Confess: The Autobiography
Ratings5
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings5
Average rating4.2
The legendary frontman of Judas Priest, one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time, celebrates five decades of heavy metal in this tell-all memoir. Most priests hear confessions. This one is making his. Rob Halford, front man of global iconic metal band Judas Priest, is a true "Metal God." Raised in Britain's hard-working, heavy industrial heartland, he and his music were forged in the Black Country. Confess, his full autobiography, is an unforgettable rock 'n' roll story-a journey from a Walsall council estate to musical fame via alcoholism, addiction, police cells, ill-fated sexual trysts, and bleak personal tragedy, through to rehab, coming out, redemption . . . and finding love. Now, he is telling his gospel truth. Told with Halford's trademark self-deprecating, deadpan Black Country humor, Confess is the story of an extraordinary five decades in the music industry. It is also the tale of unlikely encounters with everybody from Superman to Andy Warhol, Madonna, Jack Nicholson, and the Queen. More than anything else, it's a celebration of the fire and power of heavy metal. Rob Halford has decided to Confess. Because it's good for the soul. Named one of the Best Music Books of 2020 by Rolling Stone and Kirkus Reviews
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The memoir of a gay man who became a Metal God
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million copies of their albums. And are often ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative body of work in the latter half of the 1970s, the band had struggled early on. They had indifferent record production and a lack of major commercial success until 1980. After this time they rose to commercial success with the album British Steel.
The band's membership has seen a lot of turnover. This included a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s and the departure of singer Rob Halford in 1992. The American singer Tim “Ripper” Owens replaced Rob in 1996. The band then went on to record two albums with Judas Priest, before Halford returned to the band in 2003. The current line-up consists of:
. Rob Halford,
. guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner,
. bassist Ian Hill, and
. drummer Scott Travis.
K. K. Downing left the group in 2011.
I read Rob's book at the same time as KK's autobiography. This allowed me to get both authors recounting the band from their different perspectives.
Out of everything they've achieved both of them tell the story of when Rob pooped in an envelope in the back of a van. At any rate, in Rob's book you get the honest memoir of a gay man who lived a full (and now sober life) as a ‘Metal God'. He describes his personal struggles in parallel to the public successes. Contrast this with KK's big book of grievances. All the way through his book KK discusses the band dynamic. Especially when Glenn joined then took a leadership role. A role that Ken could not replicate. Although he clearly resented it. Rob simply covers in Confess this by saying there was lots of bickering between the two guitarists. Pity it took a book to get everything out in the open. KK also covers his strained relationship with the latter-day band's manager, Jayne Andrews.
In summary, unlike Confess where Rob covers all his inner struggles, KK's book is not a deep dive into the core of what makes him tick. He comes across as an easy going, working class bloke who is passionate about Heavy Metal and Judas Priest.
Thoroughly enjoyed them both.
