Halford on coming out:

I think I just built in this delusional fear that I was going to destroy myself, no one was going to look at me any more as a metal singer, I’m going to destroy Priest because of my attachment with them. It was all self-imposed paranoia. It didn’t affect Priest one iota: the record sales didn’t plunge, the show attendance didn’t plunge. Unconditional love will accept you for who you are, and I think that was the blessing I had from the fans.

Thank you T. I guess I really need to get out more (laughing to myself). Nope, I had no idea Halford was gay. I didn’t listen to too much JP but I’ve done more than my share of bleating about these types.

IE “these types”: Club Camel circa 90’s. At least half of the personalities I’m thinking of modeled their style on JP’s front man. And to learn that he’s gay just ices the cake for me. These are guys that have definite opinions on the whole gay thing and they would definitely not let their daughter date someone of that ilk. (I’m still killing it here for me.)

File this under “you would have to know him” and let’s plan a JP listening party soon.

I never thought of him, never suspicioned him of being gay but looking at pictures l like him on the cover of Creem all I can think is, “yep.”

There’s probably been whole legions of JP devotees who did a second take when he came out of the closet, thought maybe this leather I’m wearing head to toe has been sending an unintended message.

🤔😊