Tim Ripper Owens

Biography:

"Throughout heavy metal's history, there have been few times that a fan was lucky enough to land a spot with their favorite band due to a vacancy, such as Jason Newsted joining Metallica, and Tim "Ripper" Owens signing on with Judas Priest. Hailing from Akron, Ohio, Owens grew up a major metal fan - fronting a Judas Priest cover band (called British Steel). Owens also fronted other local groups, as well (including Brainicide, U.S. Metal, Winter's Bane, and Seattle), as he developed a multi-octave vocal range, just like his hero, Rob Halford. It was during this time that Owens and Winter's Bane guitarist Lou St. Paul penned a concept album together, Heart of a Killer, which told the story of a murdered who gets a heart transplant from the same Judge that sentenced him to the death penalty. Recorded in Germany over a period of only three weeks, the album was originally issued on a small independent record label in Germany, as well.

One night, Owens and British Steel were playing at a small club in Erie, Pennsylvania, when two friends of Priest drummer Scott Travis happened to catch the performance. They where so impressed with Owens that they videotaped the show, and forwarded it to Travis and his fellow Priest band mates, who had been on hiatus for several years by this point (after longtime front man Halford left the group in 1992). Priest was so impressed with Owens' vocal skills that an audition was set up in England just a few short days later, and after only singing the first verse of the Priest classic "Victim of Changes," landed the gig. 1997 saw the release of Jugulator, which doubled as Priest's long awaited comeback album (they hadn't issued a new studio release since 1990), and of course, Owens' debut with the group. The album performed respectfully on the charts, as did its ensuing world tour, which was documented a year later with the release, 98 Live Meltdown.

Then Century Media label reissued the old Winter's Bane release, Heart of a Killer, complete with extra added live and demo bonus tracks in 2000. Also around the same time, a movie was being made based on Owens' rise from obscurity to fronting his favorite band, and although Priest was originally involved in the project, eventually bowed out. The film, 2001's Rock Star, was made anyway, with actor Mark Wahlberg playing the role of a singer based on Owens. The same year, Judas Priest issued their second studio album with Owens, Demolition.

NOW. 2005. Tim and priest split in 2003 and he joined with the Band ICED EARTH, and recorded the CD The Glorious Burden, which just might be some of Tim's best vocals to date. The CD has been loved by the press and said to have been the best Iced Earth CD yet.

Tim has a new band that he has put together himself called BEYOND FEAR and has signed a world wide record deal with SPV, The CD came out in May of 2006, it is said to be and old school metal with classic metal vocals." The Beyond Fear CD might be the best reviewed CD Tim has ever done...just see for yourself!

Tim Owens

http://www.icedearth-tr.com