Confess: The Autobiography

I purchased the CD audio version of this book and just yesterday finished listening to it. I can't even begin to convey how much I enjoyed this autobiography. I liked the audio version because Rob reads it himself, and therefore you get his English accent when he's using all those regional terms that you only hear on British comedies. :-)I must "confess" that I only really know and love one of Judas Priest songs, but even if you're not a fan of their music, you will still find this autobiography absolutely amazing. You get to hear/read right from Rob what it was like growing up working class in rural industrial England, the music scene he grew up in during the 60's and early 70's, and how he got into music in the first place. I would have never guessed how artistic he was/is in so many different aspects. He's a very talented and thoughtful guy, and you find out how shy and quiet he is off stage.The stories he tells of the bands he was in, and all the ups and downs of being in the music industry and all the connections and interactions with other musical talents was really fascinating and fun to learn. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments in his story, some I laughed SO hard I had to be careful as I was listening to this while driving to and from work.While not being even close to pornographic, some of his stories are graphic, and he thoroughly discusses growing up a closeted gay man in a time when being gay was not only not accepted, it was downright dangerous. If you're thick-headed and can't be open-minded to learning about another human being's struggles, then don't bother with this book. Rob doesn't care if those types of people read it or not, but my GOSH you will read his heart-felt telling of his personal life, and how he not only survived, but thrived.I can't recommend this book enough, not only because of Rob's heart-felt sincerity, but also any Judas Priest fan will find this book fantastic for the history of the band, and also for how HILARIOUS parts of the book are. Watch out for the "poo in an envelope!"

Okay. this is written from the point of view of a fan of the Old Order (I am 62). WE put HEAVY METAL on the map, originally. We are the ones, as Lemmy said. We, the lower middle class Celtic-descended males of the factories, and of the poor prospects in life, stateside; the colonies; those of us "across the sea" who are mentioned in the song MONSTERS OF ROCK.The New World Celtic brothers of these Brummies.1. We knew Rob was gay in 1981. We let it pass, then; we WISH that we could quit hearing about it, now.2. We remember when Heavy Metal was a dangerous association; when even HAVING those albums could get you ostracized. Or fired. Or investigated. The days of the second record crate in the very back of your closet, stored with that stack of suspiciously adolescent pictorial periodicals (which they now sell on Amazon!) purchased from the local gas station at 2 AM on your way home from a night out. When Heavy Metal was not even a 'thing' yet; it was merely those IMPORT albums in that one splintered crate at the very back of the store.We remember.In this book, it's sort of hard to decide whether Rob Halford is a confused, mixed up adolescent who just thinks that he is a homosexual, and only dates other bi-curious latent heterosexuals like himself (!)... or whether or not he's just a scumbag. I used to work in the state prison, and I have indeed heard many of these petty larceny stories firsthand.But, as with his bizarre sexuality, I do not go to him for morality; I go to him for heavy metal.We all do.He has been given a rare and a dynamic gift; we would like to enjoy that with him.This much was known before I started this book.In fact, if I may be truthful, I had not expected much more than that when I bought this book; my interest lay in two specific topics; how the band came to invent Heavy Metal, and what exactly happened with KK.For those of you who think that Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath invented heavy metal, that is indeed a thought, right up until you realize that neither Led Zeppelin nor Black Sabbath ever actually did any TRUE heavy metal.Paranoid, or Sturm und Drang heavy plodding rock under Ronnie James Dio, and maybe Black Dog is as close as either band ever came to Delivering the Goods, Grinder, Metal Gods, Hell Bent for Leather, The Rage, Steeler, or Rapid Fire; real actual "V-8 engine/ clanking chains" HEAVY METAL.You see, even Judas Priest does not always do heavy metal; they were just the only ones who ever DID any true HEAVY METAL, at all.Few bands and few albums NOW are strictly heavy-metal; which generally consists of nine songs and a metal ballad.A good example of this is the Canadian band EXCITER, named for the song off Stained Class, and their album HEAVY METAL MANIAC; that is a completely true heavy metal album.I don't think that Judas Priest has ever done one of those, even though Judas Priest - to my mind - actually invented the true genre of actual Heavy Metal.Perhaps to his credit, Rob does not dwell upon the invention of heavy-metal very closely; he sort of dances around the idea, and like with KK, and the invention of the black leather outfits... this seems to be more important than who actually invented HEAVY METAL, as an art form.So Rob is not a lot of help there, if that's what you're looking for.And, as for the KK incident, he also prevaricates here as well.What Rob Halford DOES give us in this book is a glance at the 'overall creation' of each of their records. He does, to his credit, take a chronological approach to the story telling, and we know along a time line what happened to whom, and where.We also get a nice mindset as to what they - as a band - were thinking at the time.One of the more disappointing moments is how Rob decides to go back to Priest, and his unbounded, unbridled joy at them taking him back.Here is a guy who just walked off without any explanation, and didn't speak to anyone for 10 years... being invited back to the group.Contrast that to KK, who apparently made his issues known before leaving, and this has apparently so destroyed everything that he can never come back.In my way of looking at it, I think what Rob did was far worse, and as such, KK should have an invitation back into the band.In addition to the fact that KK actually hired both Rob and Glenn originally, and that the three of them as the triumvirate have made every A-list song they ever created..And to my way of thinking, three albums in without KK, they have yet to come up with a single A-list song...I believe it will take all three of them, but neither Judas Priest nor KK's Priest seems to realize the fact that their music - from either band - is suffering horribly for lack of these A-list offerings; songs such as Victim of Changes, the Sinner, Grinder, Metal Gods, The Rage, Steeler, Rapid Fire, Touch of Evil, Prophecy, Nostradamus (the song), Painkiller, Judas is Rising, or Hell Bent for Leather...And Rob, in his book, just seems to take it all in stride.In that true Black Country Walsall dysfunctional way, Rob is just "not bothered' by any of this.I am giving him five stars, because he gave us exactly what he promised; an autobiography.I don't think it's a five-star book for its subject matter, but because it's exactly what Rob said it was; a look into his life.And in that, he does not disappoint.The book is worth a listen, as I got it on audio; Rob has a very satisfying voice for narration. And his story is interesting enough to keep you listening to it, but I don't know that I would ever want to read it again.Now that I know.He just proves to me - at long last - that it was his product, and not himself, that he was selling us.

