Rob Halford admits he was angry at manner of Judas Priest’s Hall of Fame induction
He’s questioned why they’re not in same category as fellow Birmingham metallers Black Sabbath
Judas Priest will finally make it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, at the third time of asking.
The British metal legends will be inducted under the Musical Excellence award category.
According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website, this award “shall be given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music”.
The band have spoken numerous times about how pleased they are to be finally honoured by the Hall of Fame.
Vocalist Rob Halford recently told Metal Pilgrim: "It's wonderful…. And as we've said many, many times, this is just a wonderful moment for not only Priest but for heavy metal in general in that building, in that Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
“And we need to get some more metal in as soon as possible. But for Priest, a British heavy metal band in an American institution is a very sweet time.”
In another interview though, the singer revealed he had mixed feelings about the manner of their induction.
Judas Priest perform 'Metal Gods' with Glenn Tipton at Bloodstock 2021
Speaking to AZ Central he said: “Why haven't they given us the same title as all of our friends. Black Sabbath, for example. There's a different tag, isn't there?”
Black Sabbath were inducted as Performers in 2006, an award that the Hall of Fame says honours “bands and solo artists who, in their careers, have created music whose originality, impact and influence has changed the course of rock & roll”.
Halford continued: “Well, yeah, I was p---ed. I was a bit p---ed. At the end of the day, does it matter? Some days, I go, 'No, it doesn't matter. We're in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Be grateful. Shut the hell up.'
“And then there are other days where I'm like, 'God damn, why did they give us the Musical Excellence Award?' Because it sounds very, you know, grandiose. 'The Musical Excellence Award, reserved for blah, blah, blah.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, but I want to be with that bunch of musicians over there that have got the performance or whatever it is that they've got.'
“I don't know why they gave us the Musical Excellence Award. I have no clue."
Judas Priest are currently on their 50 Heavy Metal Years World Tour, which has seen them criss-cross mainland Europe and announce a slew of dates in the US. xThey aren't due to play the UK until 2023, however, as they are currently tied to Ozzy Osbourne's much-delayed No More Tours 2 tour.