Rob Halford at 72: The Soul Behind the Screams

Rob Halford: “We Carry Each Other in Metal” — The Metal God on Fans, Endurance, and the Power of Connection

At 72, Rob Halford is still commanding stages across the globe with the same fire and grit that helped define heavy metal. But behind the leather, chains, and banshee screams lies something deeper — a quiet reverence for the people who helped keep him going: the fans.

In a recent () interview with a UK-based rock publication, Halford opened up about the emotional weight of touring later in life, and how encounters with fans continue to shape his view of what it means to be “The Metal God.”

“People see me walk on stage in this almost mythic persona — but the truth is, I wouldn’t be here without them,” he said. “There’s an exchange happening every time we play: I give them everything I’ve got, and they give it back tenfold.”

From Struggles to Screams

Halford, who came out publicly as gay in 1998 and has spoken openly about his battles with addiction, says he often meets fans who’ve drawn strength from his story — and vice versa.

“I’ll never forget a young guy who stopped me in the parking lot after a show in Chicago. He told me, ‘You being open saved my life.’ What do you even say to that? I just hugged him. Sometimes words aren’t enough,” Halford recalled.

Another woman from Brazil once handed him a letter in Portuguese, later translated by his crew. She’d endured years of family rejection before finding peace and strength through Judas Priest’s music.

“It’s humbling. I never set out to be a symbol for anyone,” he said, pausing. “But if I can carry a bit of their pain with me — scream it out on stage — then it’s worth every mile.”

The Machine Behind the Leather

Despite the emotional toll of the road and the physical demands of screaming through two-hour setlists, Halford is surprisingly disciplined about his regimen.

“I’m up at 7. I stretch, hydrate, and I do light vocal warm-ups before breakfast,” he explained. “I’ve cut down on caffeine, and no booze, of course — sobriety is non-negotiable.”

Before every show, Halford enters what his team jokingly refers to as “The Cathedral” — a private, candle-lit space backstage where he centers himself with breathing exercises and a short prayer.

“It’s not religious, per se. Just gratitude. I thank whatever higher force there is for still letting me do this.”

The Legacy Is Shared

While some aging rockers slow down or fade into nostalgia tours, Halford remains creatively sharp, with new Judas Priest material rumored to be in development and a solo poetry project in the works.

Still, it’s the connection with fans that keeps him coming back.

“You stand there in front of 30,000 screaming maniacs and realize — they’re not just your audience. They’re your lifeline,” he said. “We’ve grown up together. We’ve survived a lot. And the loudest part of metal… is the love.”