ROB HALFORD Says JUDAS PRIEST 'Deserves' To Be In ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

During a recent appearance on "Trunk Nation", Eddie Trunk's show on SiriusXM channel Volume (106),Rob Halford was asked if he is bothered by the fact that JUDAS PRIEST has yet to be inducted inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He responded: "Well, I've always likened the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame to, like, the NFL or the NBA or baseball. It's recognition, you know, and it's wonderful when you get these kinds of opportunities. So I, for one, would welcome it. I think we deserve it. [Laughs] But, yeah, I'm thrilled that [DEEP] PURPLE have got their acclamation as well. And I see that — 'cause, you know, I try and stay ahead on the news — I see they're going out with Alice [Cooper] and THE EDGAR WINTER BAND later this year. That will be a thrill to go and check out."

Halford's latest comments echo those he made last June to the KBAD 94.5 FM radio station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He stated at the time: "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, you know, is a controversial entity. It's not like the Baseball Hall Of Fame or the NFL Hall Of Fame. Those incredible institutions have very little kind of discourse going on in them, but because music — much like sports — is very passionate, and because I think the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has been getting more diverse now, which I think it should. You know, because a musician is a musician is a musician, and, again, if you've been able to make an indelible mark with what you do, to be recognized for that, I think, is a great honor. And if and when that day comes, I think that will be a real treat."

Speaking to Hour.ca in a 2010 interview, Halford was asked if he thinks the fact that PRIEST has thus far been snubbed by the Rock Hall has something to do with the fact that he is still one of the rare openly gay superstars in all of show business.

"I don't know, let's have a think: Who in there is gay?" Halford asked rhetorically. "It's a good question. I consider myself a lower-case gay, not screaming like my good friend [porn director and drag queen] Chi Chi LaRue. I love all my friends in the community and if the moment came [for being inducted into the Rock Hall], it would be a tremendous moment not just for the band and our fans, but for the whole LGBT community."

JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton seemed to take a slightly more indifferent stance toward the idea of the band being inducted into the Rock Hall, telling Classic Rock Revisited a few years ago: "I don't know if we will ever be invited to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame or not. If we do, it will certainly be a privilege and it will be something we will be proud of. If we don't, then it is not going to change our lives. Our legacy is in our music. We will leave our music for everybody and I think that's good enough. You don't always need an accolade to leave a legacy."

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible 25 years after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other "criteria include the influence and significance of the artists' contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock 'n' roll," which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Despite being eligible for induction since 1999 — 25 years after the release of its first disc — KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until last year.