Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing sat down with Guitar Player and recalled his time with the band.
“I’m extremely proud to have been a part of it all and to have been on the evolution and the journey of heavy metal,” he shared his gratitude. “And I’m quite proud that I had the foresight to think that there was something out there beyond the style of music we were playing in those early days. We’ve had so many different forms of metal from that: black metal, industrial metal, metal speed, Scandinavian metal… Looking to the future, has the sponge finally been rinsed dry as to where metal can go next? Maybe not.”
Regarding his future with Judas Priest, Downing said there hasn’t been any change since he left the band in 2011. “It’s a very funny and weird situation. And I don’t think I’ll ever understand it really,” he explained. “I did our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction with them in 2022, and the guys came up to me in an embracing way. Not everyone, but most of them. And I’m thinking, this is all a bit weird, but it is what it is. I think the only thing we can do now is just continuing to do what we do and make good music. And as to whether the door for me is open, who knows?”
Back in May this year, the guitarist admitted that he would consider reuniting with the band for the ‘right price.’
“Well, let me see the check [Laughs]. It would have to be very, very big,” he said during an interview with WDR Rockpalast. “No. I’m happy. I’m content. I humbly approached the guys a couple of years ago and said, ‘Look, what do you think about me being back? You’re thinking about being a four-piece and doing stuff.’ And they said, ‘No.’ And so that’s it. It’s closure, I guess — which, it’s sad.”
Downing left Judas Priest in 2011 due to ongoing problems with the band and its management. He mentioned that there were many reasons for his departure but did not go into detail, although he was unhappy with the band’s live shows. Richie Faulkner has since replaced him in the band. Downing played with Priest at the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles.
He also said that he decided to join Judas Priest’s Hall of Fame performance because he didn’t want to regret missing the chance to play with the band he started fifty years ago.
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