Tom Morello: “What times we live in. You can make a documentary about your favorite band and fight against fascism” | Cinema: premieres and opinions | EUROtoday

Tom Morello (New York, 61 years previous) not has anybody to close him up. This Sunday, as evening fell in Berlin, he assured on the presentation of the documentary The Ballad of Judas Priest, which he has co-directed on the elemental band of heavy metallic: “What a time to be alive, when you can make a documentary about one of your favorite bands and fight fascism at the same time.”

Morello has co-directed The Ballad of Judas Priest with Sam Dunn, recognized for the legendary documentary Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey (2005), and he has achieved it as a fan, as a result of that’s how he discovered his ardour as a baby: “The heavy metal It made me love music. It has been a pleasure to get closer to my idols like this. Without them I would not have created Rage Against The Machine.” At his side was not only Dunn, but also Rob Halford, legendary singer of the band who, together with Black Sabbath, founded this musical genre, and who at 74 years old remains active. Morello noted: “The impressive thing about Judas Priest is that since they released their first album [en 1974] “It has continued to grow and grow and today the band is more relevant than ever.”

And he burdened: “Judas Priest’s very existence is political. There were no stereotypes in his audience. In Los Angeles, where I go to his concerts, the audience is perhaps more than 50% Latino, and also gay couples, people of all kinds. Nothing to do with stereotypes – yes, there are some older guys like me in leather jackets who probably bring their children to the concert – but that community, the unity and harmony that exists at a Judas Priest concert is, in a way, a model how we can all improve.” This underlined the fact that when Halford came out decades ago that he was gay, his fans didn’t even debate the fact. He was his favorite singer, period.

At his side, Halford said: “Music is extra vital than ever, the best way the world is. Songs need to do their job, give individuals a refuge, take them away from the anxiousness we stay in. Music is fantasy, even the one which has a robust political message, as a result of it elevates you with its values ​​and messages.” That’s why he said: “I see things in the world that affect me and make me angry, and I think, ‘Is there a way to put this into a song?’ That’s what I’ve been doing forever.”

Halford did get involved in the political issue: “On the last album, I’m not going to mention his name, but I’m talking about that person.” [se refería a Donald Trump]. I have to control myself, because as I get older, my anger against the world increases. Injustice increases, especially against my own people [la comunidad LGBTQ+]who continues to suffer and without obtaining the human rights he deserves.”

Fifty years ago, from industrial England, Judas Priest adopted a style, leather and studs, that would later be adopted by metalheads. “Judas Priest is the initiator of the cultural scene round heavy music. They created a whole neighborhood, in the identical means that hip hop isn’t just music, however a life-style,” explained Morello, who confessed as cinematographic influences the documentaries on the Vietnam War and the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings. “I think she’s very metal too,” he said.

As Morello emphasized, breaking stereotypes has been the great victory of this band. “One of an important elements of the documentary exhibits how Judas Priest broke with every thing established and created neighborhood and inclusion. For a very long time I used to be the black man of heavy metallic, I do know what I’m speaking about.” What’s more, when Morello and Darryl McDanields, from Run-DMC, entered the selection committee that chose candidates for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, both insisted on Judas Priest, the two say in the documentary, furthermore a beautiful hagiography: “If two black individuals wished it, who was going to oppose it?”