Former JUDAS PRIEST Singer Signs Management Deal With NIJI
- Dec. 7, 2005
KNAC.COM is reporting that ICED EARTH/ex-JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and his band BEYOND FEAR have signed on with Niji Management in Los Angeles. Niji is owned by Wendy Dio, who also manages Ronnie James Dio. Legendary drummer Aynsley Dunbar (WHITESNAKE, JOURNEY, ZAPPA, JEFFERSON STARSHIP) is also on the Niji roster.
BEYOND FEAR are currently recording a new album which is set to be released in May 2006 on SPV Records worldwide. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "I Don't Need This", "And You Will Die", "It Is Me", "Telling Lies", "The Faith", "The Human Race", "Your Time Has Come" and "My Last Words". Joining Owens and guitarist John Comprix (SPAWN, 13 FACES) in the new group are Dennis Hayes (ex-WINTERS BANE, SEVEN WITCHES) on bass, Dwane Bihary (MISSING SKIN) on rhythm guitar, and drummer Eric Elkins (CRYPTKICKER, ALL YOU FEAR). European festival appearances are tentatively planned for the summer of 2006.
As previously reported, Owens has been confirmed as one of the performers at the Roadrunner Records' 25th anniversary concert on December 15 at the Nokia Theatre in Times Sq. New York City. Some of the other special guests confirmed to perform at the Roadrunner Records' 25th anniversary concert include members of SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, BIOHAZARD, LIFE OF AGONY, FEAR FACTORY, SEPULTURA and TRIVIUM, who will join the already announced "core band" comprised of Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) on drums, Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) on lead guitar, Dino Cazares (ex-FEAR FACTORY, BRUJERIA) on rhythm guitar, and Adam Duce (MACHINE HEAD) on bass. Special guests, including past and present Roadrunner artists and other metal icons, will join the band onstage to play 20 classic Roadrunner tunes along with a few choice cuts from "Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions".
To report any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or
threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws,
please send an e-mail to bmouth@bellatlantic.net
with pertinent details.
Anyone posting such material will be immediately and permanently banned. IP
addresses are recorded to aid us in enforcing these conditions.
COMMENT | this is very interesting posted by : Metal Hoops 12/7/2005 1:15:38 AM
COMMENT | it will be interesting posted by : bill 12/7/2005 1:35:03 AM
ripper will always be second rate.but he does "OK". barlow was wayyy better! but I might pick this up!
who is produceing the new album?? and where is it being recorded??
please don't tell me jim morris and morrisound studio!! enough of that guy already!
COMMENT | posted by : bill 12/7/2005 1:51:41 AM
what about the Blaze Bayley solo stuff???
I'm thinking buying one of his album,is his stuff anygood??
I liked that "Man On The Edge" song he did with -Iron Maiden.I heard it on the"best of the beast" complation.
COMMENT | Oh god, even Wendy Dio too. posted by : Song of Wyrd 12/7/2005 1:55:16 AM
"Niji" is Japanese for "Rainbow", for those who don't know. Apparently Wendy shares her husband's fixation.
That said, I'm looking forward to hearing Beyond Fear.
COMMENT | posted by : andeathion656 12/7/2005 3:17:55 AM
man ripper gets more shit-talked about him than any singer i think lol.most people hate his work with judas,and also hate his work with iced earth.maybe it was because he followed 2 great singers in both those bands.maybe having his own band from the start will do him good.ripper is a cool guy and u never once hear him badmouth those who down him.he just goes on about his business like a professional.good guy.hope this new band works out.
COMMENT | blaze and ripper should do a duet posted by : g@u55 12/7/2005 4:50:44 AM
w/ kelly gay playing guitar and mixing the whole fucked up affair...
they can call it 'the 3 tumors'.
COMMENT | I wonder if Wendy Dio has a bigger dick than Ronnie? posted by : DaBOG 12/7/2005 4:51:14 AM
Yes, she does. It is in her drawer or should be... However, it always ends up in the wrong place which is the drawer on Ronnies side of the bed. Ronnie manages to put the lube away but forgets to dispose of all the 'big evidence'
Anyhow, Ripper can now "out rip" Bob Halford but one thing they have in common is singing terrible lyrics. Lochness? Did I just hear a fucking song on XM written by 50 year olds singing about the Lochness Monster? Yup, I sure did and it sucked. Iced Earth gets only one less point on the lyrical garbage scale for wrting about Phantom Of The Opera, Dungeons and various other monsters which all coincidentally look like Anus Dungbar.
Remember, if you cant say anything nice, dont say anything at all. Especially around the holidays - I mean Christmas (Fuck all other Holidays, the fat man in the suit rules)
Now go eat your Moms uterus now that she got her hysterctomy
COMMENT | Congratulations posted by : Ruth 12/7/2005 7:18:06 AM
Congratulations to Ripper and Beyond Fear.
Saw them live in NJ
Tim is one of my fave singers and a great guy
COMMENT | congrats posted by : mcook 12/7/2005 8:07:46 AM
Way to go Tim, You are the best and you need Class Management. I think you are the best singer out there and I myself love your stage presence, Good luck.
COMMENT | RIPPER RULES posted by : Dick Butkus 12/7/2005 6:16:33 PM
I saw Owens in concert 4 times, 3 with Priest and once with Iced Earth. Each time he was awesome. He can do Priest better than Halford can! Go listen to his incredible live versions of Victem of Changes and Touch of Evil on the live CDs. The man can hit all the notes, and not just the high ones. Also, check out his version of Flight of Icaris on the Maiden tribute CD. It is awesome. The man can sing Priest, Iced Earth, and Maiden. He's more than OK in my book. Also, Iced Earth has plenty of more songs than about dungeons. The last CD was all based on true history and war stories.
COMMENT | NOT WENDY DIO!!!! posted by : sparty 12/17/2005 4:26:51 PM
My god...she hasnt slept with Ronnie since the Rough Cutt days...she was screwing Shortino...after him was...well..you can figure it out. Ronnie is an idiot for staying married to her. Maybe Ripper is screwing her now. She SUCKS as a manager....FIND SOMEONE ELSE!!!
COMMENT | Just saying posted by : cypher900 12/18/2005 1:00:55 AM
Well, I have always loved Iced Earth, allways will. True, Barlow was legendary in his own right, and those are some pretty big shoes to fill. But I think Ripper does a more than adequate job filling them. Hell, his got some big damn shoes of his own. I'll be very interested to hear what this sounds like. Stay metal Ripper, and good luck with Iced Earth and Beyond Fear. I'll keep listening.
BLABBERMOUTH.NET is run and operated independently of Roadrunner Records. The accuracy of the information
contained herein is neither confirmed nor guaranteed by Roadrunner Records, and the views and opinions of
authors expressed on these pages do not necessarily state or reflect those of Roadrunner Records or its employees.
