Heavy metal icons Judas Priest picked up their first nomination for entry into the 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this week, and frontman Rob Halford says he couldn’t be more thrilled with the honor.
"This is our Oscars," Halford tells Billboard. "When the nominations come up and the inductions come up, you often wonder that it would feel like if you were able to be on stage at that moment making an acceptance speech and particularly having the pleasure to be in the company of all the other musicians and industry people. So, yeah, if we do get in it will be an absolute dream-come-true moment. Fingers crossed, as they say."
Eligible for Rock Hall consideration since 1999, Judas Priest are the lone metal outfit amongst the 19 nominees for 2018, and Halford hopes the band’s name on the ballot will open the door a bit wider for more acts from the often-maligned genre.
"I've often talked about metal being the underdog in rock 'n' roll music," says the rocker. "We remember the times through the punk and New Wave moments when it was proclaimed that heavy metal music was dead, it didn't stand a chance of surviving, that it was Neanderthal music that had limited scope and wasn't very intelligent and all those bad things.
“I still don't understand the kind of pushback that we still kind of have to bump up against now and again, but this recognition by the Hall Of Fame helps to slowly chip away at that kind of stereotype. The metal dog is wagging its metal tail, which is a great feeling. We do deserve this."
Formed in Birmingham, UK in 1969 and fronted by original vocalist Al Atkins, it was the arrival of Halford in 1973 and their debut album, “Rocka Rolla”, a year later that launched Judas Priest on an international basis that would lead to a catalog of 17 studio albums and worldwide sales of almost 50 million copies.
Despite various lineups through the years, the Hall Of Fame has selected Halford, bassist Ian Hill, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, and drummers Scott Travis, Les Binks and Dave Holland for possible entry into the Cleveland-based institution.
"Everything's on the table for anyone that's been associated with Priest in and out of the band,” Halford adds. “It's going to be an absolutely spectacular night, should we be inaugurated -- so get the votes, I say. I think it's now time to start cracking the metal whip, and 'Vote! Vote! Vote!'"
Fans can vote for their favorite nominees daily from now to December 5 at rockhall.com as part of creating a “fan’s ballot” for consideration by Rock Hall members.
The 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees will be announced in December and the ceremony will take place at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, OH on April 14.
See also:
Judas Priest, Dire Straits, The Cars among 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees
Judas Priest launch Road To Valhalla mobile game
Judas Priest share new album update
Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford to release box set
Search Judas Priest at hennemusic
