10 Weirdest Replacement Members In Rock History

9. Tim "Ripper" Owens - Judas Priest

When you have names like The Metal God, you're not going to be replaced all that easily. Throughout Judas Priest's career, Rob Halford's scream had practically been the calling card for every one of the group's songs, going from badass growls to sounding like a banshee on songs like Painkiller and Victim of Changes. If you have someone like that going solo, how the hell do you manage to find another guy that matches his intensity?

Getting the chance of a lifetime, Tim Owens was actually recommended to Priest after he was singing covers of Priest tunes and hitting every single note that Rob could in his prime. Walking into his audition with barely enough time to warm up, Priest felt reborn as soon as he opened his mouth, having all the swagger that Rob had and looking to go even further with his vocal range.

While the stint with Owens behind the mic gave us some kickass Priest material, it was only a matter of time before the Metal God returned to the fold. Rather than the traditional drama though, Owens was very respectful about his dismissal and eventually went on to have his own career as a singer later. Then again, if you were in his position, would you want to be the guy that stands in the way between Rob Halford and Judas Priest? No, Rob belongs in Priest, and don't let any metalhead tell you otherwise.