Editing Rob Halford (section)

===Judas Priest===
{{Main|Judas Priest}}

[[File:Rob Halford1984.jpg|thumb|upright|Halford in 1984]]
[[File:Judas Priest Retribution 2005 Tour Rob Halford1.jpg|thumb|upright|Halford performing with Judas Priest, 2005]]
Halford was introduced to Judas Priest bassist and co-founder [[Ian Hill]] by his sister Sue, who was dating Hill at the time.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Halford, a manager of a men's clothing store,<ref>{{Citation|last=Loudwire|title=Judas Priest – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|date=28 May 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MLK57NbQmo|access-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311161655/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MLK57NbQmo|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> joined the band as singer, bringing with him drummer [[John Hinch (musician)|John Hinch]] from his previous band Hiroshima. Halford and Hinch played their first show with Judas Priest in May 1973 at the Townhouse in [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]], Shropshire. The show was recorded and part of it released in 2019 on the compilation ''Downer-Rock Asylum'' on the Audio Archives label.

In 1974, he made his recording debut on the band's first album ''[[Rocka Rolla]]''. He continued to front Judas Priest throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990, Halford emerged with all-new tattoos, including a bent Judas Priest cross on his right arm and ring around his other, as well as a few on his shoulders. He also began shaving his head.

On the last date of the tour for ''Painkiller'' in August 1991 at a show in [[Toronto]], Halford rode onstage on a large [[Harley-Davidson]] motorcycle, dressed in motorcycle leathers, as part of the show. The stage riser malfunctioned and he collided with a half-raised drum riser and fell off it, breaking his nose in the process.<ref name="invented" /> He was left unconscious for a short time while the band was performing the first song. After regaining consciousness, Halford returned and finished the show.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ling|first=Dave|title=Judas Priest: The Making of Painkiller|publisher=Daveling.co.uk|date=25 December 2003|access-date=20 July 2007|url=http://www.daveling.co.uk/docpriest.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041107151207/http://www.daveling.co.uk/docpriest.htm|archive-date=7 November 2004}}</ref> Halford had been wanting to do a solo project and had the blessing of his band members to do so. A studio executive told him he would have to technically 'resign' from Judas Priest to do so and he wrote a statement citing his interest in a solo project. The letter was leaked and taken out of context in that he was quitting the band. Due to personal challenges with conflict, he was unable to clarify what happened and it was over ten years before he reconnected with the band and rejoined.<ref>''Confess pg 244''</ref>