Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter.
He is best known as the lead vocalist for the legendary heavy metal band Judas Priest. Halford is known for his multi-octave operatic range, high-pitched screams, leather-clad image and showing up on stage on a motorcycle (usually a Harley-Davidson). His stud-leather style has been widely adopted by heavy metal performers and fans around the world.
Because of his enormous influence on rock and metal music, Halford has been nicknamed the 'Metal God'.
Life and career
Halford was born in Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, England. Before joining Judas Priest, he was in the bands Hiroshima, Abraxas, Thark, Lord Lucifer, and Athens Wood.
After a 20-year career with Judas Priest, that saw the band achieve international fame, Halford left the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career. He first formed the band Fight and then collaborated with Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor to explore new territories with his industrial-influenced project called Two (often spelled 2wo) which was released on Reznor's Nothing Records label. He later formed the band Halford and returned to his metal roots by releasing the widely acclaimed album Resurrection (2000), produced by Roy Z. In July of 2003, Halford reunited with Judas Priest who have since released a new full length album, Angel of Retribution. The recent world tour that accompanied the release marked the band's 30th anniversary.
Rob Halford has also performed as the vocalist for Black Sabbath at three shows. He filled in for Ronnie James Dio for two shows on November 14 and November 15, 1992, following the end of the Dehumanizer tour, when Dio refused to participate in the band as an opening act for original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. On August 26, 2004, Halford filled in for Osbourne for an Ozzfest show in Camden, New Jersey, due to Osbourne being unable to perform because of bronchitis.
In 1998, Halford revealed he was homosexual in an interview on MTV. His sexuality was known to the rest of the band and came as little surprise to fans. The response from the heavy metal community has been widely accepting.
Trivia
- In the October 2006 issue of "Classic Rock" magazine he stated the only songs on his iPod are his own work and Queen (of which he has their entire catalog).
- Among his many tattoos is the Marvel Comics Punisher skull.
- Halford did guest vocals on the Queens of the Stone Age song "Feel Good Hit of the Summer".
- Often enters the stage riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The stunt caused a memorable accident during the Painkiller tour when Rob accidentally hit a drumriser occluded by the clouds of dry ice. He broke his nose and fell off the motorcycle, and after regaining consciousness and tumbling off-stage, came back on-stage with a plaster over his nose and performed the whole concert. In the band's Behind the Music edition, Rob named the accident as one of the events that caused the rift between him and the rest of the band that would eventually force them apart.
- His trademark look is leather and studs. He's also known for his aviator sunglasses.
- Was a guest vocalist for Ugly Kid Joe on their album America's Least Wanted on the track Goddamn Devil.
- Halford replaced Ozzy Osbourne as vocalist for Black Sabbath for one night, on August 25, 2004, at Ozzfest. Ozzy had been suffering from bronchitis at the time, and asked Halford to replace him.
- Halford also replaced Dio in a concert in November 1992, when Dio quit at the last minute (rumors state that he wouldn't play the same show as Ozzy, but others say it was for his solo career).
Discography
Judas Priest
- Rocka Rolla (1974)
- Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
- Sin After Sin (1977)
- Stained Class (1978)
- Killing Machine (1978) (released as Hell Bent for Leather in the USA 1979)
- Unleashed in the East (1979)
- British Steel (1980)
- Point of Entry (1981)
- Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
- Defenders of the Faith (1984)
- Turbo (1986)
- Priest...Live! (1987) (1986)
- Ram It Down (1988)
- Painkiller (1990)
- Metalogy (2004)
- Angel of Retribution (2005)
- Rising In the East (2006)
- Live Vengeance '82 (2006)
- The Essential Judas Priest (2006)
- (Untitled) Nostradamas Concept Album (2006-2007)
Fight
- War of Words (1993)
- Mutations (1994)
- A Small Deadly Space (1995)
Two
- Voyeurs (1997)
Halford
- Resurrection (2000)
- Live Insurrection (2001)
- Crucible (2002)
- Fourging The Furnace (2003)
- Untitled (Late 2006 / Early 2007)
Guest appearances
- Krokus – Headhunter (1983)
- Hear 'n Aid (1986)
- Ugly Kid Joe – America's Least Wanted (1992)
- Skid Row – B-Side Ourselves (1992)
- Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R (2000)
- Furious IV– Is That You (2002)
- Pantera - Light comes out of black (1992)