I can't get through Halfords book

[Don't Damn Me]

I love Rock bio's. All the KISS books, Don Felder put out a good one, I really liked KK's, too.

Priest is one of my favorite bands, and there is no question to Robs talent. Image-wise I always thought he was goofy. But he was lovable in a tongue and cheek way.

I don't like the lovable old queen image he portrays. All his stories of woe of rarely hooking up with dudes. Poor Rob. He focuses on it way too much in this book. And if there's any truth to the Janie Lane allegations, then you know there were others. It was so phony at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in front of a thousand people who likely didn't even know who he was. He says "I'm the gay guy in the group" and it was like the audience stopped and said "huh, what did he say?" And suddenly there's a slow almost apprehensive build of applause, and the dude gets a standing ovation. For being gay.
His book is more graphic sexually than KISS or David Lee Roth. Rob relays his sexual Conquests with a wink of the eye often told in puns. We're supposed to laugh with him. But between the lines the guy is a degenerate. Not for being gay, the promiscuity he alludes to is just gross. Still I love and respect the guy, I see priest every tour without fail and I love all the new material and I continue listening to the old.
I'm on the chapter where they're making Turbo and I get to hear about the synth guitars for the thousandth time. Is there anything worth hanging in there coming up later in the book?

[jens]

But between the lines the guy is a degenerate. Not for being gay, the promiscuity he alludes to is just gross.

You tried to hide it in blabla, but it's right there. You're just a homophobe.

[El Vampiro Blanco]

I think his whole book deal was contingent on the book being about him being gay.
The publisher decided that was the marketing angle to sell books on.
It's ridiculous, nobody back then gave two shits Rob was gay and no, it wasn't some big secret either.

[HueyRamone]

His promiscuity is gross? Oh yeah, lets hear it for Committed relationships, drugs and rock n roll!

[Don't Damn Me]

But between the lines the guy is a degenerate. Not for being gay, the promiscuity he alludes to is just gross.

You tried to hide it in blabla, but it's right there. You're just a homophobe.

Why would I try and hide it?
Yep it's right there. Clear as queer. I mean gay sex grosses me the f*** out, and gay pride parades look like they challenge the integrity that their Community demands they have, but I'll let a hot tranny sick my dick

[Don't Damn Me]

Anyway back on topic, Rob also says that he never felt any rivalry between Priest and Maiden, but I do recall reading interviews with Rob in like Hit Parader Magazine and he sounded jealous of iron maiden's, like he complained that Maiden reached the same level as priest but in half the time. And I remember seeing him say that Dave Murray ripped off KK's look.
I don't think Rob ever liked them. How is it in all these years they haven't had another tour together since that one in 1982? And Dickinsin blew Halford away as a frontman

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Haven't read the book... but, I can tell you Tuff are from Phx and all of the guys were already sharing / telling me stories about Halford back when I first joined the band.

There are actually a few photos floating around, from the EARLY 80's, like 1982 or 1983, and Halford is hanging out with a big crew of guys.

It's all of the name players from Phx, the Chaisson brothers (Greg, Kenny and Todd is also in the pics, who is like 15 or 16), guys from Surgical Steel and others.

Here is 1 of the pics > https://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/vi ... 4#p7828764

Greg & Kenny Chaisson (Badlands & Keel) are FAR left, Todd (Tuff) is FAR right. Also Jeff Martin (Racer X) and about 15 others, not sure of who everyone is.

Phx was a bit of a breeding grounds for Metal... bands like Flotsam & Jetsam and Sacred Ryche were from there too.

This was well before he went public with his "secret", but the guys all told me they had heard CRAZY stories of random local rockers being "taken advantage of" at his parties.

I honestly, do not think the Lane story is far-fetched, I believe it. I also think it happened when Jani first came out to L.A., well before he even joined Warrant.

$tEvil

[DangerZone]

And Dickinsin blew Halford

seriously?

[ALMOSTsaved]

My friends and I were all Priest fans back in the 80s. The older brother of one of my friends worked at a show in Biloxi, MS (not sure if it was the "Defenders" or the "Turbo" tour) and he told us a few days later that Rob was backstage hanging all over a Hispanic looking guy. We, of course, didn't believe it. It seemed like bullshit to us... It felt like it was a case of the big brother fucking with his little brother and his friends... That is, until years later when Halford came out.

[Rocker4Real]

The book is is called Confess. What is he confessing?

