Tim "Ripper" Owens says his voice remains as strong as ever, telling Brazil's Heavy Talk that decades into his career, he has no concerns about his ability to deliver material live.
"It's still there. I think I sing as good now as, if not better than, I ever have," Owens said. Asked about vocal maintenance, he revealed he skips warm-ups entirely, drawing a comparison to one of metal's most revered vocalists: "I've never warmed up in my life, ever. Like Ronnie James Dio, he never warmed up." Despite the confidence, Owens admitted a degree of pre-show nerves persists. "I still get a little nervous. Not nervous to step on stage, but nervous 'cause I wanna sing good," he said.
Owens emphasized that his studio recordings translate directly to the stage without compromise. "Everything you hear on this record I can sing live," he said, adding that audience reaction remains the driving force behind his continued touring: "I love to watch the people's reaction. That's what makes you excited about going out there."
Owens currently fronts KK'S PRIEST, the band formed with JUDAS PRIEST co-founder K.K. Downing, which has released the albums "Sermons Of The Sinner" (2021) and "The Sinner Rides Again," featuring tracks including "Hellfire Thunderbolt," "One More Shot At Glory" and "Reap The Whirlwind." Owens previously fronted JUDAS PRIEST itself from 1996 to 2003, recording "Jugulator" (1997) and "Demolition" (2001) before Rob Halford's return to the band.