KK Downing Retires From Judas Priest

[Diofan]

Wednesday it was announced that guitarist and founding member K.K. Downing has broken with the metal gods after 40 years of service.

In a statement on the official Judas Priest website the band announced “with regret” that Downing has retired and will not be joining them on their forthcoming tour. Downing will be replaced by a British guitarist called Richie Faulkner.


Barely a day has passed since Judas Priest released a statement saying that long standing guitarist KK Downing had announced his retirement just weeks prior to participating in the bands farewell “Epitaph Tour”

The statement asked that Downing’s privacy be respected in regard to his decision sparking a degree of confusion and concern amongst the bands legions of fans world wide.

Foremost in the fans mind was that concern that the guitarist might be suffering illness given that nature of the announcement which few would have seen coming.

In response to a deluge of entries in the guest book of Downing’s website “The Steel Mill” it would appear that he couldn’t keep the fans in the dark and was moved to issue his own statement if only to allay their fears:

Dear friends,

It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am O.K.

There has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band’s management for some time.

Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans.

However I would urge you to please support the Priest as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed.

Downing’s announcement sparked further comment from Priest, when frontman Rob Halford was quoted in an interview with French Magazine Rock Hard. He said:

“K.K. leaving was his own decision, for the reasons he made public on his web site [earlier today],

“We had a fantastic time together on the ‘Nostradamus’ tour… [But] K.K. has his own life to live and we can’t force him to do anything he doesn’t want to do.

“He told us [of his decision to leave JUDAS PRIEST] before Christmas time. Personally, I thought this could be the end… Emotionally, for me, it’s been very, very difficult…

“When K.K. said he was thinking of retiring, Glenn was the first guy to send him a personal email to say, ‘Ken, I hope you’re OK. If there’s anything you need, just let me know.’ We kept the door open all this time in case Ken changed his mind, but the clock was ticking.”

Halford continued,

“K.K. can never be replaced; he’s unique, and we didn’t want any kind of K.K. copycat. Richie Faulkner came to Glenn’s house to jam, and Glenn simply told me he was absolutely brilliant.”

Priest had previously stated that their “Epitaph” tour would be their last, but that they would continue recording, with a new album due for release next year. However Artisan News reports that the bands drummer Scott Travis, may have a different view of the future when he told them:

“It’s never an easy decision to replace any longtime bandmember, but Priest is almost like its own machine, and the fans want Priest to continue, we want it to continue, and we have to go on. K.K.… I can’t speak for him, but we have to go on; that’s all.”