TIM 'RIPPER' OWENS Doesn't Mind Being Best Known As The Former Lead Singer Of JUDAS PRIEST

José R. Rojo recently conducted an interview with powerhouse American singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR). You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether it bothers him that he is constantly being referred to as the former singer of JUDAS PRIEST:

"Well, I don't care what people say. I mean, as [ex-JUDAS PRIEST guitarist] KK Downing used to say, the proof is in the pudding… I don't mind at all people saying I'm an ex-vocalist of JUDAS PRIEST. I get paid a lot of money to be called the ex-singer of JUDAS PRIEST. JUDAS PRIEST launched me into what I do for a living. JUDAS PRIEST was a great time in my life. I'm great friends with them. But I stay busy now; I'm busier than ever. And I do that for my own… I'm in demand to be able to do stuff. But, I mean, I loved it. The JUDAS PRIEST guys… I couldn't have had a better time with them. We're great friends and it launched my career. If it wasn't for JUDAS PRIEST, almost certainly I wouldn't be here today doing this. When people say that, I don't think people understand that after JUDAS PRIEST or even ICED EARTH, I've [done] a BEYOND FEAR record, a solo record, two CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED records, Yngwie records, a PROJECT ROCK record that we wrote, the TRED stuff… So, I mean, I've got a lot of stuff going on. It doesn't hurt my feelings."

On whether fans can ever expect to hear a second BEYOND FEAR album:

"The music is done. All the music is done, recorded. About four songs are recorded vocally. It's all written. I'm just kind of… I'm not sold on all my vocals yet, so it's taking me a little bit longer to do it. The first album [2006's 'Beyond Fear'] was written pretty much live. I would write some songs, or [guitarist] John Comprix would write some songs, and then we would get together to rehearse them with the band. This one's written a little bit different, so it's a little bit harder for me to do. We also don't have a record label right now, so it's not high on my priority. The problem with doing a BEYOND FEAR record that the fans don't understand is that it actually costs me money to do BEYOND FEAR. And if BEYOND FEAR toured, it would cost me money. And I'm not at the point in my career to go do stuff and not make money. You know what I mean? I have to pay bills. I've got kids and a house and a family, so… But I can't wait to put the new BEYOND FEAR record out and finish it. It's more towards the songs of, like… The first BEYOND FEAR record, I wrote half the music and John Comprix wrote half the music, so the guitar parts that I wrote were always pretty plain, like 'Save Me' and 'The Faith' and 'I Don't Need This'; they were all kind of straightforward. This record is gonna be more John's guitar playing — a little more punch in the face."

Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before the band reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.