Support Your Local Venue
Hello My Name Is Tim
Reggies, Chicago
Tim "Ripper" Owens
A
lthough the Three Tremors concept was initially conceived in the
early 2000s by Iron Maiden wailer Bruce Dickinson, Judas Priest
screamer Rob Halford, and Queensrÿche belter Geoff Tate, it never
came to fruition.
However, in 2018, Cage vocalist Sean “The Hell Destroyer” Peck began
tossing the idea around with journeyman vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-
Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) and they finally decided to
With Stay at Home Orders extended through April, live entertain-
ment venues have abandoned their entertainment schedules to help
make the idea a reality.
Soon after the duo’s initial talks, Jag Panzer vocalist Harry “The Tyrant”
Conklin joined the heavy metal vocal supergroup, completing the triumvirate
flatten the curve of the coronavirus. Your local music halls need your of respected throat shredders. On the band's 2019 self-titled debut album, the
support through direct donations to their staff, by purchasing tickets mighty trio delivered glass-shattering vocal histrionics, backed by equally
for performances later this year, or buying gift cards. Local venue
owner Ron Onesti wrote in the Daily Herald: “What is going on?
Nobody knows! This is just another scary time in our history. Being
in the hospitality industry - owning restaurants and bars myself, plus
the theatres, I have fallen victim to the massive closings mandated by
impressive band members from Cage.
During a recent phone interview, Tim Owens spoke with IE about the
band’s formation, the debut album, and Owen's upcoming musical plans.
IE: Although your musical style is obviously metal, you must have a great
deal of respect for The Three Tenors, or at least what they've done for the
opera world.
Tim Owens: Oh, absolutely. I respect them all. The Three Tenors, those guys’
voices were just amazing. You would sit back and listen to them and just
think... I heard somebody talking about opera singers the other day. Oh
04•2020
yeah, I know who it was - it was actually Bruce Dickinson saying that [a lot of
opera singers don't read music] because they like to feel it inside of
the theatres, I have fallen victim to the massive closings mandated by them[selves]. I just thought that was amazing. Obviously you know that
the state. As I write this, it is still quite unclear about the fate of my idea to do it, and [what a brave] idea it was. Even Ronnie James Dio was talk-
Halford and Dickinson started the Three Tremors. They came up with this
venues. But still, I am staying positive. Really, what choice do I have?” ing about doing it. It was such a great idea, but it never happened. It was an
Onesti used two weeks in March #MUSICSTRONG Livestream are all over the place.
urban legend, so why not take that and run with it? The Three Tremors’ vocals
Concerts for both Club 210 in Highwood and The Arcada Theatre.
His staff GoFundMe link is also located on his Facebook page.
Both Reggies and Metro are raising funds for their idled staff on
their social media pages. The message is similar across the country. “If
you’ve ever had a memorable late night here, seen a killer show you’ll
never forget, or gone to a Free Sox Sunday game with us, please con-
IE: After you and Sean Peck began discussing it, was Harry the next obvi-
ous choice? How quickly did it all fall into place?
T.O: Sean started talking to me and said he had this idea of what he wanted
it to be. He wanted us to record (new material), he didn’t want us to go out
and tour singing cover songs, or songs from our history. He wanted to do a
full tour. He was talking about some different singers, but then he called and
said, “Hey, how about Harry?” I had known Harry from Jag Panzer and then
met him a few times in the past before that. What a great voice, it's a great
sider helping the people that have made that possible and are now style. I said I thought it was a perfect fit. So that's really how it all started
out of a job for the next several weeks. The majority of the funds gen- rolling.
erated will be distributed to our staff, most of whom are hourly work- IE: With all of you spread out geographically - you in Ohio, Sean in San
ers and depend heavily on tips and major gatherings for their income Diego,and Harry in Colorado - how did you find time together to write new
to support themselves and their families. Owner Robby Glick has T.O.: The good thing is that the band we have are the guys from Cage, so
songs and rehearse for the album?
been in close contact with the staff, assessing their need for support. they’re all in San Diego. Sean had written the songs and done a lot of rehears-
Thank you for donating, every little bit helps. #SmallBusinessRelief” whipped into shape. When Harry and I flew out there, they were all ready. I
For venues needing your support, visit .illinoisentertainer.com.
ing with the guys - and rehearsal-wise, they're right there. Sean got them
record here in my studio in my house; it's a real easy thing to do nowadays.
Sean would just send me the files, and I would [work on] them.
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illinoisentertainer.com april
2020