[sirthx2]

He didn't get a standing ovation for being gay, he got a standing ovation for being gay in a massively misogynistic line of work, and not only is he a member of that group, he's the GOD! Like being a black guy in the KKK and being their grand-wizard.

[Love_Industry]

Anyway back on topic, Rob also says that he never felt any rivalry between Priest and Maiden, but I do recall reading interviews with Rob in like Hit Parader Magazine and he sounded jealous of iron maiden's, like he complained that Maiden reached the same level as priest but in half the time. And I remember seeing him say that Dave Murray ripped off KK's look.

I'm pretty sure it was KK who called Maiden "Priest Ripoff Merchants" and that he has to "look twice at photos to see if Dave Murray is really me": Can't recall Rob saying anything about Maiden but KK did not like them for sure.

[MetalSludgeCEO]

My friends and I were all Priest fans back in the 80s. The older brother of one of my friends worked at a show in Biloxi, MS (not sure if it was the "Defenders" or the "Turbo" tour) and he told us a few days later that Rob was backstage hanging all over a Hispanic looking guy. We, of course, didn't believe it. It seemed like bullshit to us... It felt like it was a case of the big brother fucking with his little brother and his friends... That is, until years later when Halford came out.

""""""""""""Rob was backstage hanging all over a Hispanic looking guy.""""""""""""

Look at the photo I just shared, and notice the guy to Rob's immediate left. Not your average rocker guy either...

$tEvil

[MetalSludgeCEO]

No one can see it unless they’re a member of that KNAC Facebook group.

Here... try this... there are actually several pics... this guy's profile appears to be Public, I am not his friend and I can see them all!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 6686619556

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=101 ... 5173572261

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=101 ... 5793597262

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=101 ... 5793597262


Another guy sharing who I am not friends with, yet I can see.

https://www.facebook.com/glen.mancaruso ... VNimQzMPhl


Also, Michelle Siddigi shared a few... she used to run Slaughter's Fanclub, among other bands, etc...

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=858 ... 2156585695


$tEvil

[Don't Damn Me]

Haven't read the book... but, I can tell you Tuff are from Phx and all of the guys were already sharing / telling me stories about Halford back when I first joined the band.

There are actually a few photos floating around, from the EARLY 80's, like 1982 or 1983, and Halford is hanging out with a big crew of guys.

It's all of the name players from Phx, the Chaisson brothers (Greg, Kenny and Todd is also in the pics, who is like 15 or 16), guys from Surgical Steel and others.

Here is 1 of the pics > https://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/vi ... 4#p7828764

Greg & Kenny Chaisson (Badlands & Keel) are FAR left, Todd (Tuff) is FAR right. Also Jeff Martin (Racer X) and about 15 others, not sure of who everyone is.

Phx was a bit of a breeding grounds for Metal... bands like Flotsam & Jetsam and Sacred Ryche were from there too.

This was well before he went public with his "secret", but the guys all told me they had heard CRAZY stories of random local rockers being "taken advantage of" at his parties.

I honestly, do not think the Lane story is far-fetched, I believe it. I also think it happened when Jani first came out to L.A., well before he even joined Warrant.

$tEvil

Yeah in the book Rob talks about getting a place there and hanging out with his friends that included Surgical Steel. And how he spent a year hanging out with this one guy in particular among them waiting for some action and getting frustrated and sad. At least twice he talks about being surprised that someone he was with turned out to be underage.
Here's what I was told, that the alleged incident happened when Jani was in Warrant but early on, before they were on a label. He was excited when he told them that he spent the night in a hotel with Rob Halford ( and some other dude allegedly). The Warrant guys thought it was cool but a little weird So maybe he was so jazzed he had not yet realized that he'd be had been abused.

I could tell you something that's not alleged. I was front row at priest on the turbo tour 1986, I mean right up at the barrier and there was this stocky muscular kid next to me and Rob kept waving the kid up on stage and each time the kid would get on top of the barrier but be waved down by security. I didn't understand why Rob wasn't waving me up too

[Don't Damn Me]

He didn't get a standing ovation for being gay, he got a standing ovation for being gay in a massively misogynistic line of work, and not only is he a member of that group, he's the GOD! Like being a black guy in the KKK and being their grand-wizard.

Oh please give me a break. He literally had to say that he was the gay guy in the group to get that slow starting applause going.

