Rob Halford
| Rob Halford | |
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Rob Halford in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert John Arthur Halford |
| Born |
25 August 1951 Sutton Coldfield, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | robhalford |
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford (born 25 August 1951) is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice. AllMusic says of Halford: "There have been few vocalists in the history of heavy metal whose singing style has been as influential and instantly recognizable", possessing a voice which is "able to effortlessly alternate between a throaty growl and an ear-splitting falsetto". Halford was voted number 33 in the greatest voices in rock by Planet Rock listeners in 2009. In addition to his work with Judas Priest, he has been involved with several side projects, including Fight, 2wo and Halford. In 1998, he came out as gay in an interview with MTV news making him the first openly gay singer in mainstream heavy metal music.
Halford was born in Sutton Coldfield, but raised in Walsall, a town to the northwest of Birmingham in England's West Midlands. His early influences included soul screamers, such as Little Richard, Janis Joplin and Robert Plant. He sang for numerous bands including Athens Wood, Abraxas, Thark and Hiroshima.
Halford was introduced to co-founding Judas Priest member Ian Hill by his sister who was dating Hill at the time. Halford, a former cinema manager, joined the band as singer, bringing with him drummer John Hinch from his previous band, Hiroshima. In August 1974, the band debuted with the single "Rocka Rolla", before releasing an album of the same name a month later. The next albums were Sad Wings of Destiny (1976); 1977's Sin After Sin; and 1978's Stained Class and Killing Machine (released in America as Hell Bent for Leather). This point heralded the first style change when Halford (and Priest) shifted from gothic style robes to a leather and studs image. 1979 brought their first live recording with the now classic Unleashed in the East.
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