**RIP Les Binks: Judas Priest Drummer and Heavy Metal Pioneer Dies at 73**
The heavy metal world is mourning the loss of one of its pioneering figures. **Les Binks**, former drummer for **Judas Priest** and a key architect in the evolution of the band’s sound during the late 1970s, has died at the age of 73. The news was confirmed in a heartfelt statement from Judas Priest, who paid tribute to Binks’ profound influence on the band’s trajectory and the metal genre at large.
> “The acclaimed drumming he provided was first class – demonstrating his unique techniques, flair, style and precision. Thank you Les – your acclaim will live on,” the band wrote.
Binks, known for his innovative drumming, precise double-kick technique, and fusion of classical training with raw rock energy, played on three landmark Judas Priest records: *Stained Class* (1978), *Killing Machine* (1978), and the live masterpiece *Unleashed in the East* (1979). These albums not only defined a pivotal era for Judas Priest but also helped lay the groundwork for what heavy metal would become.
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### Early Life: A Rhythm Born in Belfast
Les Binks was born on April 5, 1952, in **Belfast, Northern Ireland**, a city whose grit and conflict forged in Binks a toughness and resolve that would serve him well on the road and behind the kit. Raised in a musical family, he took to drums early, studying classical percussion while absorbing the rock revolution sweeping the UK in the 1960s and early ’70s.
Before joining Judas Priest, Binks had already built a solid reputation as a session drummer. He worked with artists ranging from Eric Burdon to Roger Glover (of Deep Purple fame), showcasing his adaptability and musical intelligence. But it was his audition for Judas Priest in 1977 that would change the trajectory of his life—and the future of metal.
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### Joining Judas Priest: Ushering in a New Sound
Judas Priest, then a rising force in the British hard rock scene, were looking to elevate their sound—something faster, tighter, and more intense. Les Binks delivered exactly that.
> “When Les joined us, he brought this fierce precision and technical ability that no one had heard before,” Rob Halford later said. “He made us sharper, heavier.”
Binks’ first full studio album with the band, **Stained Class**, was a revelation. His double-bass pedal work on tracks like *Exciter* is widely regarded as one of the earliest examples of the **thrash metal prototype**, preceding the likes of Metallica and Slayer by nearly a decade.
His contribution wasn’t limited to playing—he also co-wrote *Beyond the Realms of Death*, one of the most emotionally resonant and musically intricate tracks in the band’s entire catalog.
> “That song is pure Les,” said Glenn Tipton in a 2009 interview. “The feel, the phrasing, the build—it wouldn’t exist without him.”
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### *Killing Machine* and *Unleashed in the East*: The Golden Era
1978’s *Killing Machine* (released as *Hell Bent for Leather* in the U.S.) saw the band leaning further into the hard-edged metal that would become their signature. Binks’ drumming remained central, providing the necessary punch on tracks like *Delivering the Goods* and the now-iconic *Hell Bent for Leather*.
But it was the following year’s **live album**, *Unleashed in the East*, that would immortalize Binks in metal history. Recorded during the band’s tour of Japan, the album captured Judas Priest at the peak of their early power. Binks’ drumming was explosive—both precise and feral, a paradox that thrilled fans and inspired countless young drummers.
> “There are moments on *Unleashed in the East* where it feels like the drums are going to burst through the speakers,” said Lars Ulrich of Metallica. “That was Les. He pushed the boundaries.”
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### The Departure: A Sudden and Surprising Exit
In 1979, Binks’ tenure with Judas Priest came to a sudden end. According to various accounts, the split was rooted in business disagreements, including disputes over financial compensation and songwriting credits.
> “I gave my all to that band, and I don’t regret a second of it,” Binks said in a rare 1993 interview. “But I also had to stand up for myself. That was a hard lesson in the industry.”
Though his exit was quiet, his influence remained. The foundation he laid with his playing helped pave the way for drummer Dave Holland and later Scott Travis, both of whom acknowledged Binks as a standard-setter.
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### Life After Priest: A Career of Quiet Influence
Post-Priest, Binks largely stepped away from the global spotlight, but he never stopped playing. He worked with a wide range of artists across rock and blues, including **Lionheart**, **Axis Point**, and various orchestral projects that reflected his classical roots.
In the 2000s, as appreciation for Priest’s early years grew, so too did recognition of Binks’ contributions. He appeared at fan conventions, gave masterclasses, and even performed with tribute and reunion bands, including **Les Binks’ Priesthood**, where he revisited the very material that made him famous.
Despite health challenges in later years, he continued to teach and mentor young drummers, always emphasizing dynamics, discipline, and emotion in performance.
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### A Belated but Beloved Return
In 2018, Les Binks made a surprise return to Judas Priest’s orbit when he was invited to perform at the band’s **Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony**—a long-overdue recognition of his foundational role. Though he did not become part of the band’s main touring lineup again, the moment was deeply meaningful to both Binks and fans.
> “That night was magical,” Binks later said. “It felt like closure, but also celebration.”
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### Tributes Pour In
Following news of his passing, the music world responded with an outpouring of love and respect.
* **Rob Halford** posted a photo of himself and Binks backstage in 1978, writing, “A brother in rhythm. Your beats are eternal.”
* **Lars Ulrich** of Metallica called Binks “a drumming blueprint—one of the underrated greats.”
* **Dave Lombardo** (Slayer, Testament) tweeted, “Les Binks was one of the reasons I picked up double bass drumming. A titan. Rest well, master.”
* Fans across the world posted old concert photos, vinyl records, and hand-drawn tributes of Binks in action.
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### A Legacy Carved in Steel
Les Binks may not have had the longest tenure in Judas Priest, but what he did in those few short years changed metal drumming forever. His style—a mix of military precision, classical sensibility, and sheer ferocity—pushed boundaries and redefined what a metal drummer could be.
He was the bridge between the hard rock of the early ’70s and the precision-engineered metal of the ’80s and beyond. Without Binks, tracks like *Exciter*, *Running Wild*, and *The Green Manalishi* might not have had the velocity and edge that made them immortal.
> “He was the unsung hero of metal’s evolution,” wrote Kerrang! in a retrospective. “Les Binks didn’t just play metal—he elevated it.”
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### A Farewell in the Right Key
Though his time with Judas Priest was brief, Binks left an indelible mark on the band’s soul. He was a craftsman, a warrior, and an innovator whose work still reverberates in clubs, arenas, and practice rooms across the globe.
The final word perhaps belongs to the man himself, who once said in an interview:
> “If even one young drummer listened to what I did and thought, ‘I want to do that,’ then I’ve done my job.”
You did, Les. And you did it better than most.
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### Rest in Power, Les Binks (1952–2025)
Forever a Metal Titan. Forever Unleashed.
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