When metal legends Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2022, they briefly reunited with longtime guitarist K.K. Downing on stage for their induction and for a 3-song set consisting of “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'”, “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight.”
Downing left the band in 2010, and ever since the two camps have gone back-and-forth over what really led to the split. Downing clarified the circumstances that led to his departure saying that the initial announcement that he was retiring “was a myth. That’s complete misinformation. And this is why I’m so unhappy with the rest of the guys in Judas Priest, because they told you and all the fans something that’s complete misinformation. But they only told you that because they don’t wanna get into the details.”
The band’s Rock Hall induction led to speculation that Downing might return to the group. That was amplified also when the band’s other longtime guitarist, Glenn Tipton, retired from touring due to health complications.
Now, in a new interview with Greg Prato of AllMusic, Priest bassist Ian Hill has seemingly shut the door on the possibility. Prato asked if Hill would ever consider working with Downing again. “I think he’s gone a bit too far for that now. I gave him a couple of chances to basically say hello, and he blanked me. So, he ain’t going to get another chance. It’s a pity the way it’s turned out. But things are what they are.”
Downing said last September that he was disappointed that it seemed that Hill was his main obstacle to returning to the band.
“Honestly, the worst thing about the whole thing is that Ian has denied me the opportunity to step back into the band,” he told Rock Of Nations. “I mean, we went to kindergarten together; we were like brothers. And we spent many years at the back of the bus complaining about everybody else. [Laughs] I always thought it was me and him for many years. But I just don’t know how that can happen, like I say. And Rob left the band for 14 years. And when I was instrumental in inviting him back into the band. How can he deny me the opportunity to go on stage and play my songs? They’re saying, ‘We’re gonna do it, but you can’t.’ Because Ian and Rob never wrote any of the music for this band.”
He continued: “Something’s wrong somewhere. It doesn’t make sense. How can Ian, the bass player that’s never written any songs, deny me the opportunity of being in the band? All of those years, and I’ve written all of those songs and riffs, but how can he stand over there and play bass and not allow me to play the guitar to those songs? It doesn’t make any sense.”
