THATS A HARSH WAY TO PUT IT BUT I GUESS YOU HAVE YOUR ONIONS. I hate to see Priest lose fans even if they are ignorant Nazis.

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		Yeah but the fans they lost were racist homophobic homosexual bashers that may as well be Nazis from Germany in 1942,so who the hell needs those racist bastards? Nobody.  I'm glad those fans don't like Judas Priest anymore because Rob is gay because it "exposes" thier ignorance.    Bunch of fuckin contradicting racist bastards.      Brian_Evans wrote: I THINK THEY LOST A FEW FANS BECAUSE OF IT. .I'M STILL A FAN. I mean thats his personal business and none of mine so thats just my opinion. They may have gained a few fans also so maybe it just doesn't make any difference. Edited at: Sunday, August 09, 2009 10:19:51 PM

THATS A HARSH WAY TO PUT IT BUT I GUESS YOU HAVE YOUR ONIONS. I hate to see Priest lose fans even if they are ignorant Nazis.

		J.D. DIAMOND wrote:
		Yeah but the fans they lost were racist homophobic homosexual bashers that may as well be Nazis from Germany in 1942,so who the hell needs those racist bastards? Nobody.  I'm glad those fans don't like Judas Priest anymore because Rob is gay because it "exposes" thier ignorance.    Bunch of fuckin contradicting racist bastards.      Brian_Evans wrote: I THINK THEY LOST A FEW FANS BECAUSE OF IT. .I'M STILL A FAN. I mean thats his personal business and none of mine so thats just my opinion. They may have gained a few fans also so maybe it just doesn't make any difference. Edited at: Sunday, August 09, 2009 10:19:51 PM

ALL GUNS BLAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

		hellrider 31038 wrote:
		ALLLLLL                     GUUUUNNNNSSSSSSS let it rip J.D its the forth 1.lol      J.D. DIAMOND wrote: ALL GUNS BLAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!      hellrider 31038 wrote: ALLLLLLL     GUUUUNNNNNSSSSSSSS      british.steel wrote: ALL GUNS BLAZING!!!!!

ALLLLLLL     GUUUUNNNNNSSSSSSSS

		british.steel wrote:
		ALL GUNS BLAZING!!!!!

 All guns, all guns blaaaaaazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

		hellrider 31038 wrote:

     "I think now, as far as image and identity are concerned, we've got the whole thing down pat and it's pretty solid. I don't think we'll ever really deviate to any degree from our physical presentation because you know how important it is to maintain a certain level of imagery, so that when people think of Rob Halford, or whomever else in the band, they instantly paint a mental picture of the way you are rather than just your music. They remember the whips and the motorbikes. The whole process of imagery now, I think, is important or even more important than it has been in the past. I think the identity side of it is crucial to a certain extent. Bands don't get anywhere if they're faceless. You can have the greatest sounding album in the world, but if people can't relate to an individual or to the group as a whole in their appearance, then the band isn't really getting anywhere."- Rob Halford, Heavy Metal Times, November 1982

 

		ron h wrote:
		Well, at least the look of Metal...

I think most people who attend concerts whether it be Priest or Maiden or Metallica or whoever  tend to be casual rather than die hard fans. A lot of them won't have every single release by them and I reckon most of them have never been near the JP forum either. 

I bet  if you did a straw poll many people in a Priest concert wouldn't be able to name all their releases as well. And does it matter? If you put a ban on them because "they are not real fans" Priest would be playing to unfilled veneus.

    

		Head banger wrote:
		I dont know the technical terms either (are most priest fans more musicaly knowledgable than fans of other bands?) I do notice a marked change in style with british steel, and again with painkiller.  then of course rob left....   its actualy not the converting the casual I think that is the problem, its getting the casual fan to begin with.  how many maiden "fans" are there that cant name half the CD's they have put out, and own edward the great and one other.  priest doesnt have those "fans"      Bev wrote:   IDK HB ... though they push the musical boundaries the music can be associated with them (wish I could use the appropriate technical terms), but it is definitely distinguishable; the guitar style, tone, etc is KK & Glenn, vocals definitely Rob / Ripper.  'Has something to do with production but if you know the sound you recognize the band.  Sorry, don't know how better to describe it.  I think it's been up to the diehards to Baptize the casual!  If they don't convert, well that is on us - lol

Hmm.. I have tried to avoid commenting only because I detest yet ANOTHER moronic Thread but I suppose I will throw in my "two cents" on the subject...AGAIN.

YES. Rob's sexuality DOES make a difference! I have said that before and I hold to that position today. It is OH so chic to make flowery speeches about how "it doesn't matter" and "true fans don't care" and whatnot and, of course, to those of us that are TRUE fans, it doesn't. The fact remains, there is a HUGE number of people in this world that only know Priest because "they have that gay guy" singing for them. We have ALL heard that comment in some form.

The fact that Rob Halford is a gay man in a Heavy Metal band IS a big deal. It is noteworthy and it has brought them attention where they may never had received any. There is a large portion of people that know about the band because Rob is openly gay and THAT makes it part of the equation, regardless of whether or not one believes it "matters".  Matters how???  Matters from a talent standpoint? No. From an ability standpoint? No. By saying "it does not matter", one is suggesting (I assume) that he still can sing. This is quite true. But the topic here is "Would Priest be more popular" if Rob were NOT gay. I believe the answer is, no. They would not be "more" popular.  There would likely be no significant difference as far as popularity is concerned. Today's "popular" music is chock full of gay people.

