Rob Halford Guest Appearances

They call Rob Halford the “Metal God” for a reason. His high-pitched shriek and biker persona set the precedent for future metal singers. Many have tried to imitate Halford’s unique style but invariably fall short. Fortunately, the Judas Priest vocalist has freely lent his signature vocals to bands new and old. Enjoy the following guest appearances of the inimitable Rob Halford!

SKID ROW – DELIVERING THE GOODS

Skid Row used the occasion of B-Sides to record cover versions of their favorite songs. “Delivering the Goods” may be the most memorable thanks to a guest vocalist by Rob Halford. In 1992, the Metal God joined Skid Row for a blistering rendition of the Judas Priest classic. The stunning live performance was broadcast on MTV.

KROKUS – READY TO BURN

Krokus may not be a familiar name in the current music landscape but they have been putting out albums since 1976. Although their 1980 record went quadruple platinum in Switzerland, Krokus was largely unknown in the United States. That changed in 1983 when the band received their first gold album with Headhunter. Success was achieved through the strength of song writing. Still, a guest appearance from Rob Halford didn’t hurt sales. Side One was closed out with “Ready to Burn.” Judas Priest fans will surely recognize a familiar voice during the chorus!

HEAR ‘N AID

Ethiopia was stricken with a deadly famine between 1983-1985. American entertainers were quick to help. Charity singles “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and “We Are the World” raised money to provide relief. Both songs were massively successful thanks to the involvement of pop artists.

Members of Dio noticed a distinct lack of metal musicians in both projects. Ronnie James Dio organized Hear ‘N Aid: a charity project consisting of heavy metal royalty. Like Band Aid and USA For Africa, all proceeds went to provide famine relief.

In May of 1985, prominent metal musicians descended upon A&M Studios to record the song “Stars.” Members of Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P., Twisted Sister, and even Spinal Tap were just a fraction of major acts that contributed. Dio shared lead vocals with the singers of Quiet Riot, Blue Oyster Cult, Y&T, Queensryche, Rough Cutt, Dokken…..and of course, JUDAS PRIEST!

BLACK SABBATH – DIO ERA

Black Sabbath were enjoying a resurgence in 1992 thanks to a reunion with Ronnie James Dio. Meanwhile, Ozzy Osbourne announced his retirement. Black Sabbath was booked to open the final dates of his “No More Tours” tour.

The bill was a dream concert for metal fans. Lead singer Ronnie James Dio felt differently. Seeing the shows as a ploy to reunite with Ozzy, Dio expressed his discomfort. When those concerns fell on deaf ears, Ronnie quit Black Sabbath: leaving the band without a vocalist.

Who could possibly replace a powerhouse vocalist like Ronnie James Dio? It would take a Metal God to save the day. Fortunately for ticket holders, THE Metal God was available. Rob Halford stepped in to front Black Sabbath for a pair of historic concerts.

BULLRING BRUMMIES – THE WIZARD

Rob Halford almost fronted Black Sabbath again for the tribute album Nativity in Black. Contractual obligations prevented Tony Iommi from participating in the session. Doom legend Wino was tapped to play guitar along with Fight guitarist Brian Tilse. With Bill Ward and Geezer Butler recreating the Sabbath foundation, Rob Halford lent his signature voice to “The Wizard.”

MAN ON THE SILVER MOUNTAIN

In 2014, some of the biggest names in metal paid tribute to a fallen icon. Ronnie James Dio – This Is Your Life presented a collection of cover songs from every era of Dio’s life. Rob Halford participated in a rousing rendition of the Rainbow classic, “Man on the Silver Mountain.”

PANTERA – LIGHT COMES OUT OF BLACK

Buffy the Vampire Slayer released an eclectic soundtrack to promote the 1992 film. The disc may have been ignored by metal fans if not for the union of Pantera and Rob Halford. “Light Comes Out of Black” closed out the soundtrack on a high note!

The collaboration was not limited to the recording studio. Rob Halford was known to join Pantera on stage.

UGLY KID JOE – GODDAMN DEVIL

Ugly Kid Joe’s debut EP yielded the band a massive hit thanks to MTV. Expectations were high when releasing their follow-up record. Rob Halford was willing to help keep momentum going. Rather than steal the show from singer Witfield Crane, Halford limited his contributions to backing vocals. Still, Rob’s unmistakable wail is clearly audible in the track “Goddamn Devil.”

SACRED REICH – RAPID FIRE

Thrash fans rejoiced when landmark albums Ignorance and Surf Nicaragua were reissued. Even IF your vintage vinyl retained its gloss, buying the new 3-disc box set was mandatory to own exclusive bonus tracks. The holy grail of this extra material was a recording of Sacred Reich performing Judas Priest’s “Rapid Fire” with Rob Halford on vocals.

BLACK SABBATH – OZZY ERA

Rob Halford had saved Black Sabbath in 1992 by stepping in for Ronnie James Dio. In 2004, Halford fronted Sabbath again, this time to cover for an ailing Ozzy. Both bands were touring with the Ozzfest festival. When Osbourne succumbed to bronchitis, it was clear that only one man could save the day. Rob Halford resumed his role as Sabbath savior, this time exclusively performing Ozzy-era material.