Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: Ripper Owens

April 16, 2006

Every metal fan knows the story of Tim “Ripper” Owens, of how he was plucked from a tribute band in Ohio to replace the Metal God himself, Rob Halford, as the singer of Judas Priest. It even inspired a movie, 2001’s Rock Star. After leaving Priest in 2003 to make way for their reunion with Halford, Owens took over vocal duties for another veteran metal act, Iced Earth, and began working on songs of his own. The product of those songs is his new band, Beyond Fear, whose self-titled debut arrives in U.S. stores May 9. Owens recently spoke to Greg Maki of Live-Metal.net about the new album, touring plans, Iced Earth and more.

Live-Metal: When did you first start working on Beyond Fear?

Tim “Ripper” Owens: Well, I started quite a while ago, really, with the idea, throwing some song ideas around. I had written, I think, “The Faith” and “Save Me” – or it might have been “The Faith” and another tune – back when I was doing the Demolition record with Priest. It kind of was the idea of what I wanted to do. Even at that time I was working with John Comprix, the guitar player. I came home and we kept getting together and recording stuff. Probably about two years ago we got really serious at it, on and off with writing songs together. Originally, I was just gonna have 10 songs, and I actually recorded 14 songs. Two of them are gonna be on a bonus CD that comes out. It was just one of those things. I ended up going slowly at a turtle’s pace, but that’s the way I wanted it to be. I didn’t want to do too many songs at once because I didn’t want any of them to really sound the same.

Was your intent always for this to be a band and not the Ripper Owens solo project?

No. At first, I was thinking it was gonna be some kind of a solo project. The name I was throwing around was Rip. About a year and a half ago, I said to John, “Listen, I think maybe this would be good to just make this a band. Let’s go out and find ourselves a band, the right guys for a band and make it band.” And then we started searching for a name. So it was probably around that time when we really started to do it. I actually felt that the fans would appreciate it and like it better and the label would appreciate it and like it better. That’s probably when it really started.

For people who haven’t had a chance to hear the band yet, can you describe the sound a little bit?

It’s metal, man. It’s heavy metal, straightforward heavy metal, I think. It’s the old school metal but in the year 2006. It’s not brain surgery music. It’s not rocket science. It’s just straightforward metal. It’s the kind of album I made that I want to listen to, that I want to buy, that I don’t get to hear out there. Crunchy, angry guitars at times with actual singing over it.

Yeah, there’s not a whole lot of that these days.

No, and nothing against the bands that are doing it. I want to what I want to do.

After coming and joining a couple of established bands, how does it feel now to be fronting your own band and building it from the beginning?

It feels great. It just feels definitely refreshing. It’s obviously been something I wanted to do. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time. I enjoyed my time in Priest so much and I so much enjoy being the singer of Iced Earth, but there’s always something that makes it feel good when you do what you want to do that you might not be able, like I couldn’t exactly do it in Iced Earth. It’s still metal, and it still mixes well with Iced Earth. It’s a good combination, but it’s just not Iced Earth exactly. It feels good.

Was it fun to write your own songs?

It was. I don’t own up to being the best guitar player in the world, but I can write a song on one. The ones that I wrote aren’t the super technical ones, but it’s the kind of songs that I want to hear and that was songs like “Save Me” and “I Don’t Need This” and “The Faith” and “Coming at You,” “My Last Words,” songs that have kind of just a crunchy, driven rhythm guitar. It was fun to do that. People go, “Well, he probably can’t write for Judas Priest because he’s not a songwriter.” And then, all of a sudden, I throw a song out there like “Scream Machine” that could be on any Judas Priest record. So it’s nice to be able to do that.

So about half the songs you wrote by yourself and the other half you collaborated with John?

John Comprix. And that was just kind of a natural progression, whereas the next record probably will be more him and I writing together. I went to him with my songs and until him and I starting working together on his ideas, I probably did “The Faith,” “Save Me,” “I Don’t Need This,” there’s a song called “Play My Game” and a song called “It Is Me” that’s gonna be a bonus track that’s gonna be on the record that I wrote, as well. So he just started coming in with his and I just loved them, “And … You Will Die,” which is probably my favorite song on the record. I love what he did because that’s why I wanted to work with him in the first place, because he’s such an edgy, heavy guitar player that plays killer leads.

What kinds of things inspire you lyrically?

Anything. I write songs about anything, even writing a song about a “Scream Machine,” about a monster, which is funny because that’s not something that is not me at all. I’m not into those kind of movies, I’m not a science fiction guy, but that was the kind of song that I wanted to write. I wanted to write an old metal-style song. Political stuff might get me if I’m watching TV and I see something. “And … You Will Die” is about a serial killer that’s out there. “My Last Words” is about someone dying on an airplane and writing his last words to his family. “The Faith” is about keeping the faith in heavy metal music. I’ll write about anything.

A real wide range of topics, it seems like.

Yeah, that’s the good thing about heavy metal. Unless you’re writing some kind of a concept type of album, I think it’s nice to not have the same songs, the same subjects, you know, every song about love or every song about a relationship or every song about politics. I like to just see subjects on TV or the movies or everyday life.

