Heavy metal is immortal, but we're not.
The great thing about Priest, in all the years that we've been making heavy metal music, is that we've always kind of carried this metal flag, if you will - this beacon of hope that, no matter what you may be going through in life, there's always a sense of overcoming difficulties, a sense of winning, a sense of coming out on top.
If I was a billionaire, I'd have a warehouse full of Ferrari and Lamborghini, but I'm not.
I chew a special brand of gum that you can't get in America. It's British, and it's called Airwaves. It's a menthol eucalyptus gum that is a very soothing thing for me when I'm singing because I'm swallowing, and it also keeps my sinuses and general upper breathing clear. I've got to be able to hit these clear, clean notes.
Heavy metal is always going to be there. At its core, it's all about a primitive connection we all need to keep in our lives.
I love early blues like Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf. I listened to the way these people sang, and it was just beautiful - straight from the soul. That, for me, was an inspiration.
I think I'm still a lone wolf, internally. And I always will be.
We're a rock n' roll band. We play heavy metal music. And we want to give you a great time. That's basically how it all boils down.
I pray quite a bit, actually. And even if you don't believe in prayer, just have a go. Pray for a good day, or just pray for your friend, or whatever it might be. And it's amazing, man, 'cause it absolutely works. I guarantee, it genuinely does work.
It's a very empowering kind of music, heavy metal is.
I was in several bands before I joined Judas Priest. Being in those early unknown bands were the stepping stones, really, so I learned a lot in those short few years jumping from one band to another.
You've gotta learn to love yourself and live your own life. Then you can go out in the world and try and figure everything else out.
There are gay and lesbian people in all walks of life, in all different types of professions. I just happen to be a gay man who sings in a heavy metal band.
It doesn't matter how many records you've made; there's always a new experience you can get with a new producer.
Sometimes when I'm writing lyrics, it's a very loose train of thought, and wherever that takes me, I let it flow.
Don't put yourself on a pedestal. Because it's very easy for someone to knock you off.
I think that the fact of the matter is that metal isn't really part of the big picture of the gay, lesbian, transgender music scene. But it's certainly there. There's gay metalheads all over the world.
With 'Defenders,' we had some very barebones ideas, but the bulk of it came together very quickly over in Ibiza. The main thing I like about that record, looking back on it now, is the change in the texture of the production from 'Screaming For Vengeance.'
I will always remember the first show I did clean and sober... It was in New Mexico, in Albuquerque. I literally felt elevated, as everything was coming with such clarity.
Some songs are dead easy, and others can be quite challenging. Other times, you just have to put it in the bin.
