JUDAS PRIEST - HALFORD RUBBISHES REPORTS OF PRIEST RIFT

JUDAS PRIEST frontman ROB HALFORD has dismissed rumours his 12-year hiatus from the group was caused by a major fall-out with his bandmates - insisting he wanted to venture out and try new things. The BREAKING THE LAW hitmaker, who left the band in 1992 and rejoined in 2003, claims their separation made him realise their worth. He says, "There was never a conflict in Priest; there never has been. "It was down to my desire to experiment, flex some metal muscle and see what was happening in other places. "While I was away, I realised how much Judas Priest means to me. The great moment for me was the enlightenment of understanding the value of Priest."