Since 1969, coming from the industrial areas of Birmingham, England, Judas Priest have blazed a trail for many to follow. Not just in sound, but fashion as well. Rob Halford worked at an adult store, loaded with all that fabulous leather clothing that became the uniform for heavy metal.

A 50 year career that spawned 18 albums, several huge hits, Grammy nominations and a win, and many other awards, and millions of records sold. So why hasn’t it taken so damn long for them to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

We could talk for days about the HoF and who’s in and who’s not and why or why not but I don’t have that kind of time nor the will to debate it right now. I would much rather celebrate the fact that FINALLY, Judas Priest have earned their place in the Hall.

After being nominated in 2018 and 2020 and being cut from the Class, 2022 is their year. Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythimcs, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon and Dolly Parton (against her wishes) were all inducted into the “Performers” category. But not Judas Priest.

They were inducted into a category that, to me, is more prestigious: Musical Excellence. From the R&RHOF website:

The Award for Musical Excellence shall be given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.

To me, this is more important. This is a category of trailblazers, road pavers and whatever other description you’d like to use. For without Judas Priest, the look, the sound, the life of heavy metal would have never been the same. YES, Black Sabbath and in their own right, Led Zeppelin can be credited with creating the foundation for hard rock and heavy metal, but Judas Priest brought it into a new light and life.

In fact, the Metal God himself, Rob Halford is excited about getting the Musical Excellence Award.

They really look at you beyond the simple band that you are.  They really dig deep as to this album and that album, this song and that song.  I think that really supports what we’ve always tried to do. [The Hall is] a very, very important institution for recognizing various people that have been in music since music began, right from the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll. To be part of that is, like, wow.  And glory hallelujah, there’s another metal band in now.  That’s the blessing we’ve all been waiting for.”

Rob is 70. He’s beaten addiction and freaking cancer! And still hitting notes most of us could only dream of cuz if we tried, we would sound like a strangled cat. He IS the Metal God, and Judas Priest will continue to spread the good word of heavy metal for hopefully many more years to come.

By the way, this one, is from the album “Firepower” that came out a couple years back. If you need you know, proof, that they still got it.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 5th in Los Angeles. Which is weird, since the Hall is in Cleveland, OH.

No word yet as to if Judas Priest will perform, but fingers are crossed.