I don’t know about everyone else, but I for one, am sick of seeing interview after interview with former Judas Priest guitarist, K.K. Downing complaining about his exit from the band. Now, before all of K.K.’s fans attempt to crucify me for daring to take sides on this issue…I’m actually not taking sides. I actually prefer what I consider to be the classic era of Judas Priest that featured the guitar duo of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. K.K. is an immensely talented guitarist and someone that I have had a lot of respect for over the years in the heavy metal community. K.K. Downing officially left Judas Priest on 20 April 2011, noting that he many reasons to leave, without supplying a lot of details about why he chose to leave. So, for the last ten years, Judas Priest has continued to move forward recording and touring without K.K.’s involvement in the band. Downing’s irritation toward his former Judas Priest band members seemed to intensify after it was announced that longtime guitarist Glenn Tipton had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and apparently because the band did not invite Downing to return to the band in place of Tipton.
So in interview after interview, I have listened to K.K. dwell on his exit from Judas Priest and complain about how he believes it was orchestrated, in what seemingly amounts to Downing coming off as feeling like he’s been victimized by the band. Now, for the record, I’m sure that every story has two sides. But, I can’t help but feel like Downing is being immature with all of these statements and it feels like a kid in the schoolyard trying to convince the kids that he’s being picked on. For the record, K.K. Downing will be 70 years old in October of 2021. So, it does seem a little petty for him to go on about this subject at not only his age but to complain about it repeatedly. So, yeah, I’m sure there’s some bad blood between K.K. and some of the members of Judas Priest, but let’s not forget….no matter what the reason was…K.K. Downing ultimately chose to leave Judas Priest.
These days, K.K. has been putting together a new band called “K.K.’s Priest” (how original!) with one-time Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens. And as far as I’m concerned, this where the beef with Judas Priest should end. It’s time for K.K. to shut up and quit whining about the past and show the world first hand, why Judas Priest would have been better with him, still in the band. I mean, he’s clearly set himself up for the comparisons to his former band by calling it K.K.’s Priest and bringing in Ripper Owens. So the best way for K.K. to end this chapter and start a new one is to make an incredible, kick-ass album that will simply blow metal fans away. It’s time to get in the ring and go head to head.
When the debut album is released, then it’s finally time to see if K.K. is “Delivering The Goods” or “Has Another Thing Comin'”.
Everything in this article is an opinion. My personal opinion. You may agree or you may not. Not everyone at XS ROCK agrees with me and that’s fine as this opinion piece reflects my opinion about this matter and not theirs.
