“Okay. Hey, this is Tim Ripper Owens, and I’m blowing it up on Metal Gods Radio!”
That’s how our chat kicked off with legendary metal vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens — the Akron, Ohio native whose powerful vocals once fronted Judas Priest and who now splits his time between solo work and what feels like a dozen different bands. At 55, he's still running full throttle and sounds stronger than ever.
"Seven Bands? Sorta."
When asked if he was active in seven bands, Tim laughed:
“Well, I guess so... I put records out with bands, but I wouldn’t say I’m active in all of them. Right now, I’m really focused on KK’s Priest, The Three Tremors, and my solo stuff — especially the new EP.”
That EP? It’s called “Return to Death Row,” and it drops officially on December 9, though early pre-orders came with signed copies that fans got ahead of time.
The EP: Heavy, Brutal, and 100% Ripper
You can grab it on vinyl, CD, and even cassette — complete with bundles including hats, shirts, posters, and more — over at MartyrStore.net.
Tim makes it clear this EP is the real deal:
“It’s just bone-crushing stuff. Six songs. No filler. Straightforward metal with a killer band behind it — Nicky Bellmore on drums, Charlie Bellmore on guitars, Christopher on bass, and co-produced with Jamie Jasta.”
A Lifetime of Metal (and a Ridiculous Amount of Guest Appearances)
Does Tim keep copies of everything he’s been a part of?
“I probably do — but I’ve done so many guest vocal spots since COVID hit, I’ve honestly lost track. Full albums, singles, prog metal projects like Pyramid, appearances with bands like Held Hostage... The list is endless.”
He laughs, recalling fans bringing him rare releases he didn’t even know existed:
“I’ve signed things I’d never seen before — songs I barely remember singing!”
Solo Career: Album 2.5 or 3.0?
Where does Return to Death Row fall in his solo catalog?
“Well, Beyond Fear was technically a band, though I wrote half the music and all the lyrics. Then there was Play My Game, my first real solo record. This one — yeah, I’d call it my third.”
Unlike Play My Game, which featured a long list of guest musicians, this EP kept it simple and tight:
“Jamie and I wanted it stripped down. Just us and a killer rhythm section. No distractions. Just metal.”
On Collaboration, Billy Sheehan, and Losing His Voice
When asked who’s been the easiest or most surprising to work with, Tim took a beat — then remembered a favorite moment:
“Working with Billy Sheehan on The World is Blind. I had written the bass breakdown on guitar — then he comes in and just crushes it. Took it to another level.”
He’s quick to praise other musicians too, noting how Jeff Loomis and others would just take direction like “do your thing,” and deliver exactly what was needed.
As for arranging?
“I write straightforward riffs — Sabbath, Priest-style stuff. I’m not a technical guitar player. I build the bones, then let the real musicians make it great.”
On Singing, Losing It, and Getting It Back
Tim’s voice went through a rough patch over the last few years:
“I didn’t feel like I was at my best for maybe 5-6 years. But about a year ago, it all came back. I did a run in South America — 16 shows in 18 days — and I was singing better than ever.”
Even in the studio, he’s hitting most songs in one take again:
“I’m lucky, man. I still got it.”
Backing Tracks & Live Singing: The Ripper Verdict
Where does he stand on the use of backing tracks?
“If it’s harmonies or orchestration, fine. But main vocals? That’s just dumb. If you can’t sing anymore, maybe it’s time to think about what you’re doing.”
Still, he’s got empathy:
“If a singer is trying and just doesn’t have it anymore, I get it. It’s hard. It’s a passion, it’s a disease — we love to perform.”
Priest, Pantera, and Demolition Love
Asked if he’d ever consider stepping in for a Pantera tribute if needed:
“Hell yeah — I’d celebrate it, not replace anyone. I love those guys. That music is in my DNA.”
And of the two Judas Priest albums he sang on (Jugulator and Demolition)?
“I love them both, but I lean toward Demolition. It’s more melodic. Songs like One on One, Hell Is Home, Machine Man — just killer.”
He also laughs at the fact that Demolition is still on Spotify:
“Shocking, right? Once they realize it, they’ll probably take it down.”
Metal in a Mexican Restaurant (Yep, Really)
The recent tour included a pretty wild night in Los Angeles:
“We played a festival behind a Mexican restaurant with Bitch and Ross the Boss. It was chaos — venue changes, last-minute scrambles — but the fans made it worth it. Total clusterf***, but fun.”
Final Words from the Ripper
As we wrapped, Tim left fans with a reminder:
“Follow me on all socials — Facebook, Instagram, Twitter — and check out my Cameo if you want a birthday shoutout. But most importantly, go pick up Return to Death Row. If you loved Beyond Fear or Jugulator, this is for you. It’s some of my best work ever.”
You can grab bundles and merch at MartyrStore.net — just scroll down past all the Jamie Jasta stuff, and you'll find the Ripper gold.
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