INFO

Many people have asked me this. “How does a kid out high school get to draw an album cover for a famous rock singer? How did you guys link up?”

When I reached out to Judas Priest’s artist Mark Wilkinson for advice, because I was so young, he said… “you just worked for Ripper, you’ll be fine.”

Sure.

I graduated from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocation Technical High School in 2004 with a Visual Design certificate, and was working at Brick by Brick: A Community Organization in New Bedford, MA (now Dream Out Loud: A Center for The Arts.) I was provisionally accepted to Savannah College of Art and Design, and even had scholarships. I thought I had everything going for me.

I took a plane from MA to GA only to find out I still didn’t have enough money for my first semester. I was very young and trying to do everything on my own, with little guidance. My student loan didn't work out, and nobody in my family could co-sign a student loan for me. I became lost and stranded in Savannah. My uncle drove across the state to pick me up, and I had to find refuge in his basement.

My vocal hero, Tim “Ripper” Owens, also had a change of luck. He was fired from Judas Priest so Rob Halford could return. Even though I wasn’t able to go to college, I had just enough skill and will to reach out to my favorite singer and attempt to freelance. He had a small website he seemed to have put up himself, and I introduced myself in his guestbook. He was putting together his new solo band, and I instantly saw opportunity.

I sent my resume, and stayed up several nights drawing, scanning and digitally coloring several mock-up covers to impress him. I drew a strange skull without reference on a small Wacom Graphire 3 tablet with old Photoshop, and he loved it. He sent me an email wanting to discuss prices. Once again, I was very young, and didn’t know what I was worth. So I took a humble payment and found joy that I was drawing for the ex-lead singer of Judas Priest. I began making renditions of the cover, some interior art (which a random guy in Germany tattooed on himself!), and helped with his logo and t-shirt designs. It was dream come true.

During this freelance job, several things happened that almost caused me to lose the commission. I was asked to move in with my immediate family when they relocated from MA back to GA into my deceased grandfather’s house. It was here we all became financially destitute and lost access to the internet. I had to do anything I could to survive, even walk miles to part time jobs. I even travelled back up to MA to wash vinyl wedding tents with my best friend over the summer to try to make extra money.

When I returned to GA, my grandfather’s house was eventually foreclosed, causing my entire family to face homelessness. I managed to get the art done despite all that, and it was rewarding when my girlfriend and I were on the couch together watching FUSE, and seeing my work in a commercial flash across the screen. I wasn't happy with the changes that SPV Records made to my cover art, so I include a different version in my portfolio. While I was inexperienced back then, after 20 years I still firmly believe this version I have featured is the best.

Ripper was managed by Wendy Dio, and Beyond Fear was touring with Anthrax. All this cool stuff was happening but the circumstances of my life didn’t allow me to see them live or truly enjoy this victory in my career. After this cover, I had to stop for a few years to try to rebuild my life.

After a period of recharging, I eventually traveled to Mooresville, NC and joined their Artist’s Guild. I also met Rob Cole and helped him with his Studio 18, giving drawing lessons while he focused on music. Ripper was helpful and made a good reference, answering calls from employers when I needed it. This cover always has a place in my portfolio.

Here is an interview with Pete Alander of KK’s Steel Mill, prior to my U.S. Air Force enlistment.