Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis has opened up about the band’s long-debated decision to exclude material from the Tim “Ripper” Owens era during their live performances.

In a recent interview with El Expreso del Rock, Travis acknowledged the topic directly, noting that Rob Halford, the band’s iconic vocalist, plays a major role in the decision.

“I just think it’s not something Rob [Halford, Priest vocalist] really wants to do, and I totally understand that,” Travis explained.

But beyond personal preferences, Travis pointed to practical challenges, especially when building a setlist that satisfies both casual fans and longtime diehards.

“And the other thing is, with Judas Priest, we have so many great songs to play, it’s impossible to get to get ’em all in because, as you know, in concert, we’re always gonna have to play ‘[You’ve Got] Another Thing Comin’’, ‘Living After Midnight’, ‘Breaking The Law’, ‘[The] Green Manalishi [With the Two Pronged Crown]’, ‘Victim Of Changes’ — you’re always gonna have to play those classics,” he continued.

The band’s classic catalog often dominates the live setlist, leaving little room for deeper cuts or material from different lineups.

“‘Cause as soon as you don’t play those, then people are screaming, ‘Why didn’t you play this song or that song?’ So you have to do those, and then you’ve only got so much time left to squeeze the other songs in during a live set,” Travis said. “So, to be honest, there’s really just not time. And so we just decided to not mess with it.”

While Owens fronted Judas Priest during a pivotal chapter from 1996 to 2003—recording two studio albums (Jugulator and Demolition)—those years have largely been left out of the band’s current live rotation.

Still, the conversation continues to stir among fans, marking another example of how lineup changes in legacy bands can create lasting impact—not just on records, but on the road.