TIM “RIPPER” OWENS On Difficulties Of Playing Live: “There’s A Lot Of People Touring”

Touring has been a difficult thing for many artists, both established and underground, over the last few years and it’s only getting more difficult for many. Longtime vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth) shared some of his thoughts on the difficulties facing touring musicians when speaking to Sense Music Media (h/t Blabbermouth).

“I think one reason is there’s a lot of people touring. I mean, in America it’s just non-stop. Our KK’s Priest tours did pretty good in America, but it’s expensive for big bands. We can’t come to Australia — KK’s Priest. We tried. We’re hopefully gonna do it. We tried to get there, but the guarantees and expenses, it wasn’t adding up, so KK‘s not doing it. We’re not a new band that goes and loses or breaks even or whatever.

“But it’s tough out there. I mean, there’s bands who cancel a lot now because of low ticket sales. I’ve seen ’em cancel coming to Australia. I think that Judas Priest girls tribute band was coming there and had to cancel. And it’s because of the expense. I’m fortunate that my [solo] band’s there, so I’m lucky. And that’s how I tour a lot. I tour all over the world solo and I have bands that I have in different parts of the world so I can go tour. ‘Cause I couldn’t afford to tour on my own with my band here. But it’s tough all over the world. It’s pretty good in America right now, I think, but I think it’s just the same as everywhere. But there’s still a metal scene — it’s still there — I think it’s just saturated with a lot of stuff. I mean, when we toured with KK’S Priest this last time, Iron Maiden was touring on the West Coast when we were touring, Judas Priest was touring, Megadeth was touring. Judas Priest, I think they might have made their tour just to play the next city when we were there on purpose, because we would play Canada, in Toronto, and then the next day they were playing in Niagara Falls, which is right down the street. But that’s how it is. So I think it’s really tough and it’s expensive. So what happens is everybody spends their 300 dollars on an Iron Maiden ticket and 150 or whatever Judas Priest is in America — Maiden‘s probably 100 and something and Priest is probably 50 or something like that in America, I’m guessing — 50 or 60. But that becomes a lot of money. So it becomes expensive.”

He’s not wrong; concerts are expensive these days, as is everything else, and a lot of concertgoers have to make decisions on what they can afford to see.