MUSIC legend Les Binks has died aged 73.

The previous Judas Priest drummer handed away on March 15, the band introduced at this time.

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The Northern Irish musician appeared on two of the heavy metallic staple’s albums in 1978 – Stained Class and Killing Machine.

Binks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame as a member of Judas Priest – and carried out three songs on the induction ceremony on November 5 2022.

It was his first look with the band in 43 years.

In a press release on Instagram, Judas Priest mentioned: “We’re deeply saddened in regards to the passing of Les and ship our like to his household, associates and followers.

“The acclaimed drumming he offered was firstclass – demonstrating his distinctive strategies, aptitude, type and precision –

“Thanks Les – your acclaim will stay on…..”

Devastated followers of the metallic band took to social media to put up heartfelt tributes.

One shared their sympathies, writing: “Very unhappy information – a superb drummer who was an integral a part of the Priest sound.”

One other Judas Priest fan added: “Very unhappy, Les was an unimaginable drummer.

“His nice work for Heavy Metallic drumming won’t ever be forgotten. RIP Les Blinks.”

A 3rd acknowledged his influence on the music trade, commenting: “Les deserves a lot respect and recognition for his contributions to shaping heavy metallic.”

CAREER

Binks was a member of Judas Priest from 1977 to 1979.

He had beforehand been a drummer on Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover’s album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast in 1974.

And he had labored for Eric Burdon of the Animals and funk band Battle.

He went on to play for pop band Fancy who had hits within the US with a canopy of Chip Taylor’s “Wild Factor”, and Contact Me’s track “Really feel Good”.

He joined Judas Priest – a then-up-and-coming act – in March 1977 for his or her world tour.

The band skilled success and their single Tackle the World, launched in 1979, flew up the UK high 40 charts to quantity 14.

A few years later he left the band, later claiming he felt like a “freelance session drummer” employed by the band fairly than an official member.

Binks performed with a plethora of different metallic bands after, together with Lionheart, Tytan and the legendary covers group Metalworks.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame as a member of Judas Priest by way of the Award for Musical Excellence in 2022.

In October that yr, he joined the band for a reunion the place the they performed on the induction ceremony.

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