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Rob Halford
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===Health=== In the ''[[Behind the Music]]'' documentary series, Halford said that hiding his sexuality during Judas Priest's career caused him a lot of depression and isolation which led to his alcohol and drug abuse. During the making of the band's 1986 album ''Turbo'', Halford struggled with increasing substance abuse and violent feuds with his romantic partner. The singer entered rehab in January 1986 following a painkiller overdose<ref>{{cite book|title=Confess: The Autobiography|last=Halford|first=Rob|year=2020|publisher=Hachette Books|location=New York City|isbn=978-0306874949|page=210}}</ref> and even managed to stay sober after his partner died by suicide. He says that he has been clean and sober since then.<ref name=Perusse>{{cite web|last=Perusse|first=Bernard|title=Q&A with Rob Halford|work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The London Gazette]]|date=1 August 2007|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/spotlights/story.html?id=b78b4958-bf9c-4d93-85b8-16ed6546e29d|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117224416/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/spotlights/story.html?id=b78b4958-bf9c-4d93-85b8-16ed6546e29d|archive-date=17 January 2008}}</ref> He made an energetic recovery and his live performances during the subsequent [[Fuel for Life Tour]] were described as some of his strongest ever. He was born and raised in a Christian household, and said that his upbringing "has become more important since I became clean and sober on 6 January 1986. That was 25 years ago and I think that's probably more important to me now, on a daily basis."<ref name=Perusse /> When asked in 2016 what part sobriety has played in the band's longevity, he responded, "Without it? Oh, I'd be dead. Literally, I would be dead."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/13/rob-halford-judas-priest-id-be-dead-without-sobrie|title=Rob Halford of Judas Priest: 'I'd be dead without sobriety'|work=[[The Washington Times]]|access-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014114550/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/13/rob-halford-judas-priest-id-be-dead-without-sobrie/|archive-date=14 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite being clean and sober since 1986, he confessed that he did have the desire to "have a drink" and "have a smoke and do a line. I wish I could do all that, but I can't. I've done all that. I've done all that and it nearly killed me. I wish I could do that because when I'm with my friends and they're having a good time and there's this little devil on your shoulder, 'Just have a quick shot. Do a shot of [[Jack Daniel's|Jack]].{{'"}} He pointed out to those who are recovering from their abuse about dealing with the "little devil on your shoulder or the monkey on your back", and that being clean and sober was "the greatest gift I was given. It was a gift. I can't do this by myself. There's another source helping. That's just a thrill to share with the music at this point."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=34134|author=Francisco Zamudio, Metal X Candy 2.0|title=Screaming For Christmas: An Exclusive Audio Interview With The Metal God Rob Halford|publisher=[[KNAC]]|access-date=8 October 2019}}</ref> Halford underwent back surgery in 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/rob-halford-successful-back-surgery-responds-to-bruce-dickinson/|author=Childers, Chad|title=Rob Halford Undergoes Successful Back Surgery, Responds to Bruce Dickinson Diss|date=3 July 2014 |publisher=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=3 July 2014}}</ref> and [[umbilical hernia]] surgery in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/judas-priest-rob-halford-surgery-umbilical-hernia/|author=Hartmann, Graham|title=Judas Priest's Rob Halford to Undergo Surgery for Umbilical Hernia|date=12 May 2014 |publisher=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metalinsider.net/in-memoriam/judas-priest-update-halford-gets-surgery-original-guitarist-dies|author=Teitelman, Bram|title=Judas Priest update: Halford gets surgery; original guitarist dies|date=14 May 2014|publisher=Metal Insider|access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priests-rob-halford-talks-about-his-back-surgery-it-was-a-very-very-difficult-time/|title=Judas Priest's Rob Halford Talks About His Back Surgery: 'It Was A Very, Very Difficult Time'|date=17 November 2014|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=17 November 2014}}</ref> Halford battled prostate cancer during the [[COVID-19 lockdowns]] after experiencing symptoms in 2017. He underwent [[prostatectomy]] in July 2020. After more cancer was found, he went through radiation treatments in April and May that year and was cleared in June before travelling to England to visit family. He also had an [[appendectomy]] after a tumour was discovered in his appendix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2021/10/judas-priest-rob-halford-cancer/|author=Graff, Gary|title=Judas Priest's Rob Halford Quietly Battled Cancer During the Pandemic|website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|date=15 October 2021|accessdate=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/judas-priests-rob-halford-shares-hospital-photos-taken-during-cancer-battle/|title=Judas Priest's Rob Halford Shares Hospital Photos Taken During Cancer Battle|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=17 October 2021|accessdate=17 October 2021}}</ref>
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