It’s possible his change of heart could have been inspired by reaction to the new book by former bandmate K.K. Downing, who’s taken the opportunity to break his silence over the issues that led to his departure in 2011.

“I was thinking about this last night,” Halford told Full Metal Jackie in a new interview. “I’m gonna give you an exclusive. I am going to write a book. But I was thinking about things that have happened to me that people don’t know about. … I was personally blessed by the Virgin Mary in a church in England. If that’s not gonna make you read my book, I don’t know what is.”