I e-mailed Ripper the other day, and he just replied tonight. He's a cool guy, giving out his personal e-mail addresse to the public. He wrote that his new solo disc will be released early next year. I am certainly looking forward :metal:

Another silly move on his part. This dude doesn't follow his heart at all. This was a record company demand (i.e. "encouragement").

Why is he not with Beyond Fear? Or is it the same band with his name? In that case, that's bullsh!t

Yea, I don't understand why it has to be a "solo" disc. Wasn't Beyond Fear his "solo" project? Even if he has different musicians, it's still his band, right?

More details:

Follwing his awesome vocal performance on the most recent Yngwie Malmsteen album, "Perpetual Flame," American metal vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (Beyond Fear, ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth) is set to surprise the public with the release of his first solo album, "Play My Game," in May 2009. The CD consists of a dozen or so brand-new tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Mike Callahan (ex-Earshot) and John Comprix (Beyond Fear, Ringworm).
The list of guest musicians featured on Owens solo album is even more spectacular: along with Bob Kulick and Chris Caffery and the others, he was supported by the guitarists Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), Michael Wilton (Queensryche), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), bassists Marco Mendoza (ex-Whitesnake), Billy Sheehan (Mr Big, ex-David Lee Roth), Dave Ellefson (ex-Megadeth), Rudy Sarzo (Dio, ex-Ozzy Osbourne, ex-Quiet Riot), James Lomenzo (Megadeth), Tony Franklin (ex-Blue Murder), Dennis Hayes (Beyond Fear) and drummers Simon Wright (ex-AC/DC, Dio), Vinny Appice (Heaven & Hell), Ray Luzier (Korn), Bobby Jarzombek (Riot, ex-Halford), and Brett Chassen. Fans and experts alike will love this sensational all-star line-up and may rest assured that the haunting songs will effortlessly live up to this illustrious cast of musicians: Tim Ripper Owens has never sounded more impressive, melodic and multi-faceted!
"I've gotten better as a songwriter," Owens explains. "And I also write songs that the fans can really get into and get their fist pounding in the air. I’ve always been a great fan of the Black Sabbath line-up featuring Ronnie James Dio, and I love Judas Priest. Both bands delivered records that are straight forward and go directly to the bloodstream – which also happens to be my compositional approach."
Release Dates for "Play My Game" on Steamhammer / SPV:

I'm looking forward to this one!

I'm really excited about this. I have loved anything Owens has ever put his voice to (although I still have yet to hear "Perpetual Flame") and I have my hopes high for this disc. RIPPER RULES!! :metal: :metal:

This guy needed to built his own band and write his own music, I hope that he makes great music, since he has a great opportunity to record

Me n the wanker saw Beyond Fear [apparently a rare event] a couple years ago. Ripper was unbelievable!! We saw Queensryche the night before. So, that was the best weekend I have ever had, as far as vocalists go.

If Tim ever got together with Jeff Waters, that would be a Beautiful Disaster for sure!!!

I saw Ripper Owens last year singing with Yngwie Malmsteen and I have to say the guy is incredible live.

I'm really excited and you have to hear what he does with Malmsteen. He almost outshines Yngwie's guitar work.

This guy is really good. I would love to hear his new album. He has always been in someone else's shoes and that really isn't fair, the guy is phenomenal. Really looking forward to hearing this and possibly seeing him live someday.

This does sound cool,this is what he needs to be doing,sounds like he is focusing on what he does best ,and getting a few friends to help with it.

Also sounds like he actually knows what most metal fans want, if he stays in the Dio-Sabbath (a shame he couldn't have got the legend himself on a track) and Judas Priest vein, it should be one of the best of the year,will be seeking out this one

I've liked everything I've heard from Ripper so far (Jugulator, Glorious Burden, Crucible Of Man, and Perpetual Flame) so I look forward to hearing this.

This will be cool!!!

This guy is so talented. I just don't know why he doesn't settle in a band: priest, iced earth, winter's bane, beyond fear, yngwie, hail...Weird.

By the way, i read in metalhammer's latest issue that owens teamed up with andreas kisser, dave ellefson and jimmy degrasso under a band named "hail". They had some live performances in CHILI, during which they played some cover songs of maiden, sabbath, ac/dc and metallica, as well as a set of songs of their own.

Could that be the beginning of a new band??