11 Facts You May or May Not Know About Rob Halford

Rob Halford is often known as "The Metal God". He's the vocalist for legendary British metal band Judas Priest. There are things that people may or may not know about him. According to the people at Loudwire.com, here are 11 facts you may or may not know about Rob Halford. Also, if you want to know more about him, read his book Confess. Heads up, if you do read his book, be forewarned. He does not hold back on what it's like being a gay man. He will be honest about being in relationships with men and his battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

11. Motorcycles on stage were dangerous

-During the final show of Judas Priest's 1990 Painkiller tour, Rob Halford, as always, rode his motorcycle out to sing "Hell Bent for Leather". He was knocked off of his bike because of a misplaced prop. He suffered a broken nose and was knocked unconscious, which caused him to miss the final song of what would be his final show with Judas Priest for more than 10 years

10. While fully sober, sang a song about drugs with Queens of The Stone Age

-While being a former drug / alcohol addict, Halford got himself clean and sober in 1986. He feels like it was a cry for help, because he was struggling with his closeted homosexuality. He said getting sober gave him a "great sense of empowerment and strength". Of course, he ended up singing along with Queens of The Stone Age on their 2000 song "Feel Good Hit of the Summer", which references various vices

9. Sang for Black Sabbath...twice

-Two different occasions seen him fronting the fellow British metal legends Black Sabbath. First in 1992, he sang two concerts with them when Ronnie James Dio refused to open for Ozzy as a solo act and in 2004 when Ozzy was sick

8. Got shoved around by Mickey Rourke

-Halford had a small part in the 2002 independent film Spun. He played a clerk in a porn store

7. Not a real priest, but appeared as one on TV

-He dressed as a mischievous priest for a Virgin Mobile commercial in 2010. Halford states that being raised in a Christian home helped him build the spiritual foundation for helping him to keep sober all these years

6. He trusted the fans on supporting his coming out

-It's not easy being gay and coming out. It's especially harder if you are in a career that is as masculine as heavy metal. Halford said he could count on the fans being incredibly supportive during his 1998 announcement that he was gay. But, many fans already suspected he was gay long before he came out. During an interview with the Montreal Gazette, Halford said "Metal fans are just as compassionate and caring and tolerant as any other form of music fans are." He said that the love and support from the fans surprised him by being "incredibly intelligent and compassionate" and that "it made me feel great"

5. Despite being a rock star, drives a pretty boring car

-Despite owning several expensive cars over the years, he's pretty basic in his personal vehicle. It turns out he prefers nothing more simple than a 2006 Cadillac DTS. During an interview with MotorTrend, "I'm not a frugal person, but I find it difficult to be extravagant materially."

4. Took going bald with pride

-Like any man, going bald is usually bad. But, like a lot of men, he shaved his head, figuring it would disappear eventually. Halford took going bald with pride. He simply shaved it off after going with a close cropped look for a while. In fact, the first album to feature him with a completely shaved head was 1990's Painkiller

3. Went into electronic music with Trent Reznor

-1997 seen Halford going electronic with his band Fight. He recorded an album called Voyeurs, which was an electronic-techno album with people like Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, etc. It was a pet project of Reznor. It didn't do well, but did put Halford back on his heavy path with 2000's Resurrection

2. Could have sung classical music

-Classical voice teacher Claudia Freelander rated five of the most famous voices in metal. She listened to unmarked tapes of each singer and their work. She stated Rob Halford was "super talented, and the only one I really wish I could get my hands on." She also complimented his "fabulous range of vocal colors" and "mad skills"

1. He's becoming a one man business empire, quietly

-Rob Halford formed Metal God Records in 2009. This label reissued all of his solo records and records with post-Priest band Fight. Halford even did a gig recently with Ozzy Osbourne on his Scream tour