Former Judas Priest vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens has opened up about the mounting challenges facing heavy metal bands in today's touring landscape.
In a recent interview with Sense Music Media, Owens painted a stark picture of the current touring environment. He pointed to market saturation as a major issue, with numerous bands competing for audiences' attention and dollars simultaneously.
The financial strain on both artists and fans emerged as a central theme. While major acts command premium ticket prices, this leaves many fans with limited budgets to support other shows. Rising operational costs have forced some bands to cancel tours due to insufficient ticket sales.
Owens revealed these industry pressures have directly impacted his current band, KK'S PRIEST. The group has been unable to schedule Australian tour dates because anticipated revenues wouldn't cover basic expenses and guarantees.
The vocalist noted he maintains his ability to tour solo by working with different backing bands across regions. However, KK'S PRIEST faces additional hurdles due to their stance on meet-and-greets - a valuable revenue stream many bands rely on to sustain tours.
Speaking to Australia's Silver Tiger Media, Owens explained that while bandmate K.K. Downing prefers not to offer meet-and-greet packages, he remains committed to delivering high-quality shows with proper production values, including video screens and full crew complement.
This dedication to production standards, combined with the absence of meet-and-greet income, creates extra challenges for extensive touring plans, according to Owens. The situation reflects the broader difficulties metal bands face in balancing artistic vision with financial realities in today's touring climate.