Interviews : A quick Q&A with Tim Ripper Owens

There aren’t many vocalists around that have performed in as many high-caliber bands as Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. For the first time, he’ll be heading to Australia and performing a range of tracks from throughout his career. We caught up with him for a quick Q&A about what fans can expect.

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The upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand will mark your debut solo tour within our region. What can general lovers of heavy metal expect from the upcoming tour?

Well it is going to be a great set list! I mean, I am doing songs from all the bands I have been in (well maybe not ALL of them) but is is a packed set list and I think they will be doing a lot of singing.

A lot of people have been speculating what kind of setlist you have planned. Could you give us a run down of what heavy metal classics we can expect?

I will be hitting solo stuff, Beyond Fear, Judas Priest, my era and classic tunes, maybe a Winters Bane song and maybe an Iced Earth tune, some Maiden and Dio and Sabbath! Just a packed set list.

Since you’ve been apart of some pretty major acts including Judas Priest, Yngwie Malmsteen and Iced Earth. Has there been any restrictions set upon you on what you can and cannot play on your solo tour?

No and I would hope there would not be. I mean with JP they don’t hit my era stuff and I am keeping it alive! Thing is I love all the CD’s I have made with everybody and I want to share it with the fans.

Are you planning on mixing the setlist up at every show or will it be a common setlist throughout the entire tour?

Not sure it will change much, but I have a feeling it will have just a few changes a night

I recently picked up the debut Charred Walls Of The Damned album, a side project established by ex-Death and Iced Earth drummer, Richard Christy. Is there a possibility you’ll be playing some Charred Walls Of The Damned material on this tour?

I wont be playing any and I wish I would have put that on the list of songs, not sure what I was thinking, haha. Next time! or Better yet maybe it will be Charred Walls doing it!

Many would regard Ralf Scheepers and Rob Halford as the epitome of your vocal range, moreso the latter. Have you found it more difficult to sustain and upkeep your vocal range now than you did back in your Judas Priest days?

Yes. I mean it is a hard style, but the difference with my voice is I have a heavy natural voice as well, I can change it up a lot, a lot of styles, so if the falsetto isnt there it will be natural! My voice is like a DIO/Halford style mix and I dont think there is a lot out there like that! But I dont sound like either one, I sound like Ripper Owens.

Since there is a lot of vocal variation in what you sing. Do you have a personal vocal warm up or exercise that you keep to on tour?

I try and sleep a lot and drink a lot of water, and I dont talk much during the day and after a show

What are your plans recording-wise in the near future? Is there more solo material on the way?

Not sure about a solo cd but we are working on a new Beyond Fear. No record label yet but the CD is sounding great!

Last words?

Thanks so much, I can not wait to get there and start this tour off.

You can catch Ripper live on the following dates;

May 17 – Melbourne – The Hi Fi
www.moshtix.com.au
supports
BLACK MAJESTY – PEGAZUS – BERSERKERFOX

May 18 – Hobart – The Brisbane
www.oztix.com.au
supports
TYRANT – TABERAH

May 19 – Brisbane – The Hi Fi
www.moshtix.com.au
supports
INHAILED – MALAKYTE

May 20 – Adelaide – Fowlers – All Ages
www.Moshtix.com.au & www.Venuetix.com.au
supports
DOUBLE DRAGON – UNIVERSUM – A MURDER OF CROWS – OCTANIC – RAVEN BLACK KNIGHT – MATTERHORN

May 21 – Perth – Amplifier
www.moshtix.com.au
supports
DIAMOND EYE – EMERALD CITY

May 24 – Newcastle – The Cambridge
www.moshtix.com.au & www.bigtix.com.au
supports
CRIMZON LAKE** – HAZMAT

May 25 – Canberra – The Basement
www.moshtix.com.au
supports
HAZMAT – THE DEVILZWORK

May 26 – Sydney- The Hi Fi *Being pro filmed for live DVD release
www.moshtix.com.au
supports
CRIMSON LAKE** – NORSE – HAZMAT

May 27 – Wollongong – The Patch
www.oztix.com.au
supports
HAZMAT – NEKROFIEST

Jun. 01 – Wellington, New Zealand – Bodegas
www.undertheradar.co.nz
supports
RAZORWYRE – SONIC ALTAR – WORLD WAR FOUR – FORSAKEN AGE

Jun. 02 – Auckland, New Zealand – Kings Arms
www.undertheradar.co.nz
supports
WORLD WAR FOUR – SONIC ALTAR – FORSAKEN AGE – HALO OF ASHES