Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt shared his thoughts about former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks in a heartfelt message on Instagram.
“Sadly, we have lost yet another rock icon! The devastating news of the passing of drummer Les Binks reached us the other day,” Åkerfeldt said. “Out of all the drummers in our much beloved Judas Priest, Les would rank at the very top, in my opinion. He had a swing that was unique in the camp of Judas Priest drummers.”
“I confess I have ‘borrowed’ a lot of ideas from Les. His backwards starting tom-roll in ‘Better by you, better than me’ comes back every now and then in our music,” he continued. “In some way, shape, or form. He was incredible! I have obsessed over Les Binks to the point where I’ve bought records just because he’s on it.”
“I think he’s one of a kind. His drumming was a voice. Personal and unique,” Åkerfeldt added. “You could hear it’s him in the same sense as you can hear when it’s Neil Peart playing. Or Mike Portnoy, Ian Paice, Lars Ulrich.”
Binks’ impact on heavy metal drumming transcended his time with Judas Priest. His innovative approach helped shape the genre’s evolution.
Blabbermouth reported that Binks passed away on April 14, 2024, at age 72. His death followed a brief illness.
The drummer’s tenure with Judas Priest spanned three crucial albums. Louder Sound documented his contributions to ‘Sin After Sin’ (1977), ‘Stained Class’ (1978), and ‘Hell Bent for Leather’ (1979). These recordings defined the band’s signature sound during their commercial breakthrough.
Binks left an enduring legacy through his songwriting. Ultimate Classic Rock highlighted his co-writing credit on ‘Beyond the Realms of Death.’ The track remains one of Judas Priest’s most celebrated songs.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognized Binks’ contributions in November 2022. His induction alongside former bandmates served as a fitting tribute to his impact on heavy metal music.
