Rob Halford

Rob Halford (2014)

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Albums

Resurrection   DE 12 08/21/2000 (2 weeks)   AT 42 08/27/2000 (2 weeks)   CH 90 08/27/2000 (2 weeks)   US 140 08/26/2008 (1 week) Live insurrection   DE 52 04/09/2001 (1 week) Crucible   DE 33 07/08/2002 (6 weeks)   US 144 07/13/2002 (1 week) Made of metal   DE 80 10/15/2010 (1 week)   US 160 10/16/2010 (1 week) Celestial (with Family & Friends)   DE 92 10/25/2019 (1 week)

Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951 in Sutton Coldfield , Warwickshire , England ) is a British heavy metal singer. He was from 1972 to 1991 and has been the singer of the band Judas Priest again since 2003 . His distinctive voice with a range of 4½ octaves (D2 – G # 6) earned him the nickname "Metal God" with reference to a title on the album British Steel , and he is also known for his "Rob Halford Screams" ( Screams with very high Frequency peaks) known.

biography

Rob Halford (1984)

Halford grew up in modest circumstances in Walsall , near Birmingham . His father worked in the steel industry, his mother was a housewife and sometimes worked in childcare. Although not particularly religious, his parents taught him basic Christian values ​​that are still important to him today. Heavy industry in his homeland made a great impression on him in his youth. He felt that he belonged to the working class. A teacher had already discovered his singing talent at the age of 8 and had him sing in front of other school classes, which he liked very much. At the age of 16, Halford left school and began working as a stage technician and lighting technician. He experienced a broad spectrum of the entertainment industry and felt the desire not only to work, but to be on stage himself. He was particularly enthusiastic about blues and rock music , which allowed him to express his youthful rebellion. In the late 1960s he was active as a singer in several rock bands in Central England until he joined Judas Priest. He rejected the London- centered British music industry and tried to help establish a music scene in his home country.

In the 1980s Halford struggled with massive alcohol and drug problems, including excessive cocaine use . It was only shortly before a total mental breakdown that he managed to get rid of his addiction. According to his own statements, he has been drug-free since 1986 and sees this as a great gain for his life.

In May 1992 Halford left Judas Priest and turned to various moderately successful solo projects. He broke off all contact with his former band colleagues.

Halford outed himself in 1998 as the first gay metal singer:

"I think that most people know that I've been a gay man all of my life, and it's only been in recent times it's an issue that I feel comfortable to address ... something that I feel has a moment, and this is the moment to discuss it. "

“I think most people know that I've been a gay man all my life. It's something I've only recently been able to address with serenity ... something that takes a certain time to talk about - and that point has now come. "

- Rob Halford : Interview, MTV, April 2, 1998

After separating from the band, he started three less successful projects ( Fight , 2wo and Halford ). The solo Halford project marked his return to traditional heavy metal. The album Resurrection with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden as a guest singer was enthusiastically received by many fans who had shown themselves dissatisfied with the modern orientation of Judas Priest during his exit. The emerging reunion with Judas Priest took place in 2003.

Rob Halford (2005)

Halford participated in the Hear 'n Aid project and also helped Black Sabbath in 1992 (to replace Ronnie James Dio, who dropped out on the tour at Sabbath ) for two concerts and in 2004 (replacement for Ozzy Osbourne, who was then ill ) for one concert .

In 2009 Halford released an album of Christmas carols ("Halford III - Winter Songs"). It contains interpretations of well-known Christmas carols and your own songs.

In 2013, photos made headlines showing Halford in a wheelchair. In the following years he was often seen walking with a walking stick. He later revealed that he had difficult back surgery.

In 2014 he contributed the song Man on the Silver Mountain to the tribute album This Is Your Life for Ronnie James Dio .

Halford lives in Phoenix , Arizona in the USA . However, he also has residences in Amsterdam and Walsall. Musically he feels connected to the blues and rock'n'roll, but also appreciates the singer Frank Sinatra .

Discography of the solo projects

Fight

• 1993: War of Words
• 1993: Nailed to the Gun (tour single )
• 1994: Mutations ( EP )
• 1995: A Small Deadly Space
• 2007: K5 - The War of Words Demos
• 2008: Into the Pit ( box set )

2wo

• 1997: Voyeurs

Halford

• 2000: Resurrection
• 2001: Live Insurrection (Live Album)
• 2002: Crucible
• 2003: Fourging the Furnace (EP)
• 2004: Live at Disney House of Blues (download live album)
• 2007: Metal God Essentials Vol. 1 ( compilation )
• 2008: Live at Rock in Rio III (Live DVD with Resurrection as a bonus CD)
• 2009: Halford III - Winter Songs
• 2010: Live in Anaheim (live album, which was released separately on CD and DVD)
• 2010: The Mower (single)
• 2010: Halford IV - Made of Metal
• 2011: Live at Saitama Super Arena (live album, which was released separately on CD and DVD)
• 2012: Live in London (Live album, recorded December 6, 2000)
• 2015: The Essential

Movies

• 2002: Spun - In Spun a number of well-known musicians appear in cameos. Halford can be seen as a porn shop cashier.

reception

The American post- punk musician Atom and His Package , real name Adam Goren, addressed Halford's coming-out in the piece of music Hats Off to Halford ( Hats Off to Halford), which appeared on the album Making Love , (No Idea Records, 1999).

swell

1. ↑ Chart sources: DE AT CH US FI
2. ^ ^{A b} Bernard Perusse: Q&A with Rob Halford. (No longer available online.) The Montreal Gazette, Aug. 1, 2007, archived from the original on Oct. 12, 2007 ; accessed on May 11, 2015 . 
3. ↑ JUDAS PRIEST's ROB HALFORD Talks About His Back Surgery: 'It Was A Very, Very Difficult Time'. Blabbermouth.net , November 17, 2014, accessed May 4, 2015 . 
4. ^ Halford MySpace website

Web links

Commons : Rob Halford  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• Interview from Powermetal.de (07/2007)
• Interview by HardHarderHeavy.de (06/2008)