Is someone a hero for not being misogynistic? Wow what world do you live in. I don't kill kittens. Give me a standing ovation

[ALMOSTsaved]

My friends and I were all Priest fans back in the 80s. The older brother of one of my friends worked at a show in Biloxi, MS (not sure if it was the "Defenders" or the "Turbo" tour) and he told us a few days later that Rob was backstage hanging all over a Hispanic looking guy. We, of course, didn't believe it. It seemed like bullshit to us... It felt like it was a case of the big brother fucking with his little brother and his friends... That is, until years later when Halford came out.

""""""""""""Rob was backstage hanging all over a Hispanic looking guy.""""""""""""

Look at the photo I just shared, and notice the guy to Rob's immediate left. Not your average rocker guy either...

$tEvil

I did see that. Back in the day we were so used to my friend's brother trying to fuck with us that we paid him no attention about his claims of the "Hispanic" guy Rob was hanging on. We finally believed him when Rob came out of the closet. This photo (and the guy to Rob's left) reminded me of that entire scenario.

[HueyRamone]

Anyway back on topic, Rob also says that he never felt any rivalry between Priest and Maiden, but I do recall reading interviews with Rob in like Hit Parader Magazine and he sounded jealous of iron maiden's, like he complained that Maiden reached the same level as priest but in half the time. And I remember seeing him say that Dave Murray ripped off KK's look.

I'm pretty sure it was KK who called Maiden "Priest Ripoff Merchants" and that he has to "look twice at photos to see if Dave Murray is really me": Can't recall Rob saying anything about Maiden but KK did not like them for sure.

yeah, this. KK was always trying to get Maiden thrown off their tours.

Rob said somewhere that he wanted to fuck Paul Dianno!!

[GoodJudge]

These guys seem to think people care about stupid shit when they do their books.

Bruce Dickinson’s book was as much about planes and flying as it was about Iron Maiden. Halford’s is mostly about his love life. Paul Stanley’s is about his ear and his horrible parents and Dan Ackroyd stealing his girlfriend. Alice Cooper had big sections about golfing technique in it, I didn’t even read Adrian Smith’s but isn’t it about fishing?

Would it be too much for them to talk about the thing that made them famous and do a chapter on every album and at least a few paragraphs about every song? Tony Iommi and Geezer at least did that a little bit. I doubt Ozzy talked about music at all in his, I remember he all he said about Jake was that he had joined the band and later he said he had left the band. Pathetic.

Bruce's book had a short paragraph at the back saying something like "I didn't write about the sex'n'drugs out of respect for my family". But everyone knows he did it, including his family.

With Rob, he's more famous outside metal for being "that gay metal guy" and maybe the publisher thought they'd get some crossover sales as Priest fans would buy it anyway.

[Don't Damn Me]

Anyway back on topic, Rob also says that he never felt any rivalry between Priest and Maiden, but I do recall reading interviews with Rob in like Hit Parader Magazine and he sounded jealous of iron maiden's, like he complained that Maiden reached the same level as priest but in half the time. And I remember seeing him say that Dave Murray ripped off KK's look.

I'm pretty sure it was KK who called Maiden "Priest Ripoff Merchants" and that he has to "look twice at photos to see if Dave Murray is really me": Can't recall Rob saying anything about Maiden but KK did not like them for sure.

yeah, this. KK was always trying to get Maiden thrown off their tours.

Rob said somewhere that he wanted to fuck Paul Dianno!!

Rob said in his book that he hit on Paul in a motel room while the two bands were on tour together and nothing came of it. But Paul era Maiden never toured with Priest. I can see Paul getting wasted and falling prey, though

[Wiseacre]

He didn't get a standing ovation for being gay, he got a standing ovation for being gay in a massively misogynistic line of work, and not only is he a member of that group, he's the GOD! Like being a black guy in the KKK and being their grand-wizard.

Oh please give me a break. He literally had to say that he was the gay guy in the group to get that slow starting applause going.

Is someone a hero for not being misogynistic? Wow what world do you live in. I don't kill kittens. Give me a standing ovation

Metal is so “misogynistic” (which actually means a dislike for women and not gay guys, BTW) and “homophobic” (which really means a dislike or disapproval of homosexual behavior and not “fear” of it) that exactly ZERO fans stopped liking Priest when Rob “came out”. Not that it was any huge surprise by then. Just like no one dislikes Queen because of Freddie who is widely hailed as the GOAT. Just like no one dislikes Elton John because of his sexuality or Bowie or Jagger or Lennon or…

[Love_Industry]

I'm pretty sure it was KK who called Maiden "Priest Ripoff Merchants" and that he has to "look twice at photos to see if Dave Murray is really me": Can't recall Rob saying anything about Maiden but KK did not like them for sure.

yeah, this. KK was always trying to get Maiden thrown off their tours.

