Editing Judas Priest (section)

===Halford's departure and Ripper years (1991–2003)===
After the ''Painkiller'' tour ended in August 1991, there were indications of internal tensions within the band. Halford went on to form a street-style [[thrash metal]] group named [[Fight (band)|Fight]], with Scott Travis on drums for the recording sessions. He formed this band to explore new musical territory, but due to contractual obligations, he remained with Judas Priest until May 1992.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://members.firstinter.net/markster/WAROFWORDS.html |title=War of Words Info Page |publisher=Judas Priest Info Pages|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205181115/http://members.firstinter.net/markster/WAROFWORDS.html|archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref> In his 2020 memoir ''Confess'', Halford blamed his departure on a "miscommunication", rather than an intentional desire to quit the band.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gary Graff |date=5 October 2020 |title=Judas Priest 'Metal God' Rob Halford talks music, addiction, sexuality & more in new 'Confess' memoir |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/10/judas-priest-metal-god-rob-halford-talks-music-addiction-sexuality-more-in-new-confess-memoir.html |website=cleveland.com |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref>

Halford collaborated with Judas Priest in the release of a compilation album entitled ''[[Metal Works '73–'93]]'' to commemorate their 20th anniversary. He also appeared in a video by the same title, documenting their history, in which his departure from the band was officially announced later that year.

[[File:Judas Priest avec Tim Owens, Paris 2002.jpg|thumb|Judas Priest performing in 2002, with Tim Owens (center) fronting the band]]
The remaining members of Judas Priest spent the next few years searching for a replacement for Halford. Known singers who auditioned for, or were offered to join, the band during this period include [[Steve Grimmett]] ([[Grim Reaper (band)|Grim Reaper]], [[Lionsheart]] and ex-[[Onslaught (band)|Onslaught]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olivier |title=Steve Grimmett recalls trying to get the singer gigs in Iron Maiden and Judas Priest in the '90s |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/steve-grimmett-recalls-trying-to-get-the-singer-gigs-in-iron-maiden-and-judas-priest-in-the-90s/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=sleazeroxx.com |date=19 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> [[Ralf Scheepers]] ([[Primal Fear (band)|Primal Fear]] and ex-[[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=PRIMAL FEAR Vocalist Ralf Scheepers - "I Was Never Invited To Rehearse With JUDAS PRIEST" |url=https://bravewords.com/news/primal-fear-vocalist-ralf-scheepers-i-was-never-invited-to-rehearse-with-judas-priest |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|bravewords.com]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Whitfield Crane]] ([[Ugly Kid Joe]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |title=Whitfield Crane Claims He Was Offered Judas Priest Gig |url=https://loudwire.com/whitfield-crane-offered-judas-priest-gig/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=[[Loudwire|Loudwire.com]] |date=8 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> former [[Accept (band)|Accept]] singer [[David Reece]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=DAVID REECE On His Time With ACCEPT: 'That Was An Opportunity Of A Lifetime' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/david-reece-on-his-time-with-accept-that-was-an-opportunity-of-a-lifetime |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |date=27 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> and a then-unknown [[Devin Townsend]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=kalu15051 |title=Devin Townsend Says He Was Invited to Audition for Judas Priest, Reveals Why He Declined |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/devin_townsend_says_he_was_invited_to_audition_for_judas_priest_reveals_why_he_declined.html |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=[[Ultimate Guitar]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Tim "Ripper" Owens]] (who had previously sung in [[Winter's Bane]] and a Judas Priest [[tribute band]] called British Steel) was hired in 1996 as Judas Priest's new singer. This line-up released two studio albums, ''[[Jugulator]]'' in 1997 (in 1999, the song "[[Bullet Train (song)|Bullet Train]]" was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-23 |title=Judas Priest |url=https://www.recordingacademy.com/grammys/artists/judas-priest/10609 |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=RecordingAcademy.com |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>) and ''[[Demolition (Judas Priest album)|Demolition]]'' in 2001. A considerable stylistic departure from prior releases, the former has been characterised as [[groove metal]] and the latter as [[nu metal]], both receiving mixed reviews.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} The line-up also gave rise to two live double-albums – ''[['98 Live Meltdown]]'' and ''[[Live in London (Judas Priest album)|Live in London]]'' (2003), the latter of which had a live DVD counterpart.

In a February 1998 interview on [[MTV]], Halford [[came out]] as gay.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429870/19980205/halford_rob.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008083600/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429870/19980205/halford_rob.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 October 2008 |date=5 February 1998 |title=Rob Halford Discusses Sexuality Publicly for the First Time |publisher=[[MTV News]] |access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref>