Known as the Metal God, Rob Halford of Judas Priest has a career filled with iconic moments, but few stand out as much as the two separate times he stepped in to front heavy metal pioneers, Black Sabbath. In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Judas Priest frontman recounted the stories of these unforgettable gigs, highlighting the vast difference in preparation for each one.
The first time Halford filled in for Black Sabbath was for a pre-planned concert, subbing in for singer Ronnie James Dio. This allowed for a much-needed rehearsal period. “We were able to prepare because Tony, Geezer, and Bill were on tour, and they came through Phoenix,” Halford recalled. “We actually jammed somewhere here in the valley. We prepared for that one.” He also shared a new detail he recently learned about that day: “I found out the other day that Ozzy was on the side banging his head while we were working.”
The second time was far more spontaneous and chaotic. It happened at Ozzfest in 2004, when Ozzy Osbourne lost his voice. Halford was in his hotel room in Philadelphia when he received a call from Sharon Osbourne. “‘Robbie, can you help us out? Ozzy‘s lost his voice,'” she asked. Halford agreed immediately, only to learn the gig was for that very night. “I said, ‘Yeah, anytime.’ She goes, ‘Tonight.’ I said, ‘Tonight?!'”
With almost no time to prepare, Halford relied on a last-minute courier service for a VHS tape of Black Sabbath‘s recent performances. “On the drive from the hotel in Philly to the venue in the back lounge of the bus, I just sang along with the show,” he explained. “That was the only kind of prep that I had. Of course, I did the Priest show and then straight afterwards, changed my shirt and went out and did the Sabbath show.” For Rob Halford, stepping in to save the day for his friends was a natural act of camaraderie, solidifying his status as a legend among legends.