Rob said somewhere that he wanted to fuck Paul Dianno!!

Rob said in his book that he hit on Paul in a motel room while the two bands were on tour together and nothing came of it. But Paul era Maiden never toured with Priest. I can see Paul getting wasted and falling prey, though

Not in the US but I think they did some shows in Europe in 1981 together. Probably before Killers, I think Accept opened on the late 81 Priest tour.

[Wednesday 13 Fan]

Haven't read the book... but, I can tell you Tuff are from Phx and all of the guys were already sharing / telling me stories about Halford back when I first joined the band.

There are actually a few photos floating around, from the EARLY 80's, like 1982 or 1983, and Halford is hanging out with a big crew of guys.

It's all of the name players from Phx, the Chaisson brothers (Greg, Kenny and Todd is also in the pics, who is like 15 or 16), guys from Surgical Steel and others.

Here is 1 of the pics > https://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/vi ... 4#p7828764

Greg & Kenny Chaisson (Badlands & Keel) are FAR left, Todd (Tuff) is FAR right. Also Jeff Martin (Racer X) and about 15 others, not sure of who everyone is.

Phx was a bit of a breeding grounds for Metal... bands like Flotsam & Jetsam and Sacred Ryche were from there too.

This was well before he went public with his "secret", but the guys all told me they had heard CRAZY stories of random local rockers being "taken advantage of" at his parties.

I honestly, do not think the Lane story is far-fetched, I believe it. I also think it happened when Jani first came out to L.A., well before he even joined Warrant.

$tEvil

The Warrant guys thought it was cool but a little weird So maybe he was so jazzed he had not yet realized that he'd be had been abused.

People tend to notice things like an unwanted dick in their ass.

[Ryan81]

I'm a huge Priest fan. They may very well be my overall all-time favorite band and I've always thought Halford was great. However, I couldn't get far into his book because of how much it talked about him being gay. That is just something I have no interest in whatsoever. If he was talking about women I'd have no problem at all with it. So even though I don't give a shit what other people do or who they prefer to hump, I guess technically I'm homophobic. I think guys cornholing eachother is disgusting and I don't want to see it or hear about it, but I would never say they shouldn't be allowed to do it. Not that anybody asked.

Also, as others have said, I believe K.K. was the main one who didn't like Maiden. I remember him saying he was pissed when Maiden came in and watched part of one of their (Priest's) rehearsals. Also, in the 90's there was an issue of Guitar World that did a joint interview with Glenn & K.K. and Dave & I think at this point it was Janick and K.K. was kind of rude to the Maiden guys.

All that being said...has their ever been a guitar player that made it look as easy as Tipton did? When you watch his solos (almost all of which are amazing) it looks like he is barely moving his hands. I don't know how he does it, but it's always blown me away to watch. That was something that you can say about Glenn & K.K, they always were improving and keeping up with what was happening in the guitar universe. They deserved more credit than they got.

[Don't Damn Me]

Haven't read the book... but, I can tell you Tuff are from Phx and all of the guys were already sharing / telling me stories about Halford back when I first joined the band.

There are actually a few photos floating around, from the EARLY 80's, like 1982 or 1983, and Halford is hanging out with a big crew of guys.

It's all of the name players from Phx, the Chaisson brothers (Greg, Kenny and Todd is also in the pics, who is like 15 or 16), guys from Surgical Steel and others.

Here is 1 of the pics > https://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/vi ... 4#p7828764

Greg & Kenny Chaisson (Badlands & Keel) are FAR left, Todd (Tuff) is FAR right. Also Jeff Martin (Racer X) and about 15 others, not sure of who everyone is.

Phx was a bit of a breeding grounds for Metal... bands like Flotsam & Jetsam and Sacred Ryche were from there too.

This was well before he went public with his "secret", but the guys all told me they had heard CRAZY stories of random local rockers being "taken advantage of" at his parties.

I honestly, do not think the Lane story is far-fetched, I believe it. I also think it happened when Jani first came out to L.A., well before he even joined Warrant.

$tEvil

The Warrant guys thought it was cool but a little weird So maybe he was so jazzed he had not yet realized that he'd be had been abused.

People tend to notice things like an unwanted dick in their ass.

