Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford discussed the accidental revelation of his sexuality and its potential impact on his career in a recent interview with Mojo.
Halford described the spontaneous moment on live television where he publicly identified as gay, emphasizing that it was an unscripted declaration. He explained that this public statement was a pivotal point in his personal journey.
“I was in New York on TV, sitting there like a drag queen in my make-up and fur coat, and I just said, ‘Speaking as a gay man, blah, blah, blah…’” Halford said. “That came out of my mouth as naturally as we’re having this conversation. It wasn’t preconceived. I wasn’t trying to throw some bait out. Like, Today I’ll be gay, and this will make this band huge. It was none of that. It was the moment I decided to let myself out of the prison.”
He elaborated on the internal conflict and the protective instincts that often keep individuals in the closet.
“If I hadn’t have said that then, and I’d have gone back to Priest, I probably would have stayed in the closet,” he continued. “Because as most gay people will tell you, you’re always protecting everybody else. I can’t hurt this person. I can’t hurt my family. I can’t hurt my friends. I’ve got to look after their needs. So thank God for that short-lived band 2wo.”
Halford also reflected on the reaction from his bandmates and the Judas Priest fanbase.
“The guys knew I was gay from day one. They’d always embraced me because I do my job right,” Halford stated. “When I came back, I don’t know if there was a fear of rejection, but there was a question: How will the fan base react? How will they treat me?”
He expressed relief at the overwhelmingly positive reception.
“Of course, they were fine with me and very supportive. Which was a relief,” he added. “Since then, a lot of groundwork’s been laid, there’s a lot more acceptance, though still some rejection, in the music world, of people and their sexual identity. I just hope one day that it’s a non-issue.” Halford’s bandmates in Judas Priest had prior knowledge of his sexuality before his public declaration. Their acceptance stemmed from his contributions and professionalism within the band.
The formation of the band 2wo, which Halford mentions as a catalyst for his coming out, was a side project from 1997 to 1999 with bassist John Entwistle of The Who. This period offered him a distinct creative space outside of Judas Priest’s established identity.
The music industry has seen shifts in attitudes towards LGBTQ+ artists since Halford’s initial coming out. Many artists now openly discuss their identities, contributing to broader cultural acceptance.
However, pockets of resistance and prejudice persist within the music scene and beyond. This ongoing tension highlights the evolving, yet incomplete, journey toward full inclusivity.
