Judas Priest’s Rob Halford and Ian Hill Back New Steel Wings Foundation Fundraiser for Ukraine

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford and bassist Ian Hill have launched a new fundraising partnership with the Steel Wings Foundation, the Ukraine-based heavy metal charity run by YouTuber Metal Pilgrim. The campaign is raising money for the organization’s ongoing relief work inside Ukraine, and donors are being entered into a drawing to win memorabilia that Halford has personally handed over for the cause.

Halford contributed several items straight from his own collection for fans to win, including bracelets and a cross he has worn, along with guitar picks from Judas Priest’s “Faithkeepers” tour that come packaged with Icons and were placed in the prize boxes by Halford himself.

• A one-of-a-kind bracelet handmade by Rob Halford will go to whoever makes the single largest donation of the campaign.
• Every 1 UAH (Ukrainian Hryvnia) donated equals one entry into the drawing for the other prizes; 100 UAH (about $2.25) buys 100 entries, and 1,000 UAH (about $22.50) buys 1,000 entries.
• A prior Judas Priest and Steel Wings Foundation partnership in 2024 brought in 1,000,000 UAH (roughly $22,500), with fans that time winning items such as Halford’s sunglasses and Icons-backed guitar picks.

Halford and Hill filmed a video message urging the wider metal community to pitch in and support the drive. The Steel Wings Foundation says its mission is to rally metal fans worldwide to fund and deliver aid to people in Ukraine affected by the ongoing conflict.

How the Steel Wings Foundation Donation Drawing Works

The structure mirrors the 2024 effort: donations convert directly into raffle entries, with larger gifts producing more chances to land one of Halford’s personal pieces. The handmade bracelet is set aside as a guaranteed prize for the top single donor rather than part of the general drawing pool.

Rob Halford Has Previously Spoken About Politics and Metal

Asked years ago by a reader of Metal Hammer whether politics belong in metal, Halford said he believes they do and pointed to Judas Priest’s 2018 “Firepower” track “Evil Never Dies” as an example of commentary he has folded into the band’s music, though he described it as being wrapped in “smoke and mirrors” rather than stated outright.

In a separate 2018 conversation with Newsweek, Halford said he was “not a Donald Trump supporter,” arguing that policies from that era widened political rifts and left minority communities, including LGBTQ people, feeling excluded. He noted that plenty of Judas Priest fans hold different political views than he does, but said he is comfortable with that as long as those disagreements stay outside the venue.

More Info

• JUDAS PRIESTs ROB HALFORD And IAN HILL Support New Fundraiser For Ukraine | Blabbermouth