Headline signs autobiography from Judas Priest hellraiser Halford

Headline has signed a “one-of-a-kind” autobiography by Judas Priest hellraiser Rob Halford.

Publishing director Sarah Emsley acquired world rights from Dave Daniel at CSA for Confess, to be published in autumn 2020. US rights were acquired simultaneously by Brant Rumble at Hachette Book Group US.

Halford fronts one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time, shifting 50 million albums over their career. The book promises “a compelling, heartfelt and honest look at the struggles Rob has faced with addiction and his sexuality as well as exploring his music and his many brushes with controversy”.

Written with Ian Gittins, co-writer of The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx (S&S), the book charts Halford’s rock-n-roll lifestyle from the late eighties to the band’s 50th anniversary in 2020.

Halford explained: “Confess is a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to expose every facet of myself. Digging deep with nothing to hide and nothing to fear was in many ways exciting, fun, disturbing, terrifying and cathartic. I’ve held nothing back. It’s time for me to Confess.”

Elmsley said: “I have a real passion for warts-and-all, career-spanning autobiographies from icons of the music world and Rob Halford’s story is truly incredible. Covering seven action-packed decades, the early material from Confess is stunning. We cannot wait to publish Rob’s book around the globe next year.”