I think the more appropriate comment would be that they would not be as well known be as many people. That seems like a safe bet. They will always have a fanbase.  They will always have the achievements they have. Gay or straight, I doubt that would be affected. Popularity? Nah, I doubt that as well. Notoriety? THAT is a possibility. By this fact alone, it DOES make a difference.

Seeing as I live in the UK, I didnt know about that :P

Maybe it is different in the American mainstream media, but certainly in the UK, neither Rob, nor Priest are really any more in the media now, then before he came out. If it's different in the US, then I take back what I said in my previous post lol

		spapad wrote:
		CNN ran it as a headline story when Rob and Priest reunited. I'd say that is about as mainstream as you can get.      Angelic Storm wrote: I think you overestimate the amount of people who only know about Priest through Rob's sexuality. I think very few people outside of the metal community have any idea about Judas Priest, let alone Rob's sexuality. Most outside of the metal community only know what the mainstream media feeds them, and I dont think Rob or Priest are much more in the mainstream media now, than before Rob came out of the closet. Maybe you have heard a lot about it in the mainstream media, but I certainly havent. I think one time a few years ago, I saw Graham Norton mention Rob on his show, but aside from that one time, I've yet to see Rob's sexuality mentioned in any mainstream media, outside of specifically metal publications. Im sure there are a tiny minority of people who know about Priest now, but wouldnt have if Rob wasnt gay. But to say its "a lot of people", I think is overestimating it.      Deep Freeze wrote: Yes, my friend. We do love him. And so do tens of thousands of people all around the world. I don't think there is any question that Rob Halford is respected and loved. That is true. I think what it really comes down to is, there are a lot of people that do not care for Metal and do not know his work but they DO know about his sexuality. You cannot ignore that. It makes a difference in so much as the number of human beings that are aware of the Band. It does make a difference.      J.D. DIAMOND wrote: Yes Freeze...I agree. There are a lot of people who don't know Judas Priest that well and connect the fact that "Isn't that the band with the gay guy singing"?  They don't say that in a negative way .. they are just trying to make that connection and some people may take that the wrong way,but the average person who asks this is not meaning any disrespect or what not.    If Rob were to log on this forum right now,he would be flattered that so many of us accept him for what he is...an "EQUAL" to each and every one of us.  We love you Rob!!!!!!!      Deep Freeze wrote: Hmm.. I have tried to avoid commenting only because I detest yet ANOTHER moronic Thread but I suppose I will throw in my "two cents" on the subject...AGAIN. YES. Rob's sexuality DOES make a difference! I have said that before and I hold to that position today. It is OH so chic to make flowery speeches about how "it doesn't matter" and "true fans don't care" and whatnot and, of course, to those of us that are TRUE fans, it doesn't. The fact remains, there is a HUGE number of people in this world that only know Priest because "they have that gay guy" singing for them. We have ALL heard that comment in some form. The fact that Rob Halford is a gay man in a Heavy Metal band IS a big deal. It is noteworthy and it has brought them attention where they may never had received any. There is a large portion of people that know about the band because Rob is openly gay and THAT makes it part of the equation, regardless of whether or not one believes it "matters".  Matters how???  Matters from a talent standpoint? No. From an ability standpoint? No. By saying "it does not matter", one is suggesting (I assume) that he still can sing. This is quite true. But the topic here is "Would Priest be more popular" if Rob were NOT gay. I believe the answer is, no. They would not be "more" popular.  There would likely be no significant difference as far as popularity is concerned. Today's "popular" music is chock full of gay people. I think the more appropriate comment would be that they would not be as well known be as many people. That seems like a safe bet. They will always have a fanbase.  They will always have the achievements they have. Gay or straight, I doubt that would be affected. Popularity? Nah, I doubt that as well. Notoriety? THAT is a possibility. By this fact alone, it DOES make a difference. Edited at: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 5:25:51 PM

Hmm.. I have tried to avoid commenting only because I detest yet ANOTHER moronic Thread but I suppose I will throw in my "two cents" on the subject...AGAIN.

YES. Rob's sexuality DOES make a difference! I have said that before and I hold to that position today. It is OH so chic to make flowery speeches about how "it doesn't matter" and "true fans don't care" and whatnot and, of course, to those of us that are TRUE fans, it doesn't. The fact remains, there is a HUGE number of people in this world that only know Priest because "they have that gay guy" singing for them. We have ALL heard that comment in some form.

The fact that Rob Halford is a gay man in a Heavy Metal band IS a big deal. It is noteworthy and it has brought them attention where they may never had received any. There is a large portion of people that know about the band because Rob is openly gay and THAT makes it part of the equation, regardless of whether or not one believes it "matters".  Matters how???  Matters from a talent standpoint? No. From an ability standpoint? No. By saying "it does not matter", one is suggesting (I assume) that he still can sing. This is quite true. But the topic here is "Would Priest be more popular" if Rob were NOT gay. I believe the answer is, no. They would not be "more" popular.  There would likely be no significant difference as far as popularity is concerned. Today's "popular" music is chock full of gay people.

I think the more appropriate comment would be that they would not be as well known be as many people. That seems like a safe bet. They will always have a fanbase.  They will always have the achievements they have. Gay or straight, I doubt that would be affected. Popularity? Nah, I doubt that as well. Notoriety? THAT is a possibility. By this fact alone, it DOES make a difference.

..............if Halford wasn't gay?

..............if Halford wasn't gay?

..............if Halford wasn't gay?