Les Binks
The Northern Irish drummer who powered Judas Priest's late-70s ascent with a jazz-infused, powerhouse style that defined heavy metal rhythm.
Born 1951 (age 75)·Northern Irish drummer·Birthday: April 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Les Binks emerged from the Belfast music scene to land a gig that would cement his place in hard rock history. In 1977, he joined Judas Priest, a band on the cusp of global domination. His technical precision and dynamic flair, honed from a background that appreciated more than just raw power, brought a new complexity to the band's sound during the crucial 'Stained Class' and 'Killing Machine' (released as 'Hell Bent for Leather' in the US) albums. Tracks like 'Beyond the Realms of Death' showcase his ability to blend thunderous double bass with intricate, almost melodic percussion. His tenure was brief, ending in 1979, but his influence was lasting, providing the rhythmic backbone for the band's breakthrough era and inspiring a generation of metal drummers who sought to combine speed with sophistication.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Les was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Les Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Les's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 60
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 70
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 75 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played drums on the seminal Judas Priest albums 'Stained Class' (1978) and 'Killing Machine' (1978).
- His performance on the song 'Beyond the Realms of Death' is frequently cited as a landmark in heavy metal drumming.
- Performed with Judas Priest on their 1979 'Hell Bent for Leather' tour, a pivotal period for the band's live reputation.
Did You Know?
Before joining Judas Priest, he played in a band with future Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore.
He was known for using a large, single bass drum setup at a time when double bass drums were becoming popular in metal.
After leaving Judas Priest, he played with French band Trust and did session work.
“A drummer's job is to serve the song, not just show off his chops.”
