**In Stunning Tribute: Judas Priest Honor Les Binks on Anniversary Tour After Drummer Dies Aged 73**
The air was heavy with memory and music as Judas Priest took the stage in Birmingham for a sold-out show on their Anniversary Tour—an event now tinged with sorrow and remembrance. Just days before, the band and the metal world learned of the passing of their former drummer, Les Binks, at age 73. What was intended to be a night of celebration transformed into a poignant tribute to a man whose thunderous rhythms once shaped the band’s defining sound.
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**A Heartbeat Behind the Thunder**
Les Binks joined Judas Priest in 1977, stepping into the maelstrom just as the band was on the cusp of global domination. Though his tenure lasted a brief but impactful two years, he left an indelible mark on the heavy metal genre. His work on *Stained Class* and *Killing Machine* (released in the U.S. as *Hell Bent for Leather*) showcased not only his technical prowess but his deep musicality. Tracks like “Exciter” and “Beyond the Realms of Death” became instant classics, driven by Binks’ intricate yet powerful drumming.
In an era of rising aggression in rock, Binks brought both fire and finesse, combining raw energy with a jazz-trained precision that made his performances both brutal and beautiful. His final major work with Priest, the live album *Unleashed in the East*, remains a sonic monument to a band at its peak—and a drummer commanding the storm.
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**A Death That Echoed Through the Metal World**
News of Les Binks’ passing broke early Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves through the rock and metal communities. Though he had remained somewhat out of the mainstream spotlight in recent years, Binks had reconnected with fans through appearances with the band *Les Binks’ Priesthood*, and his brief but electrifying reunion with Judas Priest during their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
“Les wasn’t just a drummer. He was a brother,” wrote Rob Halford in a touching tribute on social media. “He brought his soul to every beat and never once forgot what it meant to play from the heart. We wouldn’t be who we are without him.”
Guitarist Glenn Tipton added: “His timing was uncanny—both on stage and in life. Les came in when we needed someone to match our hunger. And he gave us everything he had.”
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**A Night to Remember**
On June 24th, just hours after the band confirmed Binks’ death, Judas Priest played one of the most emotional shows of their career. Thousands of fans packed the arena, many holding aloft signs that read “For Les” and “Unleashed in His Memory.” As the house lights dimmed and the first chords of “Exciter” rang out, the band stood under a massive screen showing footage of Binks in his prime: sticks flying, hair wild, sweat pouring, soul on fire.
“We weren’t sure if we could go on tonight,” Halford admitted to the crowd between songs. “But then we remembered who Les was. He would have told us to bloody get on with it. And so we are.”
The setlist was subtly reshaped to highlight Binks’ era with the band. Alongside newer material, they performed five tracks from *Stained Class*—a move that hadn’t happened in years. Before launching into “Beyond the Realms of Death,” Halford raised a glass onstage and said, “This one’s for you, Les. Wherever you are, we know you’re keeping the beat.”
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**The Legacy Lives On**
Though Binks’ time with Judas Priest was short, his influence has endured through generations of drummers and metal fans alike. Artists from Lars Ulrich to Dave Lombardo have cited him as an influence, praising his ability to fuse intensity with technical skill.
In 2022, Binks was honored along with other past and present Judas Priest members at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a moment that brought him back into the limelight and reminded the world just how essential he was to the band’s early success. That night, he played with the same fury and joy that marked his younger days, a moment fans now cherish even more deeply.
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**Heartfelt Farewells from the Metal Community**
Tributes poured in from across the music world. Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain called him “one of the unsung heroes of heavy metal,” while former Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice said, “Les had a groove that could level buildings. He made metal swing. That’s rare.”
Fans gathered outside clubs and record stores across Europe and the U.S., organizing impromptu tribute nights where old albums were played on vinyl and rare footage of Binks performing was screened to somber but grateful audiences.
Even decades after his departure from Priest, Binks had never been forgotten—and now, he never would be.
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**A Final Beat**
Judas Priest’s Anniversary Tour continues, now carrying a deeper resonance. While the band continues to blaze forward with the strength of their legacy, there is an unspoken void behind the drum kit. A space where the spirit of Les Binks lives on, in every cymbal crash, every tom roll, every soul-stirring silence before the storm.
“He gave us a rhythm,” Halford said, closing the night. “And now, we give him our hearts.”
The final encore was not a song, but a moment of silence—an arena full of fists raised high in tribute to a drummer who may have stepped out of the spotlight, but never out of time.
Re
st in power, Les Binks. You’ll always be part of the Priest.
