They were the Black Country band who glammed up heavy metal. Their black leather and studs S&M look inspired a generation of rockers.
Now, after more than 40 years of radio-friendly rock riffs, Judas Priest have revealed their greatest desire – to work with a classical orchestra. And, as they release their 17th album, they’d like to do it at a venue they hold close to their heart, one that brings back memories of their early days.
“I want to play Birmingham Town Hall again,” says frontman Rob Halford. “I can remember the gig we did there like it was yesterday.
“I even remember going to the Oasis store and getting a pair of clogs to wear on stage.”
The singer, known for riding a Harley Davidson across the stage, hopes the CBSO could make his dream come true.
“It would be incredible if a classical symphony orchestra could play the whole of our last album, Nostradamus, in its entirety,” he says.
“Some bands have done it with a symphony orchestra. Metallica have done it, The Scorpions have done it.
“But forget the electric side of it, make it ALL orchestral, so the vocal melodies are on violin and it is purely orchestrated. It would be fantastic.
“It would be a dream come true for me to sit in the audience and listen to our music played that way.”
Not that they’re going soft. Far from it. The latest album, Redeemer of Souls, is typical of the heavy metal sound which set them out as pioneers of the genre alongside Brummies Black Sabbath.
Rob may have made a home in the US, where the band will tour – UK dates may follow later – but returns regularly to his house in Walsall.
“As you move on in life you do refer to your roots,” he says. “What makes you tick – your upbringing, your school, your jobs – you think about it when walking around the place you were born and bred in.
“When I used to go to school I would walk past the metal foundries, before heavy metal was invented. I would see the molten metal coming out of the vats.
“I remember sitting at my school desk across from a stamping press factory. Those big steam hammers would be going “putchung, putchung” and the desk would be bouncing. I always thought that was brilliant.
“We say that metal was invented in the West Midlands so we were living and breathing it before a note was even played.”
At the age of 62, Rob has suffered a number of ailments, necessitating back surgery at Little Aston Hospital in Sutton Coldfield a year ago.
He is now waiting for treatment for an umbilical hernia.
But his vocals show no sign of waning.
“The voice changes obviously,” he says. “The trick is just to look after it – don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs. I look after my voice these days, and still belt it out.
“When I was a raging drunk and drug addict I really abused my voice. Thank God I realised I was doing some stupid things. You can damage your voice, and find that you can’t do softer things in your music.”
