Josh Kiszka , from Greta Van Fleet , spoke for the first time about how he felt when he publicly came out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community .
The vocalist made an Instagram post in June where he revealed he had been in a same-sex relationship for 8 years. Josh's decision came after the emergence of bills in Tennessee that violate LGBTQIA+ rights.
In an interview with Rolling Stone , Josh Kiszka said he was worried about the public's reaction and thought he would suddenly have "a target on his back," which, thankfully, didn't happen. Both Greta Van Fleet fans and big names in metal, like Rob Halford , showed their support for the vocalist on social media.
“You really feel that way, which is awful, but it’s true,” she confides. “Everything was received with love, acceptance, humility, and respect, and that was a great wave of reassurance that things are moving in the right direction. As a performer and entertainer , a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Because, in the end, as an artist or just as a person, we all want to be understood in some way.”
Kiszka also spoke about the surprise that Greta Van Fleet fans prepared for the performance in Nashville on July 24th. During one of the songs, the audience turned on their cell phone flashlights in front of pieces of colored paper, which created a colorful rainbow effect in the audience.
Josh was moved by the gesture. “The fact that so many people were able to communicate and coordinate to make that happen was extraordinary. It was very difficult to control my emotions, and it may sound very profound, but the song took on a whole new meaning at that moment,” he says.
“I explained to the audience that I hope one day it will be irrelevant when I sing ' Hate bound by fear will unwind .' When you say words like that, you realize you're in the middle of a movement,” he concludes.
