Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has fired back at recent comments made by the band’s former guitarist KK Downing.
Downing issued a statement earlier this week saying he wasshocked and stunned that he was not asked back into the fold after Glenn Tipton’s Parkinson’s battle came to light.
Halford calls much of Downing’s Facebook post “completely superfluous” and is particularly angry at his insinuations that co-producer Andy Sneap played Tipton’s parts on upcoming album Firepower.
Halford tells Fox Sports 910 Radio, “With regards to everything that was made in that statement, a lot of it, to me, is completely superfluous. But the one point I would like to clarify and have on record is this insinuation that Andy Sneap was covering Glenn’s guitar parts on Firepower.”
He continues, “I can categorically state that that is a thousand percent false. Because I was with Glenn for all of his guitar work – and he worked really, really hard.
Imagine this guy in the 10th year of Parkinson’s. I’ve never seen anybody so brave in the fact that every song was a challenge for him to make it work, but he did – consistently, day after day.
It was just a very powerful thing to experience first-hand. And this just goes to show you about the amazing stories that surround individuals around the world that are dealing with Parkinson’s in their life.”
Halford adds, “I just wanted to touch on that one issue, because out of everything that was laid out in that statement, that one hit me personally. Now I’ve been able to clarify that and make sure that everybody understands that everything that you hear from Glenn on Firepower is the amazing Glenn Tipton.”
Judas Priest will head out on tour across North America from mid-March in support of Firepower, which will launch on March 9th through Columbia Records.
Firepower track listing:
1. Firepower
2. Lightning Strike
3. Evil Never Dies
4. Never The Heroes
5. Necromancer
6. Children of the Sun
7. Guardians
8. Rising From Ruins
9. Flame Thrower
10. Spectre
11. Traitors Gate
12. No Surrender
13. Lone Wolf
14. Sea of Red
Judas Priest 2018 Firepower tour dates
Mar 13: Wilkes Barre Mohegan Sun Arena At Casey Plaza, PA
Mar 15: Youngstown Covelli Centre, OH
Mar 17: Uniondale Nassau Coliseum, NY
Mar 18: Washington The Anthem, DC
Mar 20: Newark Prudential Center, NJ
Mar 22: Uncasville Mogehan Sun Arena, CT
Mar 25: Ottawa The Arena At TD Place, ON
Mar 27: London Budweiser Gardens, ON
Mar 28: Oshawa Tribute Communities Centre, ON
Mar 30: Rama Casino Rama, ON
Mar 31: Detroit Masonic Temple, MI
Apr 3: Milwaukee Riverside Theater, WI
Apr 5: Green Bay Resch Center, WI
Apr 8: Bloomington Grossinger Motors Arena, IL
Apr 10: Casper Events Center, WY
Apr 11: Loveland Budweiser Events Center, CO
Apr 15: Kent ShoWare Center, WA
Apr 17: Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum, OR
Apr 19: San Francisco The Warfield, CA
Apr 22: Los Angeles Microsoft Theatre, CA
Apr 24: Phoenix Comercia Theatre, AZ
Apr 26: Tulsa BOK Center, OK
Apr 28: Dallas Bomb Factory, TX
Apr 29: Sugarland Smart Financial Centre, TX
May 1: San Antonio Freeman Coliseum, TX
additional source: Classic Rock via teamrock.com
9 Responses
Also, responding to KK’s clarification response to Rob, Sneap doesn’t get a writing credit for any of the songs; contrast to the previous producers KK mentioned. There is now also talk that KK is going to launch his own version of Priest. I hope this isn’t the case because it follows that restraining orders will be forthcoming. I bet Eddie knows more than he’s saying… 🙂 Also, as of now, KK’s website is still linked to Priest’s.
I sure hope the rumors about KK launching his own version of Judas Priest are erroneous. Judas Priest is a band that the entire metal community respects and admires. They are put on the same pedestal as Sabbath, Deep Purple, even Led Zeppelin! If something like “KK Downings’ Judas Priest” were to happen, all of that would be out the window. They would be no better than Ratt or LA Guns, for cripes sake! If KK is ready to come back to the music scene, he should get together with a bunch of good musicians, write and record some new material, and put it out there! Many of us, myself included, would definitely be interested in hearing it. But please don’t cheapen the name of Judas Priest! The band should put out FIREPOWER, complete the scheduled tour, and retire. It’s been a terrific run, and they would be leaving with their integrity and legacy intact. If Rob wants to continue, he can reform HALFORD. Same deal with the rest of the guys in the band. Just don’t cheapen the legacy of Judas Priest!
I think that it is terrible that Richie is wearing K.K.’s make-up and K.K. has every right to be upset. Wait. I’m I thinking about somebody else? No matter. K.K. and Tipton are without a doubt the best guitar duo in rock music history and K.K. filling in or even rejoining the band should be the number 1 option above everything else. The fans don’t care about Twitter wars. They want heavy metal. I don’t want to know who K.K.’s lawyer is. REDEEMER was a really good album and the new songs sound good too. It’s about the music not signable contracts or whatever the hell else. If K.K. wants to do the last tour then figure out a way to make that work. All of the fans would rather see K.K. than anyone else including Jimmy Page or Tommy Thayer or even Stacey Blades. Stacey Blades? How ridiculous. I’ve met Halford and he’s on with Trunk a lot and he seems like a great guy who regards his fans big league so he should put a quick end to this silliness and get back to what he does best.
Imagine this PRIEST offshoot called PETER DENYER featuring K.K. and Ripper Owens as they perform: YOU’VE GOT ANOTHER THING ABOUT TO HAPPEN
METAL LORDS
REALLY FAST BURNING
PURGATORY BENT FOR SUEDE
LIVING AFTER 11 PM
OUT IN THE HEAT
PAIN INJURER
HIT IT DOWN
HEADING OUT TO I-95
JUDAS IS GETTING UP
VIOLATING THE LAW
VICTIM OF SWITCHES
BEYOND THE REALMS OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS