Yes spapad that is correct. Look at this picture of "Venom" from 1981 .....Venom created "black metal" and the members "Cronos,Abbadon and Mantis" are not gay,....
Cronos even said that he got his leather,studs and spikes image from "Rob Halford" and Judas Priest because they set the standard of what metal's image looked like.
It wasn't a trend and the other bands were not ripping Halford off,but that image fit for not only heavy metal...but for black metal and the true old school death metal bands as well.
The most abrasive bands in the extreme metal underground like old "Deicide", old "Morbid Angel" and "Mayhem" with Euronymous(r.i.p.)knew Rob was gay and didn't even
think long enough about it to give a rats! I've read articles where they mention Rob Halford as an influence that got them into metal in the first place. Its crazy to sit back and
look at what Rob created with heavy metal's image.....and still to this day...in my opinion studs,spikes,chains,denim & leather,bullet belts,pins on jackets,finger cut black gloves..ect....
all of these aesthetics are needed in heavy metal ....not that a band will be "good" just because they were the image,but without it...they really don't have a chance to continue the
..
true spirit of early Traditional British styled Heavy Metal ......I can't count the many times someone says : "Heres a heavy metal band for you to listen to"....and then I listen to it and
it doesn't sound heavy metalish.....and then I look at the band's photo and low and behold? Its a bunch of college frat rockers with baggy jungle pants the kind that the ass hangs down
and almost touches the floor...with a Hockey jersey on ( "nothing against hockey fans but it doesn't belong in metal" ) with a freaking "BASEBALL HAT" on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOFL!!!!!
And absolutely " NOTHING AGAINST PEOPLE WHO WEAR BASEBALL HATS"....its just that they don't belong in heavy metal's image. Bands that play a rock/and heavy metal seem to
be able to wear a mix between heavy metal and a rock image like Saxon...they play traditional heavy metal like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden but they also write "rock songs" and have always
said they are heavy metal/rock band.....Paul Quinn,one of the guitarists wears a baseball hat but usually wears a leather vest and ect.... Motorhead is a hard rock band and not a heavy metal band
so Lemmy's image has always been the same..... But Rob sure set the standards of heavy metal and its quite awsome on a massive scale how he himself not only wore the gay biker outfits but also
wore the total traditional heavy metal image. What a guy!!!!!!!!!
[Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by spapad from Wednesday, August 05, 2009 7:08:40 PM)
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spapad wrote: |
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Perhaps I missread, but to be honest, I don't find it to be of great importance. I do feel Rob influenced the whole look of metal by simply chosing the ruff boy gay look of the seventies to gear up priest, and Metal fans everywhere embrassed what was first a gay image and made it there own and to this day, if you see that much leather you know, you talking Metal. Fine by me! I love it!
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Angelic Storm wrote: |
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In that case, my previous points still stand! If Priest were not in the media on those occasions purely because of Rob's sexuality, then they cant be used as examples of them being more known about purely because of that. Like I say, Ive only known of one occasion where Rob's sexuality has been specifically mentioned in the mainstream media. lol
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spapad wrote: |
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His sexuality was not the issue of them being in the mainstream media, it's the fact that JP are an incredible band.
They appeared on Jimmy Kimmel live last year, which was a late night talk show here. They are still in so many Metal Mags, Rolling Stone still covers them, they were up for what, two Grammys last year? I'd say they don't fly completly under the radar!
Thank God they are not covered in the way all media portrays half the celebrities in this world, talk about a dirty landryfest on the behalf of the media, it's disgusting to be so intrusive into anyone's life.
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Angelic Storm wrote: |
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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
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spapad wrote: |
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CNN ran it as a headline story when Rob and Priest reunited. I'd say that is about as mainstream as you can get.
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Angelic Storm wrote: |
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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.
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Deep Freeze wrote: |
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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.
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J.D. DIAMOND wrote: |
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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!!!!!!!
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Deep Freeze wrote: |
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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 |
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Edited at: Thursday, August 06, 2009 4:41:12 AM |
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