When asked by MusicRadar which ten albums changed his life, his list included Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and the Beatles.
His top pick was Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Halford said, “Listening to this music at the time it was being made is something I’ll never forget. Simply because of the sheer audacity of this extraordinary guitar player and artist. He made the room light up so vividly. To listen to the sounds that he made with the electric guitar was unbelievably special.
Things were changing at this time. The music in general was getting louder. Marshall amps were being made, speaker cabinets were being used – everything was getting bigger, louder, more impactful. I think Jimi had something to do with that.”
He also praised Led Zeppelin II, describing it as the “roots of heavy metal.” Halford explained, “When I heard the riffs that Jimmy was doing, I got a real sense of where things were going. Even though Led Zeppelin never expressed, ‘We’ve got some heavy metal in us,’ it’s quite apparent that it was there all along.
The riffage and the way they played live – they were a bit like Cream on steroids. John Bonham smashed those drums, and along with the powerful musicianship of Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, they made a sound that was simply incredible. And then you’ve got Robert Plant, screaming and wailing in a way we’d never heard before. Led Zeppelin were such an important band.”
He continued, “The music that touches you in your youth is magnified as you get older. Each record can be a virtual time machine – all you need is to hear a second or two and you go back to that place and time when you first heard it. It’s a brilliant feeling when music touches you so profoundly and stays with you through time.”
The 10 records that changed Rob Halford’s life:
1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland
2. Cream – Disraeli Gears
3. The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
4. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II
5. David Bowie – The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
6. King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King
7. The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out
8. John Mayall – Blues From Laurel Canyon
9. Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
10. Queen – Queen
Also, Happy Birthday to the Metal God who celebrates his 63rd year today (August 25th). Judas Priest’s Redeemer of Souls was released on July 8th through Epic Records.
additional source: classicrockmagazine.com
73 Responses
Happy Birthday to the nicest guy in metal,
The Metal God, Rob Halford. Cheers! 🙂
I agree. The 2 nicest guys in rock I ever met were Rob and Brian May. Class acts. Rob just got off the stage after giving it his all for 90 minutes and he comes out all smiles. “Who wants to take a photo? Who would like an autograph?” 1988, I’ll never forget it and I always tell people about what a cool guy he is. Unlike Paul Stanley, who after a solo gig in 1989 runs past the 12 people waiting outside in the cold for an hour and onto the bus. No wave, no hello, no apology. Just thanks for the money and off I go. THAT I share with people as well. Gene Simmons? The 3rd nicest guy in rock I ever met. he appreciates the fans very much, and is sincerely vocal about it. he gets it. I do not agree with all of his views or decisions, but he was super the 2 times I met him, in and out of costume. patient and funny.
You know what’s interesting, I just realized Gene’s birthday was also on the 25th, and nobody mentioned it, maybe Gene really has alienated everybody! Well, even with all your faults, bad choice of words and so on, happy belated birthday gene, and many more! 🙂
My fave of the bunch – Queen 1, Side 1, first 3 tunes
Ten that changed my life, in no particular order:
KISS – Alive
Aerosmith – Rocks
Ted Nugent – Double Live Gonzo
Van Halen – Van Halen
AC/DC – Powerage
Scorpions – Tokyo Tapes and then Lovedrive
Judas Priest – Stained Class
Boston – Boston
Montrose – Montrose
Cheap Trick – Heaven Tonight
Excellent list! might I add, Led Zeppelin – 1-4, Deep Purple – Made In Japan 🙂
Cheap Trick and Meat Loaf made a huge impression on me in 1977-78. i remember the first Time I heard Van Halen in 78 coming from this guys car cranked to the Max next to a football field I was playing at and thinking who is playing that guitar.
Great list Doug. Since you posted your list, I’ll post mine, also in no particular order:
Savatage, Sirens
Judas Priest, Point Of Entry (not my favorite Priest album, but it literally saved my life)
Iron Maiden, Killers
Ozzy Osbourne, Diary Of A Madman
Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell
Kiss, Creatures Of The Night
Van Halen, Fair Warning
Metallica, Ride The Lightning
Def Leppard, High And Dry
Scorpions, Lovedrive (the original album cover is the greatest album cover ever)
Awesome list James! Totally agree with Diary of a Madman, Heaven and Hell and High and Dry. Picking just 10 is hard.
No kidding, picking just 10 is brutal. I don’t know how Eddie, Don and Jim do lists and only pick 5! I couldn’t do that, it’d be way too hard.
Some really great selections, James and Doug!
Does he ever swat anyone with that whip?
Don’t go there, lol.
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss….ssss.
Great list! Love it!! Just pure rock n roll!!