The ex-Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing decided to retire fromthe Heavy Metal band back in 2011 but as the guitarist says he regretted no long after and the band reportedly didn’t accepted him back. In 2020 he decided to come out of retirement and created KK’s Priest alongside the ex-Judas vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens and will released this year their second studio album.
In 2022, Judas Priest was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Downing joined them on the stage for the induction. But afterwards he wasn’t invited to join them officially again.
In an interview with Metal Pilgrim (Transcribed by Blabbermouth), the guitar player said that he wasn’t nervous to play again with Rob Halford, Scott Travis, Ian Hill and Glenn Tipton again after more than a decade.
K.K. Downing says he wasn’t nervous to play with Judas at Rock Hall
“No, no, not at all. I mean, no more nervous than you ever get whenever you’re playing. You can play 50 gigs in a row, but you always have that kind of anticipation that you might split your pants or break a guitar string or fall over, fall off the stage or trip up or do something. You have all of that going on, but we learn to live with it.”
“But the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was no different to that, really. Contrary to what some people might say or think, I really do think I’m a very confident performer. I wouldn’t go out there if I didn’t feel that I was well equipped and could more than adequately do what I’m supposed to do, really. That’s play and perform and entertain,” K.K. Downing said.
Next tour dates
To promote the new album, KK’s Priest already has scheduled tour dates in the United Kingdom and Mexico.
October (With Paul Di’Anno)
- 7 – Birmingham – 02 Institute
- 8 – Glasgow – SWG3
- 10 – Nottingham – Rock City
- 11 – Manchester – 02 Ritz
- 12 – London – O2 Shepperd’s Bush Empire
December
2,– Mexico City, MX – Life After Death Horror Fest
March (2024)
2-7, 2024 – Monsters of Rock Cruise