Guitarist K.K. Downing and Judas Priest went their separate ways in 2011. The legendary heavy metal band announced that their 2011-12 Epitaph World Tour would be their farewell before revealing that they were writing new material in early 2011. It turns out the only one retiring was Downing who left the band amid claims of inner conflict, bad management and a decline in performance.
In a new interview with Metal Edge magazine’s “Another FN Podcast with Izzy Presley,” downing talked about the circumstances that led to his exit from the band.
“In 2010, we were all going to retire, we were all going to finish the band,” Downing said. “That was the plan. We had decided, and we were putting together the press statements and everything announcing [the final tour]. And they asked us to pick a title for the farewell tour, hence ‘Epitaph’, which was there. I decided I wasn’t gonna do that farewell tour because I really didn’t know if I was gonna enjoy it. And after a lifetime of success and my whole legacy, I didn’t wanna do a tour that I really felt I wasn’t gonna enjoy. And so I opted out of that last tour, And then, a few months later, I changed my mind. I was talking to Ian (Hill, Judas Priest bassist) about doing (the tour) and to send the setlist over, but they sent the press release out (announcing my departure). And that made me really angry then. So I sent a sharp letter in to Glenn (Tipton, Judas Priest guitarist) and Jayne (Andrews, Judas Priest manager) — very sharp letter — because I felt that they had made their decision anyway. They’d found somebody new. And I thought that was the wrong thing to do because it’s changing the course of history.”
“I was shocked and stunned when they didn’t give me a call, because I was sitting there waiting for an opportunity.”
Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing
Downing was also upset that Judas Priest didn’t approach him to rejoin the band when Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease seven years ago. Tipton was replaced by “Firepower” producer Andy Sneap.
“I was shocked and stunned when they didn’t give me a call, because I was sitting there waiting for an opportunity,” K.K. said. “Okay, they got Richie (Faulkner) in (to replace me) — they wanted him — but at some point, I felt that there would be an opportunity, whenever that may be. So when Glenn handed the guitar over to Andy, I was in disbelief.”
Downing and former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens recently teamed up to form KK’s Priest and release their debut album, “Sermons Of The Sinner.”
“Really when Judas Priest said, ‘We don’t want you to have anything to do with the 50th anniversary tour,’ I think Ken was like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna do my own stuff now. Now that I know this is never gonna happen again, I’ll do my own thing,’ ” Owens said about the group’s formation.
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