ROB HALFORD Says Listening To Canadian Singer MICHAEL BUBLÉ Is 'Exciting' And 'Inspiring'

In a recent interview with the New York Post, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about his love for Canadian singer Michael Bublé.

"Even though I'm a metal singer, the fact that I’ve been able to appreciate other types of performers has probably paid dividends," Halford said.

"When I listen to Michael Bublé, it's exciting, it's inspiring. I feel the same way with Michael Feinstein or Ryan Adams. I'm drawn to singers who have something different to say vocally, and Adele would be in there. I saw [Barbra] Streisand in Phoenix and that was mind-blowing. Her voice is just so pure."

He added: "I've also always had a passion for some types of opera — I've got a massive Pavarotti collection. I sing 'Nessun Dorma' when I warm up backstage."

Asked if PRIEST is ever going to put out the tracks the band recorded in 1988 with producers Stock Aitken Waterman, of Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley fame, Halford replied: "I personally would love to release them, but there's a different consensus within the band.

"Our rendition of [THE STYLISTICS'] 'You Are Everything' is just beautiful — it's an '80s megarock ballad, with big drums, big vocals, sweeping strings.

"People are a lot more open-minded now, whereas in those days it could have created a bit of push-back, maybe even some damage to our reputation."

Halford recently expressed interest in collaborating with one of his current favorite artists, pop superstar Lady Gaga. He explained: "I love her just because, for a singer, she's a fucking amazing singer. And then she writes all this material. And, of course, you look at her past and she's a total metalhead. She started off strongly into rock and metal and you've seem pictures of her with Alice Cooper or Bruce [Dickinson] from [IRON] MAIDEN and all of these other people in metal; it just shows you that she's committed to that. She's just a really sincere, complete person as a musician."