JUDAS PRIEST's ROB HALFORD sends message of support to GRETA VAN FLEET's JOSH KISZKA
Singer came out the closet 2 days ago
22-06-2023
JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford has thrown his support behind Josh Kiszka after the GRETA VAN FLEET singer came out as a member of the LGBTQ community.
On Tuesday (June 20), Kiszka took to Instagram to write that he has been “in a loving, same-sex relationship with my partner for the past 8 years.” He also said that those close to him were aware but “it’s important to me to share publicly”.
He explained that he chose to come out publicly in light of the fact that his adopted home of Tennessee has been responsible for so much anti-LGBTQ legislation in the last year, from its restrictive drag bill that was ruled unconstitutional to a series of bills around access to trans healthcare. “It’s imperative that I speak my truth for not only myself, but in hopes to change hearts, minds, and laws in Tennessee and beyond,” he wrote.
Halford, who publicly declared his homosexuality back in 1998 during an appearance on MTV News, commented on Kiszka‘s post, writing, “I love you Josh,” and adding a series of emojis that included the metal horns, a microphone, a speaker with soundwaves, clapping hands and a lightning bolt.
ROB HALFORD JUDAS PRIEST BEST METAL VOCALIST ROB HALFORD LOVES JOSH 😭😭😭😭 WHAT A FUCKING HONOR pic.twitter.com/BRVwA45Rb6
— Brit 🌌 (@gretavanfckface) June 21, 2023
dude judas priest commenting on josh’s coming out post has me sobbing. pic.twitter.com/ESqAcjhnFb
— cassie🌞 82, 86, 89💫 (@joshm0nica) June 21, 2023
GRETA VAN FLEET singer Josh Kiszka publicly came out on Tuesday, saying that he’s been “in a loving, same-sex relationship with my partner for the past 8 years.”
In a statement posted on his Instagram, Josh wrote: “Where I’ve settled a home in Tennessee, legislators are proposing bills that threaten the freedom of love. It’s imperative that I speak my truth for not only myself, but in hopes to change hearts, minds, and laws in Tennessee and beyond.
“These issues are especially close to my heart as I’ve been in a loving, same-sex relationship with my partner for the past 8 years. Those close to me are well aware, but it’s important to me to share publicly.
“Over the years, the outpouring of love for the LGBTQ+ community has been resounding, but there is still work to be done for LGBTQ+ rights in TN, the nation, and the world. In response to the exceptional support from my last post, I wanted to share how we can all continue to advocate for this valiant cause. Here are some organizations doing great work:
@hrc_nash
@inclusiontn
@oasiscenternashville
@aclu_tennessee
@nashvillepridefestival
@humanrightscampaign
@trevorproject
@aclu_nationwide
“Bravo!
“The LGBTQ+ community is a cultural pillar, constantly championing positivity and acceptance through art, music, literature, film, and most importantly, legislation.
“The greatest mortal gift of all is our capacity to love and as we travel through time, may our greater understanding of the matter around and within us teach us to love ever deeper.”
The Tennessee Senate recently passed SB 1440, a bill that attempts to discriminate against LGBTQ+ Tennesseans by codifying “sex” as “a person’s immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth and evidence of a person’s biological sex” throughout state code.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — this bill also makes LGBTQ+ people more susceptible to discrimination by defining sex in a way that prevents LGBTQ+ Tennesseans from being covered by state nondiscrimination laws. It will have a disproportionate impact on transgender people.
In March, Tennessee governor Bill Lee signed a bill that will prevent transgender youth from accessing age-appropriate, best practice medical care. The governor also signed the country’s first ban on some drag performances in one of our country’s legendary music capitals — restricting artists’ freedom of expression and ability to entertain and perform.
Since 2015, Tennessee has enacted 14 anti-LGBTQ+ laws, more than any other state in the country. It has passed novel legislation, like the business bathroom sign law and the drag ban, and been part of every trend in anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent years: Tennessee has banned transgender students from playing school sports three times; forbidden students from using the correct bathroom at school; allowed government contractors providing child welfare services to discriminate with taxpayer dollars; regulated the ability of transgender youth to access age-appropriate gender affirming care, and several others.
