Rob Halford

I just listened to this in-depth NPR profile of the metal icon Rob Halford of the band Judas Priest and was struck by his intelligence and humor:

Listen to the Interview and Songs From the New CD

Judas Priest has a new album out, Angel of Retribution, and is on tour this summer. Originally from Birmingham, England, Judas Priest pioneered the heavy metal sound in the 1970s and '80s. Lead singer Halford left the band in 1991, citing internal tension, and in 1998, he disclosed that he is gay during an interview on MTV. Nicknamed the "Metal God," Halford returned to Judas Priest in 2003. The band -- which takes its name from the Bob Dylan song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest" -- is best known for songs such as "Breaking the Law," "Hell Bent for Leather" and "Livin' After Midnight."