Former Judas Priest and current KK’s Priest singer Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens recently opened up about his vocal struggles, making a candid confession in a new interview.
Owens is known for his powerful and uncompromising vocal delivery. He addressed the physical demands of life on the road and revealed that he has been dealing with ongoing vocal issues.
“Health-wise, I’m probably in the… Well, I haven’t been to the gym in a while ’cause I’ve been on the road. But I go to the gym every day, and I lost weight and work out, and I’m probably healthier. But I just got some vocal issues. And as a singer, that happens,” he said. “I mean, you can do any kind of remedy you want, but when you have vocal issues, you have vocal issues. So I’ve been trying to figure out how to sing with vocal issues, which is maybe not a bad thing.”
Owens went on to reflect on his approach to performing and how the challenges have pushed him to reconsider his technique.
“Because I don’t cheat when I sing, I sing everything how I’m supposed to sing it. I don’t change the versions. I don’t dodge high notes. But now that I’ve had some vocal issues, I’m trying to learn how to not do that,” he continued. “I don’t do it that often because I just… Sometimes I go for that note and something might not come out, but God, gosh darn it, I’m trying to hit that note. But I’m learning how to maybe tame it back a little bit. Maybe I can find ways to save myself ’cause [I’m] not getting any younger.”
The comments highlight the physical toll that years of touring can take on a vocalist, even one as seasoned as Owens. The interview was conducted in Chile. It comes at a particularly demanding point in his schedule, as Owens is currently in the middle of an extensive 2026 tour across South America and Mexico, performing the best of Judas Priest and additional material under the Masters of Voices banner.
The relentless touring pace has pushed Owens to reassess habits he had long taken for granted. He has recently adopted a proper vocal warm-up routine — something he never bothered with earlier in his career. He acknowledged that the nerves he still feels before shows have made the preparation a necessity rather than an option.
His commitment to authenticity on stage remains a defining characteristic. Owens records his parts at the peak of his ability in the studio and holds himself to the same standard every night on the road. He has been vocal about his belief that serious vocalists should be able to reproduce their studio performances live, without transposing songs into easier keys or relying on enhancements that cannot be replicated outside the studio.
That standard is precisely what makes the current vocal challenges more significant. Back in October 2023, Owens reiterated his commitment to singing all songs exactly as originally recorded — whether Judas Priest material or KK’s Priest. His recent admission makes clear the strain his approach places on his voice over time.
Despite the difficulties, Owens shows no signs of stepping back. His willingness to openly discuss the issue, while continuing to tour at a demanding pace, reflects both the resilience and the honesty that have defined his career since he first stepped into one of rock’s most iconic vocalist roles.
Source: iRock
