We at Metaltalk were extremely sad to hear the news last night that legendary drummer Les Binks has passed away. For me, this is a personal one, as I know Les really well. Les was a regular on the West London music scene, often playing with local musicians and turning up at jams with his full drum kit in his transit van.
I first met Les in person when he turned up at our local pub in Brentford, lovingly known as The Northie, to play in a jam night with another local legend, Alix Anthony (famed for playing with James Brown and Prince). As Les walked in with his drum bags, I looked over and thought, ‘That dude looks familiar.’
I looked again, spat my beer out and shouted out, “That’s bloody Les Binks from Judas Priest.” As I am a cheeky blonde and was slightly inebriated, I steamed straight up to him and introduced myself. I may have bowed at his presence, but that was the start of a friendship that lasted until now.
Les Binks performed on classic Judas Priest albums from the ’70s, Stained Class, Killing Machine and Unleashed In The East. He was a drumming tour de force with his flaming red hair and a beat line like no other drummer. Even after his JP days, Binks always kept his drumming chops up.
Les Binks was born in Portadown, Northern Ireland in 1951. Having previously drummed with Eric Burdon of the Animals and funk band War, Binks was also a drummer on Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover’s album. Through his connection to Glover, Binks joined up-and-coming Metal act Judas Priest in March 1977, and the rest, as they say, is Metal music history.
Les parted ways with JP before the USA leg of Killing Machine and went on to perform with most of rock royalty. He covered drumming duty with bands such as Lionheart and Tytan and was often seen at Metalworks.
As I mentioned earlier, Les became a firm fixture in the West London Circuit playing with Raw Glory alongside Sweet frontman Paul Manzi and then formed his own band with guitarist Gus Mark, Les Binks Priesthood.
Often playing at his favourite venue, The Cavern, Les was great friends with the legendary Noel Nevin. Whether he played arenas or our local pub, he was always a stalwart professional. Every audience member was special to him.
One of the best interviews I ever enjoyed was when Les visited our MetalTalk alumni Mark Taylor, who invited Binks over to his own gaff, complete with Coronation Street-style bar, to talk all things JP and beyond.
In 2022, Binks was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an award he told me he was tremendously honoured to have received. He played a three-song set with the Priest, which was his first performance with the band in 43 years.
Sadly, this was to be one of his last performances. 
“We are deeply saddened about the passing of Les,” Judas Priest announced today, “and send our love to his family, friends and fans. The acclaimed drumming he provided was first-class – demonstrating his unique techniques, flair, style and precision. Thank you, Les – your acclaim will live on.”
Gus Marks of Les Binks Priesthood says, ‘I’m very happy though to have been the one who instigated the Priesthood. I was so very proud and honoured to have played with him. Every gig was a pinch-me moment. I’m so very proud and honoured to have been a part of his last hoorah. Gutted.”
Ellis Brown, top drummer with The Davidson Trio, told us, “Les had a great feel and precision and brought a more technical flare to the Priest’s sound. He had cool chops and all-round solid playing.”
Sophie James, my amazing Metaltalk fellow journo, had this to say about Les Binks and the late, great Malcolm Dome. “Back in the day, whether this was during or after his time in Priest, Les had acquired the inaccurate derogatory nickname of ‘Feathertouch’.
“As you are aware, a favourite watering hole of mine was the infamous Crobar, of which most of us reading this were patrons. Over those years, I got to know, love and respect none other than the late great Malcolm Dome, who it turned out was a mahoosive Priest fan.
“We had many conversations about bands, and I remember one in which that nickname came up for some reason. Malcolm got very animated, almost like he took the insult to heart. ‘Where on earth did that name come from? Les Binks most certainly cannot be regarded as having too light a touch’.
“This from a man whose knowledge of heavy rock and Metal was encyclopaedic. A most respected figure, what he didn’t know wasn’t worth knowing. The truth may be forever lost in the faded hangovers of the past.”
“Les Binks was my favourite Judas Priest drummer,” Xavier Russell, former Kerrang! Journalist said, “and he co-wrote the classic Beyond The Realms Of Death. Les was a great bloke and will be sorely missed. I’m really glad I got to see him at The Cavern, as it was always a great gig.”
When I announced I had cancer, Les was one of the first people to reach out to me as he himself was a cancer warrior. We often chewed the fat about our battle with the Big C.
But what will remain my favourite memories were when we used to bump into each other in Ealing doing mundane chores like food shopping or queuing in the bank. He always turned these meet-ups into a full rock ‘n’ roll experience.
We would smile about how one minute we would be on stage in massive arenas, the next, searching for Morrison’s basic washing powder.
We were just about to do a podcast called Cancer On The Rocks when his health took a downturn. But in his honour, I promise you, Les I will do this.
Thank you for always calling me young lady as I’m neither young or a lady.
Young man – I will miss you so much.
Our thoughts go out to Les’s family, Judas Priest, the gorgeous Jayne Andrews, the fans and his loved ones.