Really awesome book most of it revolves around him being a gay man in the metal music scene in the 70s 80s and 90s and how it affected him there is also some other stuff funny stories about other rock stars in the music business as well as him leaving judds priest meeting lady Gaga ( he's a huge fan I would've never guessed that in a million years ) and him beating cancer it's amazing book a must have if your a fan of metal music

I very much enjoyed this book. I have never heard a Judas Priest song before reading this book. I am a new fan! Excellent writing and storytelling!

Rob Halfords book is incredibly honest and frank - which makes a change from the normal contrived and heavily censored books that most rock stars release. After reading it I actually felt that I have a far better insight into what makes Rob Halford tick. At times he is brutally honest about the personal struggles that he has had to face in his life - namely Alcohol, drugs and his sexuality - and all credit to him he is now in a good place. I won’t go into detail as the book does a great job explaining and discussing these sensitive subjects far better than I ever could.In addition to Rob’s fascinating personal story, I also learned a lot about the history of Judas Priest which before now I wasn’t fully up to speed on - and needless to say that is also very interesting!!!I should also add that I saw the mighty Priest in action recently - and they still rock as does Mr Halford!!! In summary this book is a great read - and will no doubt become a classic someday:))

Aún no leo el libro, acerca del paquete; me gusto que vienen en una caja que lo protege de mal tratarse, no me gusto que dentro de la caja, el libro no viene con envoltura de plástico y estaba manchado con huellas digitales, no eran permanentes pero no me agradó, otras veces que compró libros vienen envueltos en plástico y los protege de huellas y manchas.

O livro é maravilhoso, sou fã do judas priest há 20 anos tenho até tatuagem da banda, comprei na pré-venda achando que viria um bookplate autografado, mas infelizmente não veio.Recomendo o livro, pra qualquer fã do priest e de heavy metal em geral é um item de colecionador.

Se trata de un testimonio honesto y sincero de un personaje importante en la historia de la música y de la cultura. Cabe destacar sus extraordinarias facultades innatas a la hora de cantar y su valentía a la hora de destapar su orientación sexual. Es un ejemplo para muchos y una importante contribución en la lucha contra la homofobia..

Not the usual band anecdotes which we fans already know - Rob has poured his heart out here. He tells from his struggle with being gay in a time when this was seen as a sort of crime and mental illness.he describes himself in younger years, coming from entertaining and ruling a venue of tenthousands of raw heavy metal fans (we all were, boys and girls, clad in leather, chains, silver and lace and would have followed the Metal God into every abyss)And minutes after he finds himself alone in a strange city, secretly hanging out on truck stops and public loos just to maybe get a little bit of company and comfort. It is so damn heartbreakingly sad. How many guys must have gone through the same?In later years Rob being gay was the worst kept secret in metal, his fans love him for his work and his ever outstanding voice, his captivating lyrics and his (yes) very respectful and gentle personality.I am a long time fan of Priest and the Metal God whose music and lyrics was soundtrack to the best and the worst times in my life. "Bloodred Skies" was a lifesaver more than once.... the book deals with some controverse things, too, but balanced and never respectless. I read it in one go!