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Rob Halford and 4 Other Rock Stars on Getting Sober

By Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Many rock stars have been very open about quitting drugs/alcohol and their sobriety journies. One very notable voice in this group is Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford.

The Metal God took to Instagram on Jan. 6, 2025 to mark being 39 years sober. With his sobriety coin in hand, he spoke directly to the camera and said, in part, “This commemorative coin that Bob, my sponsor, has gifted me each anniversary evokes a year’s worth of memories and blessings that all of you are a part of. Staying sober has to have a means and a purpose besides the definition of healthy, self-love … As before, if any of you are contemplating that amazing first step, please go for it. You have nothing to lose, and a new life to embrace surrounded by unconditional love and support.”

Keep scrolling to learn more about four other rock stars on getting sober.

  • Nikki Sixx

    Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx has a notorious history with alcohol and drug use. However, July 2024 marked 23 years sober for him. When he hit his 20th anniversary of sobriety, he reflected on his journey writing, “Some people will try an kick you in the nuts, steal your money, stab you in the back, guaranteed to let you down, sabotage yer life, not believe in you and gossip that you’ll never make a day without drugs or alcohol. And do you know what you’re gonna do? YOU’RE GONNA STAY SOBER ONE DAY AT A TIME. You are the miracle, the one that breaks the addiction chain, the one who is a living amens [sic]. The one who has altered your family history. You will live in gratitude for those that never thought you’d stay sober or make it out alive BECAUSE THEY MADE YOU STRONGER and you know how to forgive a–holes.

    Sixx concluded, “And when you see people who are still suffering / treading water or gasping for air,  be sure to throw them a life vest. Because we give back now to those that are still afflicted and hope they too pass it on.”

  • Elton John

    Elton John celebrated 34 years sober in July 2024. He shared a photo of his sobriety coin on Instagram and noted, “My life has never been better.”

    When he reached 30 years sober in 2020,

    If I hadn’t finally taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I’d be dead. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who have inspired and supported me along the way.
    🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️😇😇     pic.twitter.com/TVlXQnKWWD

    — Elton John (@eltonofficial) July 30, 2020

    " target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sir Elton took to social media and shared, “Reflecting on the most magical day having celebrated my 30th Sobriety Birthday. So many lovely cards, flowers and chips from my sons, David, friends in the Program, staff at the office and in our homes. I’m truly a blessed man.”

    John added, “If I hadn’t finally taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I’d be dead. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who have inspired and supported me along the way.”

  • James Hetfield

    James Hetfield’s sobriety journey has been rather public in recent years. He re-entered rehab in September 2019, and he made his first public appearance post-rehab in January 2020. Of course, the world would shut down just two months later due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    In April 2023, Papa Het opened up about the whole situation in a lengthy interview with the band’s blog So What!. He views the spring of 2020 as a “rebirth again” after seeking help and confronting his personal issues.

    Hetfield said, ” … Obviously, when the pandemic happened, it was – and I want to word this right because it was horrible, absolutely horrible for many people – in a strange way, it was kind of a silver lining for me.”

    He continued, “I was able to put the brakes on life and really take some time to embrace my needs at that time. So yeah, not discounting all of the terrible things that were happening at that point. It was just a timely thing that happened, and I can see the [positivity] in it for myself.”

  • Corey Taylor

    Interestingly, Corey Taylor said Hetfield and Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell were two big inspirations in his sobriety. The Slipknot frontman told Consequence in September 2023 that he looked at Hetfield’s strength in his sobriety journey and thought he might have that same gumption, too. As for Cantrell, the AIC guitarist was getting sober around the same time as Taylor.

    “It definitely helped to know that I wasn’t alone in it, and it certainly helped me clear my head and focus more,” said Taylor. “And really get down to writing again — really, truly writing.”

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