For years, my quiet admiration for the work Tony 'The Cat' Martin did during his time in Black Sabbath, and Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest, has not been a secret.
I have spent the last week going through catalogues of songs, videos, and interviews, but it seems there is a complete suppression of the work these two did with two of the highest profile metal bands in history.
Yes, the differences between bands like Judas Priest and Black Sabbath may be a chasm wider than the Plover Cove, but there are striking similarities. Black Sabbath, through the years have had uncountable lineup changes, but always kept the core group a 4-piece. One drum, one guitar, one bass, one voice. Rarely have they needed to break away from this set up and they've always been able to write great songs. Not to mention, the boys in Sabbath have always had some of the best pipes in rock and metal history fronting the band. Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes, both from Deep Purple, and of course the legendary Ronnie James Dio, who replaced original singer Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, all fronted the band at one time or another.
But, the most underrated performer of all, spoken in hush tones across the airwaves, is fellow Brummie, English-born Tony Martin.
Martin was responsible for tunes such as Kill in the Spirit World, Headless Cross, and the double-header Odin's Court/Valhalla. Each song is wildly different from the last, but each showcase a particular set of skills that only gods should possess. Tony Martin wrote lyrics like Geezer [bass, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, GzR] and Ozzy, but had the vocal prowess of the late, great Dio, boasting an impressive vocal range few are able to possess, or control.
Like Martin, Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who was with Judas Priest from 1996 to 2003, until it was announced they would reunite with the leather-lunged Metal God, joined the band during a particular low-point. In Priest, Owens recorded two studio albums, Jugulator and Demolition, two live double albums, and a DVD concert experience. Only having officially co-written one song with the band, Tim's vocals helped continue and expand upon the bands legacy. A sentiment and feeling that could be shared by many, including someone who was in the same boat. More on that momentarily.
The Ripper, and The Cat. Two wildly different acts in two different bands, but sharing the same world. Metal. Here are two gentlemen, underrated in their time by their peers, and the fans. Tim's aggressive style in writing and performing are legendary in their own right, just as Tony Martin's was. Martin was more soft-spoken, but always championed the work he did.
The problem is, to this day, both bands have buried the works of these two artists, with very little mentioned as a reason to why. Tony Iommi [Guitar, Black Sabbath] has assured us he wants to see a re-release and re-mix of the albums Martin recorded with him, such as a planned release of 1995's Forbidden, which was panned by critics and fans alike, that never came to fruition.
"We've held back on the reissues of those albums because of the current Sabbath thing with [Ozzy Osbourne], but they will certainly be happening." - Tony Iommi (2016)
This of course, was said during Black Sabbath's Farewell Tour, lovingly called "The End". The tour was a huge success, but now that Sabbath is a sleeping giant, we have heard radio-silence over any planned release of these fantastic classic albums. After the memorial of the late Cozy Powell [drums, Black Sabbath], Tony Martin posted to his facebook in regards to his conversation with Iommi, who was also in attendance;
Via Loudwire, "The two reconnected after more than a decade of not speaking to each other, leading Martin to post a message on his Facebook page stating, “Well what a great day… I attended the unveiling of Cozy Powell’s memorial plaque in his hometown of Cirencester, along with Brian May, Neil Murray, and Tony Iommi … And to my surprise was greeted by Tony Iommi VERY warmly. It's the first conversation of any length I have had with him in 15 years!!!! ….. and it turns out we may well be working together soon!!!”
In regards to Tim Owens, the future for his releases with Judas Priest are looking brighter every day. For years, Owens was disappointed that the albums he made were not only overlooked, but seemingly forgotten. Nowadays, however, we see the two camps of Halford and Owens opening up to new possibilities. Earlier this year, Owens expressed his wish to record a cover of the Bowie/Queen classic, Under Pressure, with Rob. Halford, in 2019 and again last month, confirmed that he's not against the idea of singing some Owens-era Priest.
"Why not?" said Halford, "Those records, Jugulator and Demolition, are both part of the great history of JUDAS PRIEST. And Tim is a good friend of mine. I’ve never done any of the songs that he sang on, but I’d definitely have a crack at them."
In my opinion, I would love to see a collaborative effort, not just of Owens/Halford, or the fictional "no-chance-in-hell" union of any combination of Sabbath singers, but also a collaboration in the vein of Owens/Martin. Coming from two legendary bands, having accomplished solo careers, and working in similar styles of music, these two could make something really special. The fiery grit and aggression of someone like Owens, with the powerful other-worldy style of someone like Tony Martin, would make for an interesting, and fresh, new take on old classics.
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Written by Steve Knudsen
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