Not if they're passed out. And they're wondering why they're shitting blood the next day

[ijwthstd]

According to my friend who works at the publisher


"I didn’t work on Halford’s book, thankfully. I hear it’s been tough work!"

[Velvis]

These guys seem to think people care about stupid shit when they do their books.

Bruce Dickinson’s book was as much about planes and flying as it was about Iron Maiden. Halford’s is mostly about his love life. Paul Stanley’s is about his ear and his horrible parents and Dan Ackroyd stealing his girlfriend. Alice Cooper had big sections about golfing technique in it, I didn’t even read Adrian Smith’s but isn’t it about fishing?

Would it be too much for them to talk about the thing that made them famous and do a chapter on every album and at least a few paragraphs about every song? Tony Iommi and Geezer at least did that a little bit. I doubt Ozzy talked about music at all in his, I remember he all he said about Jake was that he had joined the band and later he said he had left the band. Pathetic.

It's almost like these people have real lives and interests besides the recording of a b side song from 43 years ago. Weird.

[Velvis]

He didn't get a standing ovation for being gay, he got a standing ovation for being gay in a massively misogynistic line of work, and not only is he a member of that group, he's the GOD! Like being a black guy in the KKK and being their grand-wizard.

Oh please give me a break. He literally had to say that he was the gay guy in the group to get that slow starting applause going.

Is someone a hero for not being misogynistic? Wow what world do you live in. I don't kill kittens. Give me a standing ovation

Metal is so “misogynistic” (which actually means a dislike for women and not gay guys, BTW) and “homophobic” (which really means a dislike or disapproval of homosexual behavior and not “fear” of it) that exactly ZERO fans stopped liking Priest when Rob “came out”. Not that it was any huge surprise by then. Just like no one dislikes Queen because of Freddie who is widely hailed as the GOAT. Just like no one dislikes Elton John because of his sexuality or Bowie or Jagger or Lennon or…

I doubt that to be the case. There are a lot of assholes out there. I am sure there are plenty of people who stopped being fans or avoid an artist because they are gay. To think those people don't exist is ridiculous. I have no doubt JP would never have been as successful if Rob came out back in the 70s.

[LitaStrauss]

I honestly, do not think the Lane story is far-fetched, I believe it. I also think it happened when Jani first came out to L.A., well before he even joined Warrant.

$tEvil

That timeline makes sense as Halford got sober in 1986, and Jani came to LA sometime before that. I'm gonna assume once Rob got sober that he stopped drugging and raping guys, not that there was any excuse for that when he was on drugs and drinking.

[Wiseacre]

Oh please give me a break. He literally had to say that he was the gay guy in the group to get that slow starting applause going.

Is someone a hero for not being misogynistic? Wow what world do you live in. I don't kill kittens. Give me a standing ovation

Metal is so “misogynistic” (which actually means a dislike for women and not gay guys, BTW) and “homophobic” (which really means a dislike or disapproval of homosexual behavior and not “fear” of it) that exactly ZERO fans stopped liking Priest when Rob “came out”. Not that it was any huge surprise by then. Just like no one dislikes Queen because of Freddie who is widely hailed as the GOAT. Just like no one dislikes Elton John because of his sexuality or Bowie or Jagger or Lennon or…

I doubt that to be the case. There are a lot of assholes out there. I am sure there are plenty of people who stopped being fans or avoid an artist because they are gay. To think those people don't exist is ridiculous. I have no doubt JP would never have been as successful if Rob came out back in the 70s.

Well, I know a LOT of Priest fans who are guy’s guys and no one gave a shit. Most of us heard rumors for years and it wasn’t all that hard to believe when Rob so bravely “came out”. Of course there are probably SOME haters, but I don’t know of a single person who was like “fuck this gay shit and this band”. Not one. Same for Queen. It just was never as big a deal as some people want to make it out to be. Not by the ‘70s and ‘80s anyway.

Again, it didn’t stop Bowie, Jagger, Freddie or countless other gender-bending rockers. That music was always about androgyny and blurring the lines. Hell, how many people thought Paul Stanley was or is gay? It don’t stop anyone from loving KISS. As for Priest, next to no one knew about Rob or Priest in the ‘70s anyway. By the time anyone even caught wind of them he was dressing like the doorman at a gay biker club and exactly like one of the village people.

There were guys like DLR and Billy Squire too who everyone talked about (even BEFORE “that” video). There were even guys in the thrash world that were rumored to be gay or bi. People may have been like “that dude is gay?” But it didn’t stop anyone from liking their music.