ROB HALFORD: I'm More Dedicated And More In Love With JUDAS PRIEST Than I Ever Was Before

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was interviewed on the February 3-5 edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the Podbean widget below. A couple of excerpts follow.

Full Metal Jackie: Rob, so many JUDAS PRIEST songs really stand the test of time. What changes about the way you approach making music when you become aware that people will always be listening to it?

Halford: "Wow, that's a really cool question. And it's a very difficult question to answer, to some extent, because I think you've always gotta be aware that you were put into a place of success by the amazing fans that look after you — the fans who come to a show, the fans who get a record, the fans who get a t-shirt. There's a very special bond — we call our fans a PRIEST family, because we're so tight with each other. Having said that, I think our fans appreciate that at the heart of what we do, there's this PRIEST world, this PRIEST life in our music that I think our fans want to explore and to have as much variety and have as much adventure with it as we possibly can. So I think it's very important for bands to try and keep a hold on the perspective as to who this is about and what you're trying to achieve together. But even now, I think, when PRIEST is writing, as we are now for the new material, the fans are always in the back of our minds — that's without a doubt. So there is that bond, that fluid connectivity that has always been there with PRIEST from day one with the fans that support us."

Full Metal Jackie: JUDAS PRIEST has been part of your life for most of your life. What changes most with time about a band being so prominent to your identity?

Halford: "Well, I think it's just a learning experience as you go along. We're still the band that we were from day one, and that's what I like about that side of PRIEST. We haven't really changed that much in terms of our character, as people. We've still got this very kind of grounded belief system of where we came from and the work that we put into to where we are now in terms of really staying focused and doing the best that you possibly can — not let anything slip out that's kind of below par; always being as close as your heart will be to making the best metal that you can make. So, a lot of it is the same, in essence, in that respect, because, you know, you talk about the life journey and you do grow and you do… you know, your wisdom comes along into your life, whether you want it to or not, and I think that where I'm at personally now is probably more committed and more dedicated and more in love with JUDAS PRIEST and our metal and our fans than I ever was before. So I think that, to some extent, this band has more strength and more determination now than we ever had before in terms of our connection to all things metal."

Full Metal Jackie: Rob, I don't know if you're discussing what's going on in terms of the new album or touring, but is there anything else you can tell us what's to come for the rest of 2017?

Halford: "Well, we're still focusing on writing and recording the new music. We have some amazing things that we can't wait to share with our fans, and as we get closer to that time, you and I will be talking and breaking the news and giving all of our fans the updates on what's happening next in the PRIEST world."

JUDAS PRIEST is preparing to enter the studio to begin recording its long-awaited follow-up to 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" album.

Billed as a return to JUDAS PRIEST's heavy-metal roots, "Redeemer Of Souls" sold around 32,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart.

JUDAS PRIEST's tenth studio album, "Turbo", was recently remastered and was released via Sony Music on February 3 on three CDs (the original album and two bonus discs) as well as one-LP 150-gram vinyl. Included on disc 2 and 3 of the CD reissue is, previously unreleased, "Live in Kansas City", a live recording from the band's 1986 "Fuel For Life" tour in support of "Turbo".

To see a full list of stations carrying Full Metal Jackie's program and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

Full Metal Jackie also hosts "Whiplash", which airs every Sunday night from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the Los Angeles radio station 95.5 KLOS. The show can be heard on the KLOS web site at 955klos.com or you can listen in on the KLOS channel on iHeartRadio.