B.J. LISKO 2 years ago

Judas Priest Performs With Former Guitarist At Rock Hall Induction (w/Video)

Heavy metal legends Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Priest garnered the Musical Excellence Award at the ceremony which also honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, Eurythmics and Carly Simon.

Judas Priest members Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums) were inducted along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar), Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland. The band, which also includes current guitarist Richie Faulkner, were joined by Downing and Binks for a three-song set that included “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin,’” “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight.”

The band was inducted by rock legend Alice Cooper.

“They defined the sound we know of heavy metal and their sound is unmistakable,” Cooper said. “And what can you say about Rob Halford’s voice? Never have screams covered such a range. Is there any emotion that he can’t express.”

“They’re electrifying on stage and one of the hardest-hitting live bands in the history of rock and roll. Priest has carried the flag of hard rock and heavy metal proudly for something like 50 years, never wavering or following trends or pretending to be anything but exactly what they are,” Cooper said. “They are flying high tonight. Much deserved and long overdue.”

During the band’s acceptance speech, Halford said: “I’m the gay guy in the band. We call ourselves the heavy metal community which is all-inclusive, no matter what your sexual identity is, what you look like, or what you believe in or don’t believe in. Everybody’s welcome.”

“We should get out another 50 years, but the joy about music is that it lives forever. And that’s the reason why we’re here. We live for heavy metal. We live for music. And we’re living for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”

Downing left the band in 2011, and the relationship had soured over the years with Downing going on to form his own band, K.K.’s Priest with former Judas Priest singer, Tim “Ripper” Owens.

Owens was not inducted despite fronting the band for two studio albums and a live CD.

It remains to be seen if Downing will end up rejoining the group. Hill previously addressed the possibility with the Detroit Metro Times saying: “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. 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).”