Veronica Freeman (born December 17, 1977), also known by her stage name "The V", is an American singer and the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band

Benedictum Benedictum is an American heavy metal band formed in 2005 in San Diego, California that now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Their current lineup consists of vocalist Veronica Freeman, guitarist Pete Wells, bassist Aric Avina, and drummer Rikard ...

. Her most recent album with Benedictum is '' Obey'', released through

Frontiers Records Frontiers Music (formerly Frontiers Records) is an Italian record label that primarily focuses on hard rock. The label was founded in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is headquartered in Naples. History In 1996, Serafino Perugino began his care ...

in 2013. In 2015, she released her first solo album, ''Now or Never'', which includes two songs written and produced by

Stryper Stryper is an American Christian metal and heavy metal music, heavy metal band from La Mirada, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass), and Robert Sweet (musician), ...

frontman,

Michael Sweet Michael Harrison Sweet (born July 4, 1963) is an American musician; he is the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the heavy metal music, metal band Stryper. He has also had a successful solo career and served as singer and gui ...

Biography

When she was introduced to metal she felt in love with the power and the energy of it and was encouraged to try singing by her longtime friend

Craig Goldy Thomas "Craig" Goldy (born November 6, 1961) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist of the rock bands Dio (band), Dio and Giuffria. Early musical life Goldy was born in San Diego, California. Before Dio, he played in the bands Ve ...

. Freeman and

Pete Wells Peter Andrew Wells (born 1963) is an American journalist who was the restaurant critic for ''The New York Times'' from 2011 to 2024. Early life and career Wells was adopted as an infant by Shirley and Raymond Wells and grew up in Rhode Islan ...

became close friends and she has said that there is something about his playing that inspires her to this day. They started writing together and were in a few bands together, including Medusa and the Malady. They felt that after playing quite a few local shows in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

that it was time to move forward and see what they could do musically on a new level and that is when they embarked on the project that is now

. With some help from Craig they were introduced to the musician

Jeff Pilson Jeffrey Steven Pilson (born January 19, 1958) is an American musician best known for being the bass player in the glam metal band Dokken and currently classic rock band Foreigner (band), Foreigner. He has also had an extended stint with Dio (ba ...

, who helped promote the group. Freeman got married in 2007. In July 2015, Freeman as The V, will release her debut solo album, ''Now or Never'', which features numerous guest appearances including

as writer and producer on the tracks, "Again" and "Love Should Be to Blame"; Tony Martin as vocalist on "King For a Day", and Chastain vocalist,

Leather Leone Catherine Anne Leone, known professionally as Leather Leone, is an American heavy metal vocalist, best known for fronting the groups Rude Girl and Chastain in the 1980s. She released one solo album, ''Shock Waves'', in 1989, before taking a t ...

on "Kiss My Lips".

Influences

Her influences include

Ronnie James Dio Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), known professionally as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal singer. He fronted numerous bands throughout his career, including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hel ...

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

Melissa Etheridge Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Her Melissa Etheridge (album), eponymous debut album was released in 1988 and became an underground success. It peaked at No. 22 on the Billbo ...

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's R&B clubs, collectively known as the Ch ...

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop ...

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (, March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "List of nicknames of jazz musicians, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

and

Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter who achieved global fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen (band), Queen. Regarded as one of the gre ...

Discography

With Benedictum * '' Uncreation (2006)'' * '' Seasons of Tragedy (2008) '' * ''

Dominion A dominion was any of several largely self-governance, self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of self-governing colony, colon ...

(2011) '' * '' Obey (2013) '' As The V *''Now or Never (2015)''

Albums (guest sessions)

Grave Digger * ''

Ballads of a Hangman ''Ballads of a Hangman'' is the 14th studio album by the German heavy metal band Grave Digger, and was released on 27 January 2009. It is the first Grave Digger album to feature two guitarists, the only one to feature Thilo Hermann who co-wro ...

(2009)''

A Sound of Thunder "A Sound of Thunder" is a science fiction short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in ''Collier's'' magazine on June 28, 1952, and later in Bradbury's 1953 collection '' The Golden Apples of the Sun''. Plot summary In the y ...

* ''Queen of Hell (2013)'' (duet vocals on title track) Vastator * ''Machine Hell (2010)'' Lyraka * '' Lyraka Volume 1 (2010)'' * ''Lyraka Volume 2 (2012)''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Veronica 1977 births American heavy metal singers American women heavy metal singers Living people Singers from San Diego 21st-century American singers 21st-century American women singers