Judas Priest Singer: 'Metal Has No Age Limit'

According to Blabbermouth.net, Joanne Huffa of NowToronto.com recently conducted an interview with vocalist Rob Halford of British heavy metal legends Judas Priest. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

NowToronto.com: I remember when there was a distinct line drawn between metal fans and punk fans, but bands like Priest and Motörhead were the rarities that it was cool to like regardless of the length of your hair. To what do you attribute your widespread appeal (for lack of a better word, your cool)?

Halford: From the start, we wanted to put on a show that fans would remember by the looks as well as the sounds. So we invented the leather studs, whips and chains that married perfectly with our music. Times change the looks of bands. We had ours from the mid-'70s on and have played around with it here and there, but stayed true to ourselves.

Metal seems a lot more diverse today than it did in the past. Has your audience changed in the past 15 years?

We have grown old together, but every show we play now covers just about all kinds of demographic: from heavy metal kids barely in their teens to guys and gals from our time of life. Metal has no age limit. Never will.

I'm guessing you haven't lived in England for a long time, but I'm wondering if growing up in Birmingham - with its juxtaposition of industrialism and nature - influenced your music. Do you think there's something about that area that inspired bands to play heavier, faster or louder than others?

We count our blessings that we came about as we did at an exciting time of musical development. Many people say Priest was at the beginning of the scene, which is true. Metal comes from electric prog blues rock and we refined all of that into how we sounded. We guess it's the same for all bands as far as where you come from gets into your music. We lived and breathed the metal of the foundries and factories, so maybe that is in our blood.

Read the entire interview from NowToronto.com.

Comments

[Jesus_Dean]

Metal has no age limit. Never will.

This quote makes me think of the little mohawk kid who was on here yesterday.

[jordo246]

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

[HighVoltageMT]

jordo246 wrote:

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

That's not true - all commercial music has an image, including Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, ect.

[dikkgozinya]

there are still lots of people that when they think "metal" they think hate, killing, screaming even if they're just thinking metallica. my college proved that to me

[LordRyur]

jordo246 wrote:

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

Metal is one of the most theatrical genres out there. The image is even more important..

For starters, Judas Priest created the Metal image of denim and leather. Go to any good Metal show, and you'll see A LOT of people wearing a leather jacket or a denim vest, usually with patches.
Then there are the bands that like to put on good shows, just look at Mercyful Fate, or Hell, or any good Black Metal band. As well as all the other bands who just dress up in leather jackets and have long hair.

It's a visual genre, as much as it is a musical genre. A guy with long hair, leather jacket and Voivod shirt is A LOT more reliable, Metal-wise, than some kid with short hair and a generic Slayer shirt.

[true_bacon22]

LordRyur wrote:

jordo246 wrote:

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

Metal is one of the most theatrical genres out there. The image is even more important..

For starters, Judas Priest created the Metal image of denim and leather. Go to any good Metal show, and you'll see A LOT of people wearing a leather jacket or a denim vest, usually with patches.
Then there are the bands that like to put on good shows, just look at Mercyful Fate, or Hell, or any good Black Metal band. As well as all the other bands who just dress up in leather jackets and have long hair.

It's a visual genre, as much as it is a musical genre. A guy with long hair, leather jacket and Voivod shirt is A LOT more reliable, Metal-wise, than some kid with short hair and a generic Slayer shirt.

Nobodies denying that there is an image, but it's not like you ever have to actually see them to like the music or understand what they're on about. You're not going to change your mind if you like Maiden or not by watching a music video. Sides, Metal came from Rock, and it already had a ****ton of visuals so obviously it's going to leach through into a metal idea.

[CydoniaKnight95]

LordRyur wrote:

jordo246 wrote:

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

Metal is one of the most theatrical genres out there. The image is even more important..

For starters, Judas Priest created the Metal image of denim and leather. Go to any good Metal show, and you'll see A LOT of people wearing a leather jacket or a denim vest, usually with patches.
Then there are the bands that like to put on good shows, just look at Mercyful Fate, or Hell, or any good Black Metal band. As well as all the other bands who just dress up in leather jackets and have long hair.

It's a visual genre, as much as it is a musical genre. A guy with long hair, leather jacket and Voivod shirt is A LOT more reliable, Metal-wise, than some kid with short hair and a generic Slayer shirt.

Very true, but (most) metal doesn't rely solely on their image
It's quite common for someone to hate someone's image but like their music (for me it's Cradle of Filth, Marilyn Manson
And you'll get bands that don't have any sort of image; they just get up and play, and people appreciate them for their music (Opeth, Porcupine Tree)
Apart from jazz, I don't think any other genre can claim that

[akarith]

HighVoltageMT wrote:

jordo246 wrote:

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

That's not true - all commercial music has an image, including Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, ect.

It's not possible to disagree with this, but it's due to the fans. They take after the musicians appearance and it becomes the "expected appearance" if you will.

Regardless, the metal god himself doesn't think metal needs an image, and so it doesn't. He helped formed a genre, I do believe he's in a position to make such a decision.

[jordo246]

LordRyur wrote:

jordo246 wrote:

It has no age limit because it's about the music and not the image, unlike a certain other shitty genre of music.

Metal is one of the most theatrical genres out there. The image is even more important..

For starters, Judas Priest created the Metal image of denim and leather. Go to any good Metal show, and you'll see A LOT of people wearing a leather jacket or a denim vest, usually with patches.
Then there are the bands that like to put on good shows, just look at Mercyful Fate, or Hell, or any good Black Metal band. As well as all the other bands who just dress up in leather jackets and have long hair.

It's a visual genre, as much as it is a musical genre. A guy with long hair, leather jacket and Voivod shirt is A LOT more reliable, Metal-wise, than some kid with short hair and a generic Slayer shirt.

I didn't say that bands couldn't have an image

[LordRyur]

jordo246 wrote:

I didn't say that bands couldn't have an image

But you did say it was "all about the music, not about the image"

I was merely saying the image is equally as important as the music.

But now I'm curious, what is the other shitty genre of music?
I have a feeling I know what it is, and if it is that, I will lol, and lol, and lol, and then go listen to some Eazy-E.

[ProphecyMaster]

Saw them last night, he's in his prime! Age is just a number for sure.