’s Kerry King has called the first time he saw live a “letdown”. The guitarist, who last week for the first time in five years, makes the admission during a new interview with Nikki Blakk of San Mateo radio station 107.7 The Bone.
The host asks King to name the “catalyst” that drew him to heavy metal when he was young. “Probably hearing Priest on the radio,” he answers (per ). “We had two rock stations back then, and I heard , , or something on [1980 album] .
I didn’t know who Judas Priest was at that point in my life, believe it or not. And I’m like, ‘Cool, I like the singer, I like there’s two guitars.’” King then moves on to the “letdown” concert, which took place during Judas Priest’s tour for maligned 1981 album .
He was particularly disappointed in the appearance of singer Rob Halford, who’d traded his iconic all-leather attire for lots and lots of denim. “The whole time before this, Halford is in his leather and studs and everything,” the guitarist says, “and that fucking tour he shows up in a fucking jean sweatsedo; a jean jacket, and denim jeans. I’m like, ‘Oh, this guy, come on!’ It was just a letdown for me, from all the photos you’ve seen back then in magazines.
” Nonetheless, King finishes by praising Halford, calling the vocalist his “number one” in heavy metal. “But yeah, Priest was killer, and he’s my favourite singer since the dawn of time. He’s always my number one.
That’s tough to say, being a f.