Rob Halford, the frontman of Judas Priest, tied the knot with his longtime partner, Thomas Pence, in 2024. In a recent interview, Halford shared that marriage has been on his mind for years. He often asked Thomas to marry him, but Thomas would always say no. It wasn’t until one of their evening walks that Thomas surprised Halford by suggesting they should get married.
Halford recalled, “I stopped asking… I’d say, ‘Let’s get married,’ and he’d reply, ‘No, I don’t wanna get married.’ Then one night, he said, ‘I think we should get married.’” Excited by the proposal, Halford went straight home and called a pastor.
The wedding was a small and intimate affair. Halford described it as just him, Thomas, and the officiant, along with their friend Jim Silvia, Judas Priest’s tour manager, and his wife. “There were just four of us around the pool, by the heavy metal cactus,” he said. “It was over in an instant, but it was a beautiful, simple ceremony.”
Halford believes that marriage is a personal choice. For him and Thomas, it represents a deeper commitment. “It feels like you’ve completed something in your relationship,” he explained. “The commitment goes to another level when you get married. It’s a great thing to do. And if it doesn’t work, that’s life. But after 35 years together, it’s definitely working.”
