Home Glam Rock And Classic Metal Guitarist K.K. DOWNING Says ‘I Was Fully Committed To JUDAS PRIEST’

Guitarist K.K. DOWNING Says ‘I Was Fully Committed To JUDAS PRIEST’

kk downing leave judas priest, Guitarist K.K. DOWNING Says ‘I Was Fully Committed To JUDAS PRIEST’

Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing recently sat down with Finland’s Kaaos TV and spoke about how he never pursued outside musical interests while he was a member of the band.

“[PRIEST] was my whole life,” he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “I only ever wanted to be in JUDAS PRIEST. I was the loyal [member of] PRIEST. I didn’t leave the band, like Glenn [Tipton, guitar] and Rob [Halford, vocals] did, and record with other musicians and make LPs with other musicians and have my own webshop and sell my own t-shirts; I never did that. I was fully committed to JUDAS PRIEST. Because if I had strong musical ideas, [I wanted them to be used in JUDAS PRIEST]. So, if Rob and Glenn felt they had strong musical ideas, they should have been given to JUDAS PRIEST. That’s what I think. If the ideas weren’t strong, then I don’t know why they would want to release albums with ideas that they felt weren’t strong. The material I’ve just produced on the new [KK’S PRIEST] record could happily have gone to JUDAS PRIEST. But Rob wanted his strong material for himself. That’s why I’m saying over all of the years in the history of JUDAS PRIEST, I was the loyal one. I didn’t give strong material to myself.”

K.K. Downing walked away from JUDAS PRIEST in 2011 due to inner struggles within the band.  He would be replaced by young shredder Richie Faulkner.

Downing is currently promoting “Sermons Of The Sinner”, the upcoming debut album from KK’S PRIEST, his new band with ex-JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim “Ripper” Owens, along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

“Sermons Of The Sinner” will be released on August 20 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. The LP’s first single, “Hellfire Thunderbolt”, came out in May, followed by the title track last month.