Judas Priest received a special honor ahead of their October 23 performance at the Isleta Amphitheater in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The legendary British heavy metal band was presented with the keys to the city by Albuquerque’s mayor, Tim Keller, in recognition of their lasting influence on the genre and their connection to the city’s passionate metal community.
After receiving the honor, Judas Priest shared their appreciation, saying: “Thank you to the mayor, his team, and all the Metal Maniacs of Albuquerque!” A video of the ceremony was shared online, capturing the band’s gratitude and the enthusiasm of local fans.
Mayor Tim Keller, a known supporter of the heavy metal scene, has previously presented keys to the city to other metal icons. Over the past year and a half, recipients have included members of Testament, Possessed’s Jeff Becerra, Soulfly’s Max Cavalera, and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson.
In October 2022, Soulfly posted a photo showing Keller proudly wearing one of the band’s long-sleeve shirts while casting his vote in the U.S. midterm elections. It wasn’t the first time Keller’s love of metal made an appearance in his public life. In 2018, he wore a Pantera Christmas sweater while signing legislation that granted paid parental leave for city employees, making Albuquerque the first city in New Mexico to offer that benefit.
Five years earlier, Keller showed up to the polls wearing a Machine Head hoodie during the U.S. presidential election, another nod to his loyalty to the genre.
A lifelong Albuquerque resident, Keller has made a name for himself as a metalhead mayor. He’s not only attended countless shows but has also introduced bands like Anthrax and Trivium on stage. Speaking with The New York Times five years ago, he said: “Albuquerque has always been pretty strong on the heavy metal front. What can I say, this is something I’ve been into for a long time.”
Keller told the Albuquerque Journal that his favorite heavy metal band is Sepultura, founded by Max Cavalera, adding, “They are awesome. It’s the music of empowerment.”
In a 2017 interview, Keller reflected on his years as an active concertgoer. “I wasn’t just a heavy metal fan, I still am,” he said. “In fact, I saw Mastodon, like, three days ago at the El Rey [Theater].” He also mentioned that his favorite metal show in the city was Machine Head’s performance at the Sunshine Theater in 2016.
Recalling one particularly memorable experience, Keller admitted he once bought inexpensive tickets to a Megadeth concert at Tingley Coliseum. “And I got kicked out once, but on that show, I made it in,” he said. “And it was awesome.”
Keller, a Democrat, took office as Albuquerque’s mayor in December 2017, succeeding two-term mayor Richard Berry. He was re-elected for a second four-year term in November 2021, winning nearly 60 percent of the vote. Keller lives in Albuquerque with his wife, Liz, and their two young children.
