According to former Judas Priest guitarist, and founding member, K.K Downing, his former bandmates have no interest in including him on the band’s forthcoming 50th anniversary tour.
K.K writes (via his official website):
“First of all, I want to once again express my huge appreciation to all fans worldwide for the overwhelmingly positive response to my Bloodstock appearance in August and the Wolverhampton gig in early November. I am truly humbled and grateful.
I am also taken aback with the compelling fan outcry for me to participate in the Judas Priest 50th anniversary celebrations next year. Consequently, I felt the right thing to do was to reach out to my former band-mates to gather their thoughts on this, and their response is they are not receptive to my participation in the band and they do not intend to include me in the 50th anniversary celebrations.
However, the great news for the fans is that I will be continuing to forge ahead, I am looking very much forward to seeing you all on the road in 2020. Together we will take on the world”
Downing left the band in 2011 amid claims of conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by guitarist Richie Faulkner.
Last year, he revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his former bandmates when he decided to depart from the group.. The first was described as “a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music,” while the second was “angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties.”
Downing later stated that he believed the second letter was “a key reason” he wasn’t invited to rejoin Priest after guitarist Glenn Tipton’s decision to retire from touring, due to an ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Last month, it was announced that Judas Priest is among the nominees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame‘s class of 2020.
Downing; Tipton; drummers Dave Holland, Les Binks and Scott Travis; singer Rob Halford; and bassist Ian Hill are all on the ballot for nomination.
58 Responses
You have to just look at your memories and consider yourslef lucky…as fans.
Well it’s sad, but maybe all this strife and conflict will get them voted in the RRHF because it seems like the controversy. It creates publicity and they seen to like it. That is what I think got Kiss inducted.
You might be right, but in my humble opinion, that is a lousy way to get inducted.
For the fan’s sake, they should suck it up and do what is right. Otherwise, as I stated below, the situation is akin to Bill Ward and Black Sabbath.
Reading what people say on other sites, without Glenn and KK, it’s like Halford solo band. He should be there cause you never know when it’s last tour, 50 years a big milestone.
They are 5th place in fan vote with Whitney Huston in sixth. Of course, the abysmal Dave’s Crappy band is first with Pat Benatar second, Soundgarden, and I think Doobie brothers third and fourth
Good lord, the fact that Priest is neither first nor second place, is just another disappointment.
I knew Soundgarden would be a shoo in, because of Cornell’s passing It is all so predictable.
They all should get in except for DMB. Couple of good songs shouldn’t be good enough to get in. I like Soundgarden, but NO WAY they should get in the HOF before Alice In Chains!
Or Priest.
Only thing Dave Mathews crappie band has inspired is severe vomiting It’s just as much travesty that Priest isn’t in far worse that Stinky Nicks is in and not pat Benatar or Mötorhead not in before the bands they inspired.
You’re preaching to the choir, my friend…
Whoa, whoa, whoa, stinky Nicks? Charles, come on! Hey, nobody loves Pat Benatar more than I do, and I totally agree she should’ve been in a long time ago, even before the GREAT Stevie Nicks! I know some people don’t like Stevie’s voice, but her songs, and her songwriting speaks for itself! Her first 2 solo albums ~ Bella Donna and The Wild Heart have sold millions and millions of copies, 7 or 8 of the songs from those albums are still played on the radio today. To each their own of course, but I love Stevie, and she is far from “stinky!”
Wow if u think the whole situation with KK is bad you should check out the latest Pete Townshend interview Ouch!