Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing (KK’S Priest) spoke with Classic Rock Magazine about various topics including his guitar hero, favorite album, etc., excerpts from the story, appear below.
The greatest album of all time:
K.K.: It’s got to be Electric Ladyland. I was already a [Jimi] Hendrix fan when it came out [in 1968], and I just loved it. Electric Ladyland was pretty eclectic, and it gripped me. I used to shut the curtains, put on the headphones, drop the needle and not move a muscle till the final note.
Guitar hero:
K.K.: Without a doubt it’s Hendrix again. He was the all-in-one package. Jimi was a brilliant musician, he wrote incredible songs, and he sang as well. Nobody before or since was as charismatic.
[Favorite] singer:
K.K.: The guy that really, really impressed me early on was Ian Gillan. Deep Purple In Rock, and particularly the song Child In Time when Gillan hit those high notes. That’s why when I found Rob Halford, who could do the same thing and lived not too far away, it was a dream come true.
Cult hero:
K.K.: Leslie West. His albums with Mountain were so important for an army of guitar players. He had such a brilliant guitar tone. Theme For An Imaginary Western, which was written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown [on 1970’s Climbing!] had a wonderful solo that consisted of maybe four or five notes.
Best record I ever made:
K.K.: [Laughing] No apologies, I must pick my albums by KK’s Priest: Sermons Of The Sinner [2021] and the new one, Sinner Rides Again. They’re both very, very kick-ass and I’m proud of them both. They epitomise everything about me and who I am. They continue my legacy [with Judas Priest] and carry the hallmarks of the past.
Worst record I ever made:
K.K.: Jesus, I’ll have to go with [Judas Priest’s 1981 album] Point Of Entry. But then again there are some great songs on that one. That’s so, so hard to answer.
Most underrated band:
K.K.: They’ve been together for fifty years, but I’ll pick Wishbone Ash. They were rated at the time, though maybe not so much any more, I guess. I only grew to like them in the last ten years or so, but nobody could deny that they were so influential.
Best live album:
K.K.: I’d like to say [Judas Priest’s] Unleashed In The East, but another that jumps out at me is Tokyo Tapes by the Scorpions. I liked that one a lot when it came out [in 1978]. It had Uli Jon Roth doing his Hendrix-y thing, and some amazing songs.
Saturday night/party song:
K.K.: Anything by AC/DC. They always get me pumped up and ready to rock. Nobody does it better.
Song I want played at my funeral:
K.K.: I’d be happy with Purple Haze, the song that made me pledge my soul to what became heavy metal.
Read more at Classic Rock.
KK’S Priest has recently announced tour dates, click here to view the itinerary, and for links to hear songs from the band most recent release, The Sinner Rides Again.
19 Responses
The song “Troubleshooter” off Point of Entry is one of my favorite Priest songs. It’s also one of my Top 10 drinking songs
Point of Entry is probably the only album that I continually over look when wanting to blast a bit of Priest. I don’t know why that it, but that’s just what happens. I have every Priest album up to Nostradamus, and have listened to that more times than P.O.E.
Turbo is always going to get a kicking because the band dared to try something new. I mean let’s be honest, Judas Priest wouldn’t be the first band to take a load of s**t for going in a different direction (see Metallica for reference – how dare they make albums that don’t all sound like Master of Puppets).
As for Ram It Down, not their best, but how can you not like the duelling guitar solo in the title track. Monsters of Rock is another solid riff and soaring solo.
And now for the usual end of year sign off from me. To everyone who has contributed to this website this year, and to all the usual characters, may I wish you all a very ‘Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” if you so prefer. I hope that you all have a great and safe time and that 2024 brings you all much better than 2023 may have done.
To my good friend (in cyber world at least) Dana: All the best to you and keep up the great work that you do on here and hopefully we will continue to interact with each other during the next 12 months.
And of course the ‘big man’ himself – Mr Eddie Trunk. All the very best to you, and many congratulations on your 40th year doing what you do best. Long may it continue.
Two gifts to you all. Firstly the greatest take on a Christmas song ever – The late, great Ronnie James Dio and the ‘Iron Man himself, Tony Iommi doing ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz3XG9uZJNE
And ‘The Metal God’ and ‘Metal Queen’, Rob Halford and Doro, doing what I think is the best song I’ve heard this year, covering the Bonnie Tyler classic ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DguMk2Hze1E
I hope you all enjoy – all the best and see you all next year (with any luck!)
D.J.H,
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy and safe, New Year, as well.
Also, one quick thing, while I do like the title song, and Rob’s double tracked vocals on Heavy Metal, Ram It Down, as whole entity, is a not a strong record.
Furthermore, I never liked Johnny B. Goode to begin with, and Priest’s cover, did nothing to change my mind-LOL!
Merry Christmas to you too and this great site! A lot of new music and videos i would not even know about if it was not for this site. 2024 is going to be a great year. We can finally put Biden in the gabage can where he belongs. Some great new music should be coming out. Please someone invent a time machine and drop me off in 1979 for music and great radio. Haha. I think i will play some Point of entry now and dedicate it to KK. Very loud!!
Thank you Dana, pleasure as always.
Agree that Ram It Down is not a strong record.
As for Johnny B. Goode, to think that they turned down the chance to be on the soundtrack for a little movie called Top Gun because they didn’t think that it would go anywhere… but then did that….oh dear!!
Click the links in my previous post if you haven’t already – both are much stronger than most of Ram It Down and the Metal God is in one of them!
I also dig “Point of Entry” there are some cool songs on it. I think KK may be off base on his assessment of the album. Rob continued with “Delivering the Goods” on this recording so that’s why I will be back to see Priest live in April 2024. Happy holidays everybody!