Former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks has died at the age of 73. According to reports that can be found online, Les Binks passed away as early as March 15, 2025, but the official news of his death has only now been made public.
Judas Priest, the founding fathers of what you might call ‘metalogy’, wrote the following on social media about the loss of Les Binks: “We’re deeply shaken by Les’s passing, and we’re sending lots of love and support to his family, friends and fans in these moments.
“His respected and acclaimed drumming style was first-rate. With it he showed off a unique technique, talent, style and precision. Thank you, Les – your work and your contribution will live on.”
Binks was born in 1951 in Portadown, Northern Ireland, and joined Judas Priest in 1977, after playing with Eric Burdon & War and the American pop band Francy. He also took part in the solo project of Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover, The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast.
It was precisely his acquaintance with Roger Glover, who produced the third Judas Priest album “Sin After Sin” (1977), that led to Les Binks joining Judas Priest. The drums on that album were provided by the renowned Simon Phillips, who couldn’t join the band either as a permanent drummer or for the concerts of the band’s upcoming tour. Leslie Binks, luckily, was available at the time.
Les Binks drummed on the Judas Priest albums “Stained Class” and “Killing Machine” – two records that sound considerably different from each other, even though they came out in the same year (1978) – and his drumming can also be heard on Judas Priest’s first official live album, “Unleashed In The East” (1979). Les left the band before the American leg of the “Killing Machine” tour.
In the years that followed, Les Binks played with a string of lesser-known bands such as Axis Point, Lionheart, Tytan, The Shakers and Raw Glory, and in 2017 he found himself back in the spotlight when Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. That same year, Binks hit the road with the lineup Les Binks’ Priesthood, which, alongside the band’s former members K. K. Downing and Tim “Ripper” Owens, played the songs of Judas Priest.
The cause of his death is unknown.
