JUDAS PRIEST were presented with a special plaque commemorating 50 years in music and over 50 million album sales worldwide
The iconic heavy metal band were presented the milestone prior to their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Los Angeles last month.
JUDAS PRIEST have no signs of stopping after their 50 year career. The Birmingham, England metallers are currently working on their next studio album, the follow-up to 2018’s “Firepower“, which was the highest-charting album of their career. The band also scored a 2010 Grammy Award win for “Best Metal Performance” as well as a VH1 Rock Honors award in 2006.
JUDAS PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, which saw members Rob Halford, Ian Hill, Glenn Tipton and Scott Travis, along with former members K.K. Downing, Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland, added to the institution’s alumni.
JUDAS PRIEST was inducted into the Rock Hall by Alice Cooper, who described them as “the definitive metal band.” He added: “They defined the sound we know of heavy metal and their sound is unmistakable. And what can you say about Rob Halford’s voice? Never have screams covered such a range. Is there any emotion that he can’t express?
“They’re electrifying on stage and one of the hardest-hitting live bands in the history of rock and roll. PRIEST has carried the flag of hard rock and heavy metal proudly for something like 50 years, never wavering or following trends or pretending to be anything but exactly what they are,” Cooper said. “They are flying high tonight. Much deserved and long overdue.”
During his acceptance speech, Halford said: “I’m the gay guy in the band. We call ourselves the heavy metal community which is all-inclusive, no matter what your sexual identity is, what you look like, or what you believe in or don’t believe in. Everybody’s welcome.”
Halford also addressed the fact that JUDAS PRIEST recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, saying: “We should get out another 50 years, but the joy about music is that it lives forever. And that’s the reason why we’re here. We live for heavy metal. We live for music. And we’re living for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”
Pictured with the band, left to right, are: Jo Kalli (Sony Music U.K.), Scott Carter (Sony Music U.S.), Jayne Andrews (manager), Michael Closter and Scott Rubin (Reach Music Publishing).