In a brand new question-and-answer session with Greece's Rock Overdose, former JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens was asked if he would make another album with JUDAS PRIEST if he had the opportunity. He responded: "I would, for sure not for the money, because I do better [financially] now [as a solo artist] than ever, and I work a lot more [laughs], but for the good times. I mean, while I was in PRIEST, it was like a family; we did everything together, and the hotels and bus was nicer. [Laughs] I miss my times with them, the stories the beers and dinner. I miss just hanging with them."Asked how it feels to have been the lead vocalist for two groups as big as ICED EARTH and JUDAS PRIEST, Owens said: "It feels great. I had a wonderful time. I mean, JUDAS PRIEST is one of the top bands in the world, and I grew up listening to them. Then I made two great CDs (overlooked CDs ) [with them] and two great live CDs and a DVD, and, most importantly, I made great friends. I mean, JUDAS PRIEST was the big leagues and my college."Owens recently told Dubai's Mainstage Events that parting ways with JUDAS PRIEST in 2003 after a seven-year stint with the band "was all right. We knew if was gonna happen I did, at least. And you know what? It wasn't upsetting. I had just recorded an ICED EARTH record, and it kind of felt like my time in JUDAS PRIEST was probably over. And [I was] kind of wishing it was over, in a way, to move on to ICED EARTH and do other things. And it was definitely best for JUDAS PRIEST, it was definitely best for Rob Halford, and it was definitely best for me. I would have never quit JUDAS PRIEST; I would have stayed in it forever, because I love the guys and I love what I was doing with 'em. But, as a career, to do things for my career, I had to move on. So it was okay. It was something that
It didn't offend me when JUDAS PRIEST let me go. I think it offended some family and friends and stuff at the time, but it didn't change my relationship with JUDAS PRIEST either, not has it changed with Rob Halford; we're all still good friends."Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" before the band reunited with Rob Halford.In a separate interview with CantonRep.com, Tim was asked if he thinks metal fans who didn't accept him fronting JUDAS PRIEST are able to view that period more fondly now that time has passed."I think some," he responded. "Some will never give it a shot. The funny thing about me is I'm a JUDAS PRIEST fan from the old school. If I had listened to 'Jugulator' or 'Demolition' and saw it live, I'd have said, 'This is pretty good.' Some fans look at those records and go, 'I'll never accept it.' And that's cool. I understand it 100 percent. When you think of JUDAS PRIEST, you think of Rob [Halford], Glenn [Tipton], K.K. [Downing] and Ian [Hill]."
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