Tim “Ripper” Owens Comments on Leaving ICED EARTH

Singer Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) issues the following statement regarding his departure from Iced Earth:

“My last words on my departure from Iced Earth. Well, first off I would like to wish good luck to Jon (Schaffer) and the band. The news did come at a bad time (being two weeks before Christmas) and I really think it could have been handled in a much better way but I do completely agree that it needed to happen for IE and for myself. 'The Winds of change' really are upon me and that is exactly what I needed.

With BEYOND FEAR being one of the best reviewed CD’s I have ever done, I'm really looking forward to getting the new CD recorded and released. The new one is sounding nice and heavy and it really is a step up from the last one, it's just straight forward metal. Myself, along with my manager Wendy Dio and all at Niji management are excited about the future. Once again, good luck to all the guy's that I've played with in IE over the last few years but let’s all just leave it alone now and end this chapter and close that book!”

“Thank you and keep it heavy,
Ripper”