“Giddy” isn’t a phrase typically tossed about in heavy metallic circles, however that’s just about how Rob Halford, lead singer of Judas Priest, says he felt when he acquired to fulfill — and sing with — fellow legend Dolly Parton when she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame final 12 months. When approached with the supply to carry out alongside her throughout the ceremony, Halford was shocked. “I’m like, ‘Let me sit down for a minute,’” he advised Total Rock’s Dawn Osborne of the unforgettable second that led to him being requested to contribute to the nation queen’s Rockstar album, which dropped on Nov. 17.
“I was over the top, cause I was all over [her] like a rash. I was, like, a total fanboy,” Halford shared of his heady state following their group efficiency, which additionally featured Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, P!nk and Annie Lennox.
Things acquired much more surreal for the rocker when he was approached to collaborate on Rockstar, which was simply in its planning phases at that time. He, in fact, jumped on the supply and “Bygones,” one of many CD’s 9 authentic tracks, was born.
“It is one of my very favorites on the whole album,” Dolly Parton says of the hard-rocking monitor, on which Rob Halford sings whereas Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx and John 5 play guitar. “The song fits with so many couples, and coupling my voice with Rob, one of my all-time favorites, made it even more special,” the Nashville icon added.
Related: Dolly Parton Dishes on the Best Duets From Her New Album ‘Rockstar’
True to type, for the 2 consummate performers, the track is incomes raves. “Our Metal God and the Queen of Country sound fantastic together, trading lines over a dark, brooding verse that builds with energy before their two voices inevitably intertwine over a catchy, soaring chorus,” raves Loudwire, including that “it’s downright fun and irresistibly catchy, just the way rock should be.” Vulture, in the meantime, dubs Dolly a “Judas Priestess” and hails it as a “headbanger of a track that wouldn’t be out of place on British Steel,” Judas Priest’s iconic 1980 album that featured the classics “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight.”
When “Bygones” was launched in June, the head-banging tune impressively and deservedly debuted at No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock Songs chart.
“I am so excited to see the response ‘Bygones’ is receiving,” Parton posted on-line in pleasure. “To debut at No. 1 on the Rock charts is such a thrill for me, and it makes it even sweeter to share this with Rob, Nikki and John 5.”
The metallic icing on the cake for Halford was that the inventive and recording course of with the music legend didn’t disappoint. “She is the epitome of just being so beautiful and pure. Everything you know about that woman, she’s like that 24-7. I don’t think she ever takes her wig off,” Halford quipped. “She’s incredible; she’s absolutely incredible.”
Rob Halford altering the picture of metallic
The British-born Halford has proved that he’s additionally fairly unimaginable. In reality, the icon additionally acquired Musical Excellence honors from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 alongside together with his bandmates in Judas Priest, the metallic outfit that was shaped in 1969. And in 2010, he and the band took home the Grammy for Best Metal Performance for his or her single “Dissident Aggressor.”
Nicknamed “Metal God” by followers and recognized for his penchant for leather-based, studs, tattoos and bikes (he’s even rides one onstage at each present), Halford, 72, is without doubt one of the most revered performers in his style. He’s hailed for his mind-blowing vocal prowess he’s displayed all through his 50-plus 12 months profession, “when many of his peers and even younger shriekers blew theirs out eons ago,” as famous by the Observer web site.
As Alice Cooper raved of Halford’s four-octave vary when Cooper inducted the band into the Hall, “What can you say about Rob Halford’s voice? Is there any emotion that he can’t express, a note that he can’t hit? Or one that he can’t hold seemingly forever? He is simply one of the greatest singers in heavy metal industry.”
Halford’s additional revolutionized the rock world when, in 1998, he bravely got here out and spoke about his homosexuality, changing into the primary brazenly homosexual heavy metallic musician. As he defined to Louder’s Metal Hammer, he’d felt remoted for years resulting from his sexuality, however reduction got here when he discovered the braveness to be true to himself, which has impressed others. “I know it’s a little bit easier now, but it’s still tough, especially in the world of heavy metal. Although, that said, I like to think I’ve exploded that particular myth.”
He can take pleasure for the change he’s making within the business. When he matter-of-factly famous “Hello, I’m the gay guy in the band” throughout Judas Priests’ acceptance speech on the Hall of Fame, the viewers erupted in an enthusiastic spherical of applause. “You see, that there is what heavy metal is all about,” he continued. “We call ourselves the heavy metal community, which is all-inclusive: It doesn’t matter what your sexual identity is, what you look like, the color of your skin, the faith that you believe — or don’t believe in. Everybody’s welcome.”
Overcoming dependancy and provoking others
The musician has additionally been refreshingly open about his battles with drug and alcohol dependancy, and he’s even addressed psychological well being struggles. “For many years, we glossed over those parts of what goes on in our industry,” he advised NBC News in 2020 of why he feels strongly in being clear. “In recent times, it’s been very apparent the issues that we have to deal with in rock ’n’ roll, whether it’s booze or drugs or some kind of mental issue. We’re losing beautiful people.”
Related: These Dolly Parton Quotes on Joy and Perseverance Will Inspire You
He himself tried a drug-related suicide in 1985 throughout a very turbulent interval, which he chronicled in his uncooked and revealing 2020 autobiography, Confess. Fortunately, a buddy was capable of rush him to a hospital, saving his life. A 1986 stint in rehab helped him kick his addictions for good, permitting him to concentrate on his life, his musical facet initiatives (Fight, 2two, and Halford), attention-grabbing collaborations (with the likes of Five Finger Death Punch, Parton and extra), and maybe one different uncommon ardour: cats!
Halford shares his coronary heart for furry felines
A go to to his Facebook or Instagram pages reveals the Metal God’s fascination with fabulous felines. The heavy metallic rocker with a coronary heart of catnip has confirmed to be an lively supporter of Los Angeles’ Kitten Rescue organization, donating signed shirts and different merchandise with cat and metallic art work on it to lift money for the volunteer-run nonprofit and the cats and kitties they undertake out.
And he typically takes to social media asking followers to “post your kittens and critters” the place 1000’s share pictures of their beloved pets.
“They’re beautiful creatures,” Halford, a multi-cat pet proprietor, advised the Cobras & Fire podcast. “I think the reason why we like ’em in our metal community is because they’re fiercely independent. You think you know your cat, [but] the cat knows you better than you do. And they’re so full of character and knocking things off the shelf and looking at you as if to say, ‘Look what I can do.’ But I love ’em for that.”
In April 2022, he even stepped as much as identify an consumption of stray kittens at Kitten Rescue, bestowing upon them Judas Priest-inspired names reminiscent of Turbo (after the track “Turbo Lover”), Angel (for “Angel of Retribution”) and Mama Rose (for “Last Rose of Summer”), amongst others. “Check out this bunch of hellions I have christened in metal!” he posted on-line to assist increase funds for the organization and to assist get the cats adopted.
And in September 2023, Halford — together with Guns N’ Rose’s Slash, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and others — donated objects to be auctioned off at Kitten Rescue’s fifteenth Annual Fur Ball Charity Event, which went on to lift greater than $160,000.
No marvel why Dolly Parton discovered Rob Halford to be the purrfect duet accomplice for her foray into rock!
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