Metal icon Rob Halford is exploring the possibility of venturing beyond his heavy metal roots to create a jazz album, as revealed in a recent interview with UCR.
The Judas Priest frontman discussed his artistic aspirations and openness to musical experimentation outside the metal genre at 73.
“There’s so many musical things I want to do,” Halford said. “I was singing Tony Bennett in the shower the other day and I listened to my voice and I’m going, ‘Do I dare to consider something like this?'”
The metal legend expressed his newfound sense of creative freedom at this stage of his career.
“And then I go, ‘I’m an old man, I can do what I f***ing want!'” he continued. “And I love Tony Bennett. I was sad, like a lot of us were, when he passed. He was an icon and a beacon.”
Halford elaborated on his appreciation for diverse vocal styles and performers.
“I love all kinds of singers,” he said. “My love for what the voice can do is always so attractive to me – the ideas, the imagination, like Lady Gaga doing her thing in Vegas when she does the jazz side of stuff.”
Despite his enthusiasm for the project, Halford acknowledged the uncertainty around executing such a venture.
“So, yeah, I’d love to do that,” he concluded. “I don’t know how I would go about it, but I better get a move on if I’m going to do something like that.”
This potential musical departure would mark another bold chapter in Halford’s already diverse career. It showcases his willingness to push creative boundaries well into his seventies.
Rapid Vocal Results reported that Rob Halford has earned the title “Metal God” through his influential career since joining Judas Priest in 1973. He shaped heavy metal’s sound with his powerful, operatic voice and distinctive leather-and-studs image. His vocal range and theatrical stage presence helped define the visual and sonic identity of heavy metal for generations of fans and musicians.
Halford’s openness to musical experimentation isn’t entirely new territory for the veteran performer. Crooked Wanderer noted that beyond Judas Priest, he has launched successful solo projects and bands like Fight and Two, exploring various metal subgenres including industrial metal. This demonstrates his long-standing willingness to experiment musically throughout his career.
The singer’s courage to explore new artistic territories extends beyond music into his personal life as well. IMDb documented that in 1998, Halford broke new ground by becoming the first major heavy metal star to publicly come out as gay. This underscored his authenticity and willingness to challenge conventions both inside and outside the metal community.
This potential jazz venture would represent perhaps his most dramatic musical departure yet. It could potentially bridge the gap between two seemingly disparate musical worlds through the power of his distinctive voice and artistic vision.
