Former JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH singer Tim “Ripper” Owens spoke to the “Rock Down South” podcast about the worst show he has ever played in his career. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “The ICED EARTH show that I did at the Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan. It was the last show of the tour — probably ‘The Glorious Burden’ tour, maybe, I think. And I lost my voice. When I got there, I had no voice at all. It was just horrible. I’ll never forget it. And then I had a JUDAS PRIEST show like that too. We did an American run when I made the band for the ‘Jugulator’ tour. And then we went to Europe. And the second show, I think it was, I’d lost my voice. And at that time, I’d never really lost my voice on something like that. And I was so embarrassed and upset. I thought, ‘These guys are gonna yell at me.’ We were on stage and I remember [telling] Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist], ‘I don’t think I can do ‘Victim Of Changes’.’ I’d never taken a song out of our setlist in my life. I could sing ‘Breaking The Law’ or ‘Grinder’ — there’s plenty of songs I can do without… The problem is ‘Victim Of Changes’ has that high note at the end, and if nothing comes out of my mouth, it’s gonna be pretty embarrassing. But that was really bad. So those two shows still stick out… Not that I’ve not had crappy shows since then — shows that I’ve probably lost my voice — but that show, I really think about that all the time.”
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997’s “Jugulator” and 2001’s “Demolition” — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.
Owens is currently in a new band called KK’S PRIEST with ex-JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing, along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).
KK’S PRIEST‘s debut album, “Sermons Of The Sinner”, was released on October 1 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records
