Tom Morello made his co-director debut with the documentary The Ballad of Judas Priest , which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.
According to Variety , Morello stated that the project combines his passion for the band with a political purpose: "What a wonderful time to be alive, when you can both make a documentary about one of your favorite bands and fight against fascism."
Morello highlighted that the band's very existence and the diversity of its audience, with many Latino fans and LGBTQIAPN+ couples, reflect a community that can serve as a model for society.
“The band’s existence is very political. When I saw Judas Priest in the last decade or so, in Los Angeles, the audience was perhaps more than 50% Latino, there were a lot of gay couples. Nothing to do with stereotypes — yes, there were some older guys like me, in leather jackets, probably bringing their kids to the show — but that community, the unity and harmony that exists at a Judas Priest show is, in a way, a model of how we can all be better,” he said.
Filmed alongside documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn , the film traces the trajectory of Judas Priest from their working-class origins in Birmingham, England, to their rise as heavy metal icons and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame .
In addition, the documentary includes testimonials from lead singer Rob Halford , who addresses personal topics such as coming out in 1998 and reflects on social injustices that have motivated him throughout his career.
According to the synopsis, the documentary "deles deep into vocalist Rob Halford's long struggle as a closeted gay man in heavy metal and explores the 'culture war' surrounding the band's controversial and notorious trial during the satanic panic of the 1980s.".
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