by Rob Halford, the legendary frontman of Judas Priest, recently opened up about his secret marriage to long-term partner Thomas during an appearance on Queer the Music podcast.
The heavy metal icon shared details about their intimate wedding ceremony and how the decision to marry came about unexpectedly.
“We got married by the cactus outside on December the something or other, about a year or so ago,” Halford said. “He’s from Alabama. Extremely conservative. I stopped asking, ‘Let’s get married.’ ‘No, I don’t want to get married.’ ‘Oh, let’s just get married. We’ve been together forever.’ ‘No, I don’t want to get married.’”
The singer explained how his partner’s sudden change of heart led to their spontaneous wedding plans.
“And then suddenly on one of our night walks, he goes, ‘I think we should get married.’ Straight home, on the phone to get a pastor,” he continued. “It was obviously me and him and an officiant, as they call them, who are legalised to marry people. Two of my dearest friends, Jim Silvia, who was Priest’s manager forever, and his wife. There were just four of us around the pool, around the cactus, the heavy metal cactus. And it was over in an instant. But it was just a beautiful, simple ceremony.”
This personal revelation adds another significant chapter to Halford’s remarkable journey as both a metal icon and LGBTQ+ advocate.
Halford’s openness about his personal life continues his long-standing role as a trailblazer in the heavy metal community. Wikipedia reported that the singer has been recognized not only for his powerful vocals and iconic leather-and-studs image but also for his influence as an openly gay man in a traditionally macho genre. His advocacy has helped pave the way for greater acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ artists in heavy metal.
The “Metal God,” as he’s often called, has maintained his legendary status throughout decades of musical evolution. Rapid Vocal Results noted that after rejoining Judas Priest in 2003 following a period exploring solo projects, Halford continued to release critically acclaimed albums that reaffirmed his position as one of metal’s most enduring frontmen.
The band’s recent work has demonstrated their continued relevance in the metal scene. Loaded Radio highlighted that albums such as Angel of Retribution (2005) and Firepower (2018) have received critical acclaim. These releases proved that Judas Priest remains a formidable force in heavy metal music.
This marriage milestone represents more than just a personal achievement for Halford. It symbolizes the progress made in LGBTQ+ acceptance within the metal community, where his visibility and advocacy have created space for other artists to live authentically. The intimate nature of the ceremony, held around what he affectionately calls the “heavy metal cactus,” reflects both his down-to-earth personality and his ability to find beauty in simple moments despite his larger-than-life stage persona.
