For iconic Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, the show must go on…even if that means using an oxygen mask!
In a video shared to TikTok by Spin on Thursday, May 8, the iconic heavy metal singer held an oxygen mask to his face and inhaled deeply while standing backstage, dressed in his trademark black leather and studs. At one point, the 73-year-old held up one hand in the devil horns sign and mouthed, “Metal!”
“What do you get when you’re at 2,640 altitude, performing for 15,000 fans, and singing at the top of your lungs? …METAL!” read the text overlay on the clip.
While it’s not clear where or when the video was filmed, Halford recently opened up to Metal Hammer about why Judas Priest won’t be performing alongside a lineup of other iconic heavy metal bands at Black Sabbath’s final show, which will mark the end of Ozzy Osbourne‘s career.
“I had no idea it was happening!” Halford said, noting that Judas Priest was already committed to playing the Scorpions’ 60th anniversary show when Black Sabbath’s last concert was announced.
“It all got announced and was a big deal — Scorpions and Priest — and suddenly I get this phone call [from Sharon Osbourne]: ‘Robbie, I know you’ve got this gig with Scorpions, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys, he’d love to see you,’” Halford recalled, admitting that he was “absolutely gutted” to be missing the event.
“All my mates are going to be there though, great bands and artists,” he said. “It’s a wonderful and epic moment for Sabbath and heavy metal — it re-emphasizes that Birmingham is where metal came from.”
