MOTÖRHEAD's PHIL CAMPBELL On His Collaboration With ROB HALFORD: 'I Always Thought He Was An Amazing Character, Amazing Vocalist'

October 30, 2019

Last week, longtime MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell released his first-ever solo record, "Old Lions Still Roar", via Nuclear Blast. The disc includes the track "Straight Up", featuring the unmistakable vocal talents of JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford.

Speaking about how the collaboration came about, Campbell said: "We did a bunch of tours with JUDAS PRIEST over the years, and I always thought [Rob] was just an amazing character, amazing vocalist, and they're an amazing band. So I sent Rob two songs. I did ask him on the last PRIEST tour we did if he would be prepared to sing on my record, and he said he would love to. So I sent him a couple of tracks. One in particular he liked. So, a few months down the line, he sends me the lyrics and the recording. It's called 'Straight Up'. It's a great rocker — it's a great rockin' song. So, I hope you enjoy that one."

"Old Lions Still Roar", which has been in the works for more than five years, includes additional guest appearances by Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER) and Alice Cooper, among others. Other guest musicians that appear on "Old Lions Still Roar" include Chris Fehn (SLIPKNOT),Benji Webbe (SKINDRED),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE) and Joe Satriani.

"Old Lions Still Roar" track listing:

01. Rocking Chair (feat. Leon Stanford)
02. Straight Up (feat. Rob Halford)
03. Faith In Fire (feat. Ben Ward)
04. Swing It (feat. Alice Cooper)
05. Left For Dead (feat. Nev MacDonald)
06. Walk The Talk (feat. Danko Jones, Nick Oliveri)
07. These Old Boots (feat. Dee Snider)
08. Dancing Dogs (Love Survives) (feat. Whitfield Crane)
09. Dead Roses (feat. Benji Webbe)
10. Tears From A Glass Eye (feat. Joe Satriani)

Campbellrecently toldAndrew McKaysmith of the "Scars And Guitars" podcast about "Old Lions Still Roar": "I wouldn't say [it was] 20 years in the making, but 20 years I've been yearning to do a solo album. Since MOTÖRHEAD, sadly, finished, I've had more time to think about [it] and to knuckle down and everything. I probably started the first recording of it about two and a half, three years ago. I wanted to make an album where I branched out a little bit. I've had some of the ideas — one or two of them — for, like, 10 or 12 years, and some not so long. Some are brand new. I just didn't want to do an album sounding like MOTÖRHEAD. I've done 20-odd albums like that."

Speaking about the album's guest stars, Phil said: "I couldn't believe the incredible players that spent some time on the record for me. I'm the luckiest guy in the world in that respect. Mega talent all the way through it, helping me out when I needed help. I've got no complaints whatsoever... Everyone did a fantastic job. I think I did really well on putting people [and] having ideas of who would be great for a certain song... All these people that I tried to put in certain songs and I had ideas for out of the blue would sound good, they all did amazingly well, because they went for the good of the song. So many players these days just play for themselves, and it's got fuck-all to do with the song. They just want to show off, but these people did amazingly well. I'm really pleased in that way... There's a great art in actually playing for the good of the song... You can ruin the song if the bassist hasn't got his shit together. A good song can be ruined. That's the foundation for the track, and it gives it a groove. If that's all gone to pot, a bloody good song can be passed by."

Regular cover

CD slipcase + digital cover

Find more on
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • reddit
  • email

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).