Akron’s Tim “Ripper” Owens may appear to be the busiest man in Northeast Ohio metal, but apparently he just doesn’t have enough to keep him busy.
Never mind that he joined guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen’s band in time to record last year’s Perpetual Flame. Never mind that he has his own band, Beyond Fear. Never mind that he’s got a brand new solo album, Play My Game, which just hit the streets and features an all-star cast of musicians such as Bruce Kulick (Kiss), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio), Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Dave Ellefson (Megadeth), Billy Sheehan, Vinnie Appice, Neil Zaza and many more. Or that he’ll be launching a Scandanavian tour next month opening for Ronnie James Dio’s Heaven & Hell, on which he’ll be backed by Wright, Ellefson, Chris Caffery and longtime buddy from Northeast Ohio, John Comprix, on guitar.
Despite all this, he must have been getting bored because, according to a press release sent out by Metal Blade Records, Owens will be fronting a new band, Charred Walls of the Damned, formed by drummer Richard Christy, Owens’ old bandmate from his Iced Earth days.
Christy has just finished writing material for the project, which will be produced and recorded by the band’s guitarist Jason Suecof in his Orlando studio. The band also includes Steve Digiorgio (Iced Earth, Death) on bass. The album is scheduled for release on Metal Blade in the fall. —Anastasia Pantsios
