Vocalist Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) is preparing to visit New Zealand for the first time with his band HAIL! which will also feature guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine, bassist Tony Franklin (THE FIRM) and drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST). The band’s New Zealand visit is a one off performance before SLASH (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) at G-Taranaki in New Plymouth on Saturday, August 14.

David Borgioli-Jones from 3news.co.nz spoke with Owens about G-Taranaki and other topics. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

3news.co.nz: The Hail! line-up visiting New Zealand is different to the one you’ve toured with recently. It’s exciting that we’re going to witness something unique at G-Taranaki. How’d this line-up get chosen?

Owens: "Strange that we called it Hail! haha! I mean this is like Hail!, it is a SUPER GROUP… so freaking strong. The core of Hail! is Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) and David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and our manager Mark Abbattista but we have a line-up change because only Abba and I can make it. So in the Hail! spirit we called some friends and made it happen, and I got a say it is gonna be great. You guys are really getting something special that no one else is ever gonna get."

3news.co.nz: I’m sure it’s top secret, but can you give us any clues about what you’ve got planned for this show?

Owens: "Our manager is gonna dress up as Paul Stanley and sing ‘Love Gun’ all night and tell stories of life! haha! Really I can’t say anything, but we got a few new tunes in there and a few great surprises in store for you all."

3news.co.nz: Everyone in HAIL! also has other projects in the background, like you have Charred Walls Of The Damned and Tony MacAlpine has SEVEN THE HARDWAY. Has this special line-up had a chance to jam prior to G-Taranaki or will you rehearse most of the material individually before the show?

Owens: "Well not sure... we all could just get up there and do it, but I think it would be great to rehearse the day before, just to make sure we are all on the same page. I mean I tour solo most of the year and have a different set list with every tour. Then I tour with Hail! (Which is a lot as well) and we change the set list. Then I did Charred Walls and some Yngwie Shows. So I can’t remember what set I am doing, haha, so a rehearsal would be great!"

Read more here.