During a recent interview with the Detroit Metro Times, JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill was asked if he thinks there is any chance of ever reconciling with original PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing and him rejoining the band.
“I think time is not on our side for that, you know? Never say never, put it like that. [Downing‘s] gonna be there at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame anyway,” Ian responded. “He’s gonna get up and play some songs with us there. It might kickstart something; I don’t know. On the other hand, he might pull us all apart [Laughs].”
Last week, while speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Downing confirmed that he will perform with JUDAS PRIEST at the band’s upcoming Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.
“I think we’ve probably got eight or nine minutes,” he said. “I’m not even going to be able to break a sweat. The main thing is to represent the attitude and hopefully the legend of what JUDAS PRIEST is and has become and what it means to everybody who’s been on that very long journey through the decades with the band. And hopefully it will just kind of remind people and bring back some cherished memories of the heavy metal parking lots all around the world.”
Downing revealed that Les Binks, PRIEST‘s drummer from 1977 to 1979, will also perform with the band at the event and added that it will be like riding the proverbial bicycle, more than a decade after the guitarist last played with PRIEST.
“It’s what I’ve done so many times,” he said. “It’s almost like cracking a beer, let alone riding a bike. It’s embedded in me. It’s what I do. So it’ll be quite something to look forward to, just to get up there and crank the amps up and just do it once again, for that short moment in time.”
PRIEST will receive the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which will honor Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
JUDAS PRIEST members that will get inducted include current members Rob Halford (vocals),Ian Hill (bass),Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar),Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.
