Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio both rose to prominence fronting the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath at different times. While both the singers are well regarded, who is the better singer: Dio or Ozzy? Here’s what I think: The late Ronnie James Dio is an overall better singer than Ozzy. He has a … Read more
Black Sabbath are known as the founders of heavy metal, and their sound is deep and dark. But to get that sound, did Black Sabbath play in standard tuning? Here is what I hear: While most early Black Sabbath songs, such as Paranoid, are in standard tuning, many of their albums are not done in … Read more
Music theory sometimes seems reserved for classical or jazz music. But some heavy metal is also equally complex, so do metal musicians know music theory? Here is what I’ve seen: Some metal musicians such as Eddie Van Halen did know music theory, but most, such as Randy Rhoads, Slash, James Hetfield, and Cliff Burton, lacked … Read more
Judas Priest is one of the most iconic bands of the last century. And the crazy thing is, they have existed for half of that century! But with multiple line-up changes and 18 musicians coming and going, how many original members are in Judas Priest? Here’s what I know from being a big fan: None … Read more
The other day I was reminiscing about the “Ripper” days of Judas Priest. In the late 90s, Tim “Ripper” Owens joined the band, replacing singer Rob Halford after leaving. But Ripper only stayed with them 7 years. So why did Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens leave Judas Priest? Here’s what I know from being a long-time fan: … Read more
Everyone thinks of Rob Halford when they think of Judas Priest. But singer Tim “Ripper” Owens temporarily replaced him from 1996 until 2003 and was much younger with a similar voice. So is Tim “Ripper” Owens a better singer than Rob Halford? Here’s what I think, having listened to both: Technically speaking, Owens is a … Read more
Growing up, I will never forget the first time I saw a Judas Priest album cover. Heavy metal covers were designed to evoke strong imagery and to cause a reaction. And then there’s the name. I remember being curious about them and wondering, is Judas Priest a Christian band? Here’s what I’ve discovered over the … Read more