Why Metal God will never forget his roots

He is nicknamed 'The Metal God' and is known the world over as the frontman of Judas Priest but Rob Halford loves nothing better than returning to his roots in Walsall.

And despite being more accustomed to playing packed out stadiums, the 58-year-old who has sold millions of albums has not ruled out a hometown performance one day in the future.

He said: "If someone came up with an idea and we could get everyone there in the same place I would never say never to performing back in Walsall, you can't beat a local gig."

Brought up on the same Beechdale Estate as Noddy Holder by his parents Barrie and Joan, Rob is the eldest of three. His sister Sue and brother Nigel, both still live in Pelsall while his parents remain in a house in central Walsall.

Rob, a former Beechdale Infants and Richard C Thomas pupil, himself also retains a house in Walsall which he tries to return to a few times a year from his base in America where he spends most of his time in San Diego.

He said: "I miss good chips or a curry, I still have my British accent and I love my home town. I come back two or three times a year for flying visits and always for Christmas and New Year.

"I would hate it if I could not come back and push my trolley around The Saddlers centre. I think it must be terrible for these people who are hugely famous and can't even do that sort of thing."

Rob shot to fame himself after Judas Priest caught attention of record companies in the 1970s. Since then the band has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. He has a nearly four octave vocal range and is one of the most respected singers of heavy metal with an operatic vocal style.

The union of the band with Rob came about thanks in no small part to Rob's sister Sue. She said: "The original Judas Priest had split up and were looking for a singer. I was going out with Ian Hill at the time, who plays bass, and I met Ken through Ian.

"Rob was in his own band at time but had a reputation already and Ian and Ken were asking me about him.

"I went to meet Rob with Ken and with a little gentle persuasion he agreed to join as long as he could bring his drummer John Hinch with him. So I like to think I had a bit to do with their success. The line up has stayed pretty much the same but the drummers have changed over the years."

Early releases included, Rocka Rolla, Sad Wings of Destiny, Sin After Sin and Stained Class and Killing Machine. Rob left the band in the early 1990s before returning to record 2005 release Angel of Retribution. The world tour that accompanied the release marked the band's 30th anniversary.

In 2008 Rob recorded Nostradamus with Judas Priest. The band members used to all be based around the Black Country but nowadays Judas Priest are spread apart. While Rob spends most of his time in America, Ian Hill lives in Fradley, guitarist KK Downing lives in Bridgnorth and other guitarist Glenn Tipton lives in Worcestershire.

American drummer Scott Travis meanwhile lives in Virginia. The group has just returned from a two year tour of the Nostradamus album. It is the latest in a long line of sell-out tours Judas Priest has completed over the years and Rob says he never tires of playing in a band.

"I still love being in a band – even when Priest was at the height of its success in the 70s and on Top of the Pops we always kept our noses to the grindstone and never put our feet up. I think that is a Black Country sensibility," said Rob.

"I never really had any other ambition when I left school I went to work at the Grand Theatre at Wolverhampton and would stand at the side of the stage and watch the magic of those shows , that would really be exciting and gave me added determination to be on stage.

"I used to play at venues in Freer Street and at the town hall and working men's clubs.

"The thing about Judas Priest was we never turned down a gig and we had some bizarre ones," added Rob.

It was when Judas Priest landed a slot on the Old Grey Whistle Test on TV around 1973 that Rob's family realised he had made it big.

Sue said: "It seemed like it was just full steam ahead from that point on."

Rob's brother Nigel, aged 43, said: "There is a bit of an age gap between me and Rob but when I was at Frank F Harrison School some of the metal fans put two and two together and realised who I was related to and it was only then I really realised how famous he was."

Rob's parents Barrie and Joan, now in their 80s, still enjoy listening to Judas Priest.

Barrie said: "Success hasn't changed Rob at all even though he's known through out the world as The Metal God."

By Ben Lammas