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
Awesome Topic, and Happy Birthday to the Metal God! I remember seeing Priest on the Screaming for Vengeance tour in KC with Iron Maiden Number of the Beast opening an amazing show!
Here is my list in no order.
Van Halen— 1
Kiss —-Rock and Roll all Over
Ozzy —Blizzard of OZ
Black Sabbath —Heaven and Hell
Led Zeppelin–II
AC/DC–Back in Black
Iron Maiden–Number of the Beast
SRV-In Step
Jerry Reed–Guitar Man
Rush–First Album
I really like the first two Sesame Street albums! Then all the K-Tel albums..
Yes I had a k tel album that was called Mind Bender
Not to mention Chipmunk Punk by The Chipmunks!
Happy Birthday Rob! You STILL RULE! I have 8 of the 10 you listed in my CD collection. Can’t resist listing the ones that got my motor runnin’. These started hitting me at ablout age 10…
Elton – Goodbye Yellow Brick Rd.
Kiss – Alive
Led Zep – IV
Aerosmith – Rocks
Yes – Fragile
BTO – Not Fragile (not trying to be funny, these are the actual album titles)
Van Halen – Van Halen
Queen – A Night at the Opera
Blue Oyster Cult – Agents of Fortune
Rush – 2112 (literaly bought this within HOURS of hearing for the first time!)
Thanks for your list Rob, love knowing what my favorite rockers got nutured on! A few years ago I went out and bought a live Frank Marino and Mahogony Rush CD simply because Eddie said Zakk said it was great. That’s good enough for me.
Come on Dana, Come on Eddie, join the party! 🙂
Let’s see your lists! 😉
Mine are ranked, come on guys, you have to bite the bullet and rank ’em.
1. Kiss Alive II
2. Screaming for Vengeance
3. Fair Warning
4. Mob Rules
5. SoZo
6. Elton John Greatest Hits Vol II
7. Abbey Road
8. Sabotage by Black Sabbath
9. Kiss Alive!
10. Are You Experienced?
My personaltop ten no order
1 maiden life after death
2 metallica ride the lighting
3 megadeath killing is my business
4 death angel act 1
5 Suicidal tendacies instatutionalize
6 scorpions world wide live
7 kiss alive
8 anthrax
9 ozzy blizzard of oz
10 slayer
SABOTAGE is number 1. The best album in music history. No band has ever sounded that perfect together before or since. The finest hour of the greatest four. Nothing comes close.
Richman, holy crap I almost got goose bumps, that is the greatest thing you’ve ever said. And, I totally get it, totally.
I’ve been saying it for years. The alpha and omega of heavy metal. From HOLE IN THE SKY to THE WRIT,it is unstoppable. Ozzy never sounded better, the riffs are in attack mode and Butler- Ward blow away any rhythm section ever. The CITIZEN KANE of all music. When I die. I want that playing.
Brilliant. I have this whole new respect for you.
That is my favorite Sabbath record. You are only the second person I’ve ever heard say how great that record is.