, who revealed he was gay 20 years ago, continued: “If you listen to PRIEST songs and you look at PRIEST lyrics, there are references all over the place that could be a smoke screen, in a political sense. But I’m not really an activist. Some days I wake up and I think I should be, especially being a gay metalhead and knowing that there are still all of these injustices against people like me.
“But at the same time, when I stand on stage in Saint Petersburg in Russia, that’s a victory for gay people. Sometimes you don’t have to say anything. You just stand there and people go, ‘I know exactly what you’re thinking right now standing on that stage.’
“Some of the greatest leaders in that realm have been very quiet and low-key,” he added. “The volume around a person isn’t necessarily loud. It’s just you have to look at an individual and know what they represent.”