Last month, GRETA VAN FLEET released a performance video for ‘Sacred The Thread’. Watch it below/
“I always like to think that some people’s first impression of GRETA VAN FLEET in concert is, ‘Wow, these guys really like dressing to the left and blowing shit up,'” notes GRETA VAN FLEET frontman Josh Kiszka, adding, “This song is particularly important to me because it’s about my jumpsuits.”
Of collaborating with GRETA VAN FLEET to direct the video, Black shares: “The final shot of the video is as close to magic as anything I’ve ever been a part of creating. It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with these fine humans.”
GRETA VAN FLEET singer Josh Kizska states: “Beauty cloaked in darkness is still beauty. I love you, Gus Black.”
GRETA VAN FLEET previously said about “Meeting The Master”: “‘Meeting The Master’ peers into an esoteric world heeded by the word of a wise teacher. Sung in the voice of a devout believer, and eventual group exclamation, the song details the love these fervent followers have for their teacher and their firm belief in his vision. It’s an exotic spiritual journey. A dark comedy that inevitably ends in chaos.”
“Starcatcher” was written and recorded by the band — lead singer Josh Kizska, guitarist Jake Kizska, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kizska and drummer Danny Wagner — alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.
“We didn’t really have to force or be intense about writing, because everything that happened was very instinctual,” Jake says. “If anything, the record is our perspective, and sums up where we are as a group and individually as musicians.”
Throughout the 10-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. “We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe,” says Wagner. “We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.”
GRETA VAN FLEET took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed second album “The Battle At Garden’s Gate” and brought them into “Starcatcher”, although Sam‘s take on the new record’s big ideas hint instead at new beginnings.
“When I imagine the world of ‘Starcatcher’, I think of the cosmos,” he says. “It makes me ask a lot of questions, like ‘Where did we come from?’ or ‘What are we doing here?’ But it’s also questions like, ‘What is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?'”
Throughout the 10-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. “We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe,” says Wagner. “We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.”
GRETA VAN FLEET took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed second album “The Battle At Garden’s Gate” and brought them into “Starcatcher”, although Sam‘s take on the new record’s big ideas hint instead at new beginnings.
“When I imagine the world of ‘Starcatcher’, I think of the cosmos,” he says. “It makes me ask a lot of questions, like ‘Where did we come from?’ or ‘What are we doing here?’ But it’s also questions like, ‘What is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?'”
GRETA VAN FLEET—STARCATCHER
- Fate Of The Faithful
- Waited All Your Life
- The Falling Sky
- Sacred The Thread
- Runway Blues
- The Indigo Streak
- Frozen Light
- The Archer
- Meeting The Master
- Farewell For Now
Greta Van Fleet will also be touring throughout Europe, starting in Hamburg, Germany on November 6 with further international stops in Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and more.
November 6—Hamburg, Germany—Sporthalle^
November 8—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome^
November 9—Paris, France—Accor Arena^
November 12—Brussels, Belgium—Forest National^
November 14—London, UK—OVO Arena Wembley^
November 16—Dublin, Ireland—3Arena^
November 19—Manchester, UK—AO Arena^
November 20—Glasgow, UK—OVO Hydro^
November 26—Copenhagen, Denmark—Forum+
November 28—Munich, Germany—Zenith+
November 30—Bologna, Italy—Unipol Arena+
December 3—Barcelona, Spain—Sant Jordi Club+
December 4—Madrid, Spain—WiZink Center+
December 6—Lisbon, Portugal—Campo Pequeno+
September 20, 2024—Mexico City, Mexico —Foro Sol~
September 27, 2024—Mexico City, Mexico —Foro Sol~
*with Kaleo
†with Surf Curse
^with Mt. Joy
+with Black Honey
~as part of Metallica: M72 World Tour
BOLD – Just announced
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