During a recent discussion with Metal Hammer magazine, K.K. Downing, the original guitarist of JUDAS PRIEST, confirmed that he has no plans to ever perform with his old band in the future.
“No,” he responded bluntly when asked about making another appearance with PRIEST. “Before I started KK’S PRIEST, I asked if they’d consider me stepping back into my rightful place, because at one point they announced they were going out as a four-piece. I was expecting to be back in the band when there was an opening, or at least to be asked. But Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] and Ian [Hill, bassist] wrote through their lawyers saying a flat no, which made no sense, as I was there first.
“And Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer] left for 11 years, so how does he have the right to say ‘I won’t consider you rejoining’? I was instrumental in reinstating him into the band. Glenn wasn’t interested in having Rob back; he wanted to keep Ripper [Tim Owens, who replaced Halford in PRIEST when the latter left in the early 1990s]. But I gave them one last chance, and I was, like, ‘Are you sure? One day you might live to regret it.’ Let’s hope they don’t.”
Last year, at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles, Downing reunited with PRIEST for a performance.
PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
The PRIEST members that got inducted include current members Rob Halford, Ian Hill, Glenn Tipton and Scott Travis, along with former members K.K. Downing, Les Binks and late drummer Dave Holland.
