JUDAS PRIEST IRISH DRUMMER LES DIES

Ex bandmates praise the ‘flair, style and precision' of Binks, 73

- BY STEVEN SMITH

JUDAS Priest drummer Les Binks has died aged 73, with his former bandmates paying tribute, saying his "acclaim will live on".

Binks was born in Portadown, Co Armagh, and was a member of the band from 1977 to 1979.

He started his career in the early 1970s, playing with Eric Burdon of the Animals, the funk band War, and on Deep Purple bassist Roger Glovelr's album The Butterfly Ball and the Grass-hopper's Feast. Binks also played for the pop band Fancy, who had two US hits in 1974.