Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. Halford underwent treatment and a prostatectomy that same year, and later had his appendix removed due to a rumor being discovered there as well. Halford went through additional treatment in both April and May 2021, and was finally given the all-clear by his doctors in June 2021. Though you'd never know it given Halford's sheer vocal power both live and in the studio these days.
Now four years out from the diagnoses and medical procedures, Halford tells LifeMinute that he's still in remission and doing well. Halford also makes a plea for men to get their prostate checked and undergo prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests to make sure everything is cool down there.
"I'm in remission. I always take an opportunity to thank the Lord for me being here still, but also my great medical team," said Halford. "And guys, be proactive. Make sure you get your blood work done, your PSA checked. I couldn't believe how efficient and the love and the care and the attention that health workers give to each and every one of us.
"I had my prostate removed. I had some meds and follow-up treatment found a little bit more stuff, so we had to go in for two months of radiation treatment. You do what you've gotta do. The important thing is to stay optimistic, stay positive. Stay positive. I love my family, my healthcare people that want the best for you. So you can push through it. So anybody that's struggling with that right now, keep that heavy metal faith. With all the due care and diligence and attention, you'll survive."
Catch a very healthy Halford with Judas Priest and Sabaton this September. The tour kicks off on September 13 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC and makes stops in Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Spokane, WA; Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; Phoenix, AZ and more before wrapping up with three shows in Texas on October 22, 24 and 26. Tickets are available here.
9/13 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
9/14 Niagara Falls, ON Fallsview Casino Resort
9/17 Sterling Heights, MI Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
9/19 Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre
9/21 Cedar Rapids, IA Alliant Energy PowerHouse
9/22 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford Premier Center
9/24 Rochester, MN Mayo Civic Center Arena
9/25 Omaha, NE Baxter Arena
9/27 Rockford, IL BMO Center
9/29 Louisville, KY Louder Than Life
10/1 Independence, MO Cable Dahmer Arena
10/3 Billings, MT First Interstate Arena at MetraPark
10/5 Idaho Falls, ID Mountain America Center
10/6 Spokane, WA Spokane Arena
10/9 Everett, WA Angel of the Winds Arena
10/10 Portland, OR Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds
10/12 Sacramento, CA After Shock Festival
10/13 Reno, NV Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
10/15 Los Angeles, CA YouTube Theater
10/16 Las Vegas, NV Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood
10/18 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre
10/20 Loveland, CO Blue Arena
10/22 Houston, TX Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
10/24 Austin, TX Germania Insurance Amphitheater
10/26 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
