Chad Bowar: How did you put the band Beyond Fear together?
Tim "Ripper" Owens: They are local guys, friends of mine. We've always played and jammed together. The bass player was in Winter's Bane with me, so we go back a ways. John the guitar player and I go back a ways, too. We knew each other and I knew it was the perfect fit for us.
How long did it take everything to come together?
I started writing songs a few years back. Not everything was written together. I probably wrote six or seven songs myself and then got together with John and we wrote the other ones. I'm not sure even when the first one was written. I'd write a song and then seven months later write another one whenever I had the time to sit down. It was an odd writing process, and I think that's what gives the album so much substance and so many layers to it because it was written at different times.
Is it gratifying to finally get your songs out there and show people your skills as a songwriter?
Yes, it's very nice to have this, to have people hear me. People have said I'm not a songwriter and I can't write songs. It's nice to do it.
Is there anything in particular that inspired your lyrics?
I just kind of wrote about anything. I wrote about everyday stuff. It was the really cool thing about this. It wasn't any certain thing.
How has the response to the album been so far?
It's been great. I can't believe it. I can't believe how much people have liked it and how good the reviews have been. It's really phenomenal. It's been one of the best reviewed records I've done. I'm really floored by it. It's great.
How did you hook up with Jim Morris to produce the record?
He did The Glorious Burden with Iced Earth and he's just a great guy. He's definitely someone I call a friend. He's amazing. He's great to work with. He's a family man. He's so smart about music and knows how to get the sound we want to have. It worked out perfectly.
Do you have any specific expectations for the album?
No. I want it to do well. I want people to give it a chance. I don't know what it can do, what it's going to sell. I just want people to give it a chance. It would really be unfortunate if it gets really good reviews and it's great and it doesn't sit on a shelf. I think that could be a problem. Sometimes it's hard to find it. I had trouble finding it myself when it came out. You can't sell records that aren't there. I think if people get behind this record it has a chance to do decently. It's not going to sell huge. It's a first record and it's heavy metal. My goals are to just keep building this thing up. I want to build it up to an Iced Earth, and then make Iced Earth even bigger.
So you plan for Beyond Fear to be an ongoing project, not just a one time deal?
I wouldn't do it if it was a one shot deal, I'd do a solo thing. This is definitely a band, and I'm trying to get that across to everybody. This is a serious band. Obviously Iced Earth is the main thing, but we've already done some touring for Beyond Fear and it's going to keep growing.
How was the response when Beyond Fear recently opened for Anthrax in Europe?
It was great. It was funny, because our CD wasn't even out yet. It was an awesome crowd response. I couldn't believe it. That's what was nice about it, to get it going without an album. If people like it live they're going to really like the record. It was a good time, a great tour. We're getting ready to go back there in June.
What do you think about Anthrax having Joey Belladonna back in the band?
They were awesome. I love the classic lineup. I was a fan of John Bush as well, but Joey sounded great. His vocals were on. It's probably one of the best I've heard. He's awesome.
