Ex-JUDAS PRIEST Singer RIPPER Records Cover Of 'Exciter' For Tribute CD

February 21, 2007

Former JUDAS PRIEST and current ICED EARTH/BEYOND FEAR singer Tim "Ripper" Owens laid down his vocals on a cover version of PRIEST's "Exciter" at Diamond Recording and Productions in Houston, Texas for an upcoming PRIEST tribute CD. Owens was accompanied by Bobby Blotzer (RATT, co-owner of the Diamond facility) on drums, Jerry Scott (STEPHEN PEARCY, BAD COMPANY, MOLLY HATCHET),and Gregg Gill on guitar. Gregg and Bobby are currently working on the final mix of this song.

Check out photos from the recording session at this location.

Prior to joining JUDAS PRIEST in 1996, Owens was frontman of a heavy metal band called WINTER'S BANE, with whom he recorded an album called "Heart of a Killer" in 1993. He also was the frontman of JUDAS PRIEST tribute band BRITISH STEEL.

The young Ohio salesman and tribute band frontman made headlines in 1996 when he went from being a fan of the British metal act JUDAS PRIEST to being their lead singer, filling the shoes of Rob Halford (and, by doing so, inspiring the movie "Rock Star", which was later discredited by the band). Despite numerous rumors that Halford would reunite with PRIEST, Owens recorded two studio albums with his childhood heroes, as well as two live albums and a 2002 DVD release. Owens has stated "I would never rejoin JUDAS PRIEST, ever."

JUDAS PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003. That same year Matthew Barlow, the frontman for ICED EARTH, quit the band and Owens became their new lead singer. ICED EARTH's first album with Owens, "The Glorious Burden", came out in early 2004.

Recently, Owens reunited with his former WINTER'S BANE colleague Dennis Hayes in a band called BEYOND FEAR. The self-titled debut album from this new band was released in May 2006.

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