K.K. DOWNING TEAMS UP WITH FORMER JUDAS PRIEST BAND MEMBERS TIM “RIPPER” OWENS, AND LES BINKS, TO FORM KK’S PRIEST
Former Judas Priest members K.K. Downing (guitar), Tim “Ripper” Owens (vocals) and Les Binks (drums) have joined forced in a new band called KK’S Priest The group, which will pay homage to Downing’s past the lineup, is rounded out by guitarist A.J. Mills (Hostile) and bassist Tony Newton (Voodoo Six).
“Forging ahead with KK’S Priest was not only inevitable but essential for me to perform and deliver everything that is expected from me and KK’S Priest,” Downing said in a statement. “Due to the massive demand and overwhelming support from fans around the world, I feel this is where I belong, and a set combining the true, classic songs and sound of Priest, together with great, newly forged metal tracks, is what fans can expect when KK’S Priest is taking to stages.”
KK’S Priest is working on its debut album, to be released via Explorer1 Music Group. It will also play select shows later this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Priest and Downing’s career as a founding member. KK’S Priest’s setlist will consist of Priest classics and new songs.
Downing, Binks and Owens performed a full-length set of Priest classics with Megadeth bassist David Ellefson in November in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Joining them on second guitar was Mills of Hostile, the British metal band whose two albums, Eve Of Destruction and The New World Disorder, were both produced by Downing.
Binks played drums on Priest’s Stained Class, Hell Bent For Leather (released as Killing Machine in the United Kingdom) and Unleashed In The East albums.
Owens joined Priest in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997’s Jugulator and 2001’s Demolition — before the band reunited with frontman Rob Halford in 2003.
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Just want to point out , no one knows why KK left the real truth is personal between him and the other members of the band , when your unhappy doing something it’s not always a poor decision to leave …. it could have been miserable for him- I certainly have left a couple of jobs and changed careers due to being very unhappy with the job and the people I was working with, also I don’t think KK wants or needs anyone’s sympathy ,I think he’s just trying to make music and perform the songs he helped create- I was lucky enough to have seen priest with the all the original members, IMO there has never been a more perfect guitar duo than kk and tipton they were brilliant , savage and brutal onstage together – I think priests place in rock history is solid – I’m sure many many fans will stand in line to see KK’s priest-
Goodbye Cleveland