Tim "Ripper" Owens
A tribute band singer who landed the ultimate metal gig, stepping into Judas Priest's spotlight after a fan-led campaign.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American heavy metal singer·Birthday: September 13·Generation X
Biography
Tim Owens's story is the stuff of heavy metal folklore. Long before fronting one of the genre's most iconic bands, he was belting out Judas Priest covers in a tribute act called British Steel in his native Ohio. His powerful, operatic voice, which earned him the stage name 'Ripper,' caught the ear of fans who, in a remarkable turn of events, sent a demo tape to Judas Priest themselves after Rob Halford's departure. Against all odds, he was hired, transitioning from impersonating his heroes to becoming one. His tenure with Priest produced two studio albums, 'Jugulator' and 'Demolition,' introducing a heavier, modernized sound that divided some fans but cemented his legitimate chops. After his time with Priest, Owens continued a steadfast career in metal, lending his formidable vocals to Iced Earth and later forming his own projects like KK's Priest. His journey from the bar circuit to the world's biggest stages remains a testament to raw talent and fan-powered destiny.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Tim was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Tim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
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
1972Started school
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
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was selected as the lead singer for Judas Priest in 1996 after the band heard a demo tape from his tribute band.
- Recorded two studio albums, 'Jugulator' and 'Demolition,' as the frontman of Judas Priest.
- Served as the lead vocalist for the American power metal band Iced Earth for several years.
- Co-founded the heavy metal band KK's Priest with former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Ripper' is taken from the title of a classic Judas Priest song.
His audition and hiring process for Judas Priest was the inspiration for the 2001 film 'Rock Star,' starring Mark Wahlberg.
He performed with a band called 'The Tim Ripper Monster Energy Big Band.'
Before joining Judas Priest, he was a member of the tribute band British Steel.
“I went from singing in a club to screaming for Judas Priest.”
