A British metal band who gained
international notice in the late 70s and were
one of the most popular names of the 80s. Largely responsible for the traditional heavy metal sound through their influential 70s work, and established the important genre of speed metal. Also notorious for featuring singer Rob Halford, who came
out of the closet as gay after his departure from the band in 1993. (He rejoined the band in the summer of 2003.)