In a new interview on Talkin’ Rock With Meltdown, former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens talked about Rock Hall snubbing the band once again this year.
He said:
“Well, I don’t like that idea just because it’s called ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.’ In my opinion, there are other bands that are even more deserving.
“Here’s one thing about Judas Priest: somebody said one time, ‘Well, they’re trying to look for bands and musicians that are influential.’ Well, how can you be more influential in music than Judas Priest?
“Dual guitars, leather and studs, what they wore, everything was just… To me, a band like Foreigner hasn’t even been up for it. I’m thinking, ‘How can that band…’, you know, out of everybody…
“I drive down the road and I probably hear 10 different Foreigner songs, and I think to myself, ‘How in the world can this band not be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?’.
“But it is horrible that Judas Priest isn’t in and got snubbed again but, you know, on the other hand, I won’t be going in with Judas Priest either, so I got kind of snubbed as well. I’ve been in the band for about 10 years and I won’t be going in.”
Would you be at the ceremony?
“I’m certain I’ll be invited, I’m still friends with everybody. I certainly hope I will be invited to go if they went into the Hall of Fame. Absolutely, I can’t imagine they wouldn’t but some of the decision-making that happened wouldn’t shock me.
“Obviously, they kind of erased my history anyways. Doesn’t change what I think, I’m totally friends with them, amazing people, all of them, Rob [Halford] included.
“I would think that I will be invited. I mean, it’s shocking that you can be in about 10 years and two records, up to that point and not go… but listen, it’s amazing that they keep getting voted in by the fans and not…
“I mean, Pat Benatar, as a female, was snubbed again as well. Just amazing, I can’t believe someone like Judas Priest that made so much…
“The problem is, it should not be called the ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’ then because they’re not putting rock ‘n’ roll artists in, they’re putting musicians in, and some of them, in my opinion, aren’t really musicians.”