You’re about to go out on tour in Europe with Anthrax, right?

Yes.

Are you looking forward to that?

I am looking forward to it. I’m not prepared. I’m not ready yet. We are as a band. I just told somebody that other day, “Man, I’m just not ready.” I actually leave tomorrow afternoon. I said, “No, but the band’s ready as in playing-wise. I’m just not ready. I haven’t packed.” I got the suitcases downstairs and I’ve got shit all over the place. It’s been a while since I toured in Europe, and usually when I was in Priest, my clothes were already over there, my stage clothes. Now my stage clothes are kind of what I wear all the time, kind of a biker look, kind of a jeans, T-shirt and big chain wallet, really that kind of a thing. You’ve gotta start going, “Well, I gotta take stage clothes. I gotta take the backdrop.” I’m like, “Christ, man, I don’t know how to pack.” My house is destroyed right now.

As someone who was affected by a band reuniting, what’s your take on the Anthrax reunion?

Well, I think it’s great. I think it’s kind of a different thing. Anthrax was pretty awesome with [John] Bush. I love John, and I don’t think he’s ever been officially out of the band. I think it’s a good reunion to do. I myself am a big fan of [Joey] Belladonna and a big fan of John Bush. They opened for Priest on a tour. I think it’s alright. With me, it had happen. It had to happen for my career, it had to happen for Rob [Halford]’s career and it had to happen for Judas Priest’s career. Everybody involved has done better since I left. I think money is the answer to things sometimes. I left Priest, and I was offered more money to join Iced Earth than I made in Priest. As you move up the scale, you do things that just kind of go up.

Are there plans for a Beyond Fear tour here in the U.S.?

Man, I hope so. I haven’t heard anything about a Gigantour tour. That would be cool. I would love to do anything as long as there’s gonna be people out there. There has to be over 1,000, 2,000 people to be something that I would do with somebody. I think it’s must. My goal is to tour all summer. Once it gets to August, I’m gonna have to switch back over to Iced World, man. I’ve gotta get back to Iced Earth.

Do you think it’s going to be a challenge balancing the two bands?

It’ll probably be a little bit of a challenge, but I think it’s good for both bands. Me doing all this press right now for Beyond Fear puts Iced Earth back out there again where we haven’t been. When I’m doing Iced Earth, Beyond Fear’s name can be thrown around. So I think it’s a good thing. I think I’ll be able to do it. Right now, my first priority is Beyond Fear, but the main priority is gonna be Iced Earth. My goal is someday to make it where both bands at one time are equal.

Are you going to be involved in the writing of the next Iced Earth album?

Probably not. [Guitarist] Jon [Schaffer]’s been writing the album. It’s the “Something Wicked” story. It’s in his head, it’s his story. There’s really not much I can do.

What are some of things you learned during your years in Priest that you can apply now to Beyond Fear or Iced Earth or anything else really?

Well, I learn all the time. I learned some good ideas from Jon on building choruses up as you go along and some different ideas on song structures and stuff. I learned the same thing on recording and stuff off Priest. I’ll probably eventually someday learn more of the business end off of Iced Earth. I learned more of professionalism in the beginning off of Priest. They taught me how to act, how to be a good guy, be yourself, be normal. The fortunate thing for me is that I made great friends in Judas Priest. We’ll always be friends. And I’m best of friends with Jon. Jon and I are just great friends.

So you keep in touch with the guys from Priest?

I do a little bit, not as much lately. I’m actually getting ready to send them out an email pretty soon here. I forgot to tell them I was coming into town, so I figured I’d try to tell I’ll be there.

You have a really incredible vocal range. Is there one style you enjoy singing the most?

I like singing with just my natural voice. I like singing mellow stuff and natural voice stuff. The easiest stuff to sing is the high stuff, but it’s the stuff I would rather do the least, to tell the truth. But it’s like I’m forced to now. On this record, I wasn’t gonna do as much, but people said, “Man, you’re nuts if you don’t do it.” I love the mixture songs. I love songs like “The Human Race” where it goes from a little high and a little low, songs in Judas Priest like “Blood Stained.” That was a good one. That kind of stuff.

What kinds of things do you do now to keep your voice in shape?

I relax. I get a lot of sleep. Sleep is a really, really big thing on singers. When I’m gone or on tour, I have to get a lot of sleep. It’s really important to drink water and sleep and take care of yourself, especially now that I’m older. But that’s it. When I’m at home, I don’t do a whole lot. I just feel like if I’m not gonna to be on tour there’s no real need to.

In general, what do you think of the metal scene today?

I actually think it’s good. It’s definitely a lot better than it was when I was coming in. It’s a lot healthier now.

Those are all the questions I have for you now. Is there anything you’d like to add?

Well, the album comes out May 9. I think it’s something that people love. It’s straightforward heavy metal. It’s from the heart. I believe in it. I love heavy metal. This isn’t a fake heavy metal record that’s made to please anybody. It’s just made to please myself and heavy metal fans. It’s out May 9, and everybody just keep it heavy.