Former Judas Priest vocalist Tim 'Ripper' Owens believes that he's been "erased" from the band's history, and admits that he finds it "shocking" that the two albums he recorded with the band - 1997's Jugulator and 2001's Demolition - aren't available on Spotify or other major streaming services.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Owens expresses great pride and gratitude when reflecting upon his time fronting the British metal gods, a position he held from 1996 to 2003, but makes no attempt to downplay his disappointment when asked about his legacy with Priest in the wake of Rob Halford's inevitable return to the band.
Revealing that he received the news of the termination of his contract with Priest on a fax which read 'You’re out of the band', Owens says he had no issue with being dismissed - "I understood it. It’s a business. When you think of Judas Priest, you mainly think of Rob, Glenn, and K.K. I was all right with it" - but the Ohio-born singer feels that he's subsequently been ostracised by the industry team around the band.
Asked for his thoughts on Priest finally being accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, Owens says, "It’s a shame that they can’t bring in members that were in the band almost 10 years and had a Grammy nomination, two studio records, two live records, a DVD. It’s a shame that they can’t do it.