Judas Priest Singer Ripper Owens

This is the first 20 Questions that were ever sent in by mail! As in, through the U.S Post Office. You know, before email and shit, people actually mailed things to one another. Well Ripper hand wrote his answers to us, put it in an envelope, and mailed them in! He actually spent a few bucks to send us his 20 Questions. That’s certainly a first!

As you should know by now, Ripper replaced Rob Halford as the singer in Judas Priest, blah blah blah, Rock Star Movie, yak yak yak, etc, etc. If you don’t know the whole story, go do your own research.

Wendell Neeley from the Classic Metal Radio show was the one who hooked us up with Ripper. Thanks to Wendell for that and thanks to Ripper for putting in the effort to get us the questions.

Enjoy!

1. What are you currently up to? This is your only chance to plug your shit.
Touring. Always touring. Put out Demolitioin – Toured with Anthrax – They are one of my all time favorite bands.

2. What is your best and worst memory being with the Priest?
Grammy nomination is the best!
Worst – lost my voice in Germany once – it really sucked

3. Why do you think sales of “Demolition” are so low? You think it has anything to do with the fact that you rap on one song?
Slow promotion at the beginning – and Sept 11th happened! And I didn’t know I raped.

4. What hard rock/heavy metal band should give it up and call it a day?
Any band who looks like they are in drag – pussy music!

5. Rate the following replacement singers on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being somebody who should stay in their tribute band and 10 being better than the original singer.
Gary Cherone / Van Halen = 5, 10 w/Extreme
Tony Martin / Black Sabbath = never heard him
John Bush / Anthrax = 10 – Great Singer – Great Guy – Taught me a few things
David Coverdale / Deep Purple = never heard him w/Purple
Blaze Bailey / Iron Maiden = -5 w/Maiden, 7 on his own
James LaBrie / Dream Theater = 8
Michael Kiske / Helloween = never heard him
John Corabi / Motley Crue = 8
Steve Augeri / Journey = never heard him – heard he is good
Jizzy Pearl / Ratt = never heard him – who is he

6. Did you see the movie Rock Star and did you have a dopey assed girlfriend like the one Jennifer Aniston portrayed?
Didn’t see the movie – I have a great wife and she looks good (real good)

7. Why does the band have to tune down a whole step on the old songs?
Because all the new shit is lower – we wanted everything the same live. And we liked the old stuff lower – This isn’t the 80’s, you don’t have to play it standard anymore!

8. Does Ian Hill ever have a say in anything?
He talks all the time – He is very, very smart. That’s why I’m doing this, not Ian!

9. Was there any truth to the rumor about replacing Phil Anselmo in Pantera? Did they ever contact you about that?
No! But I do love Pantera – But Phil is the man!

10. Give us a touring memory about the following cities:
New York = Wow was it crazy – I love New York
Philadelphia = Good times – good times (Can’t tell you what I did)
Denver = Don’t remember
Dallas = Guys from Pantera there – They are great guys & sure can drink
Tampa = Good friends at the show – A lot of fun
Chicago = Sold out – crazy crowd
Los Angeles = A lot of so called rock stars – They didn’t like me – There still looking for a band
London = Chants of Ripper in the crowd – really cool
Tokyo = Nice crowd

11. How many weeks do you think you have left before you are booted from Priest and Rob Halford comes back?
Longer then Metal Sludge will be around! (Just kidding! I love you guys)
What’s it like living in his shadow?
1st off I’m not in his shadow. Just show up at one of our concerts!

12. What rock star deserves a smack in the mouth and why?
Fred Durst – He is a little pussy.

13. Before you started the Judas Priest cover band, did you ever consider doing a tribute band for Warrant or perhaps Winger?
I thought they were a tribute band – my mistake

14. How is it possible that you can sing lines like “Your head you will lose it, severed when executed” with a straight face?
Isn’t this heavy metal – Don’t take the lyrics to seriously just like I don’t take this web page to seriously!

15. Does anyone other than Glenn Tipton have any say in the band at all?
We all get our say!

16. What’s it like being in a band where the other members are old enough to be your father?
I like it – they have more stories to tell – I’ve got to admit they seem a lot younger

17. Does Ian need an oxygen mask before and after he plays on stage?
No, but I do!

18. Do you have any plans on coming out of the closet in effort to get some publicity for your new CD?
I’m not gay – but if I was that really doesn’t seem to work!

19. Does the fact that Rob Halford was in the band for so many years mean that most of the groupies are men?
No – The woman really dug Rob and still do!

20. Time for Metal Sludge’s Word Association. We mention a name and you give us your thoughts.
Mark Wahlberg = Good actor
Zakk Wylde = Great image
Atlantic Records = Are we still on them – I’ll have to check – oh yea we are! Get Demolition
Tommy Lee = Drummer
Scott Ian = Killer riffs!
Paul Gargano = Don’t know who he is
Kid Rock = Real black metal
Fred Durst = Now that’s rap & crap
Rob Halford = Judas Priest “old” singer – pipes of steel & back to metal
Glenn Tipton = Stage left

Hey send me a t-shirt – They look great! Good luck & thanks a lot – see ya on tour!
Rip

Here’s page 2 of Ripper’s answers sent into us!

Ripper’s hand written answers, page 2

Now if that piece of paper isn’t a perfect item for the next Metal Sludge Ebay Auction! Yet again, maybe we’ll just keep it to ourselves as a souvenir.

And yes Ripper, the shirts are on the way!

For more info on Judas Priest, you can go to www.judaspriest.com