In a brand new interview with “Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern”, founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth “Ok.Ok.” Downing was requested about the opportunity of him ever rejoining his former bandmates on stage sooner or later. He stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Properly, I requested them if they need me to step again into the function a few instances in writing, and the reply got here again, ‘No.’ So it’s what it’s. After which I went, ‘Okay, fantastic. Then I’ll begin [a new] band,’ and that is what I’ve executed [with KK’S PRIEST]. And now I am fairly pleased, actually, as a result of I’ve rediscovered… I imply, I used to jot down all the fabric for the band again within the late ’60s, early ’70s and I forgot what it was prefer to be… It is form of good to place materials down and simply say what goes and what does not your self, with out having to collaborate and all the pieces takes so lengthy. It is nice simply to get on with it.”

Downing went on to say that he’s notably upset that fellow founding PRIEST member Ian Hill (bass) has seemingly determined in opposition to having Ok.Ok. rejoin the group. “Truthfully, the worst factor about the entire thing is that Ian has denied me the chance to step again into the band,” he stated. “I imply, we went to kindergarten collectively; we have been like brothers. And we spent a few years in the back of the bus complaining about everyone else. [Laughs] I at all times thought it was me and him for a few years. However I simply do not understand how that may occur, like I say. And Rob [Halford, vocals] left the band for 14 years. And once I was instrumental in inviting him again into the band. How can he deny me the chance to go on stage and play my songs? They’re saying, ‘We’re gonna do it, however you’ll be able to’t.’ As a result of Ian and Rob by no means wrote any of the music for this band.”

Requested if he thinks Ian has been pressured by the PRIEST administration or by Rob and guitarist Glenn Tipton to maintain Downing from returning to the band, Ok.Ok. stated: “One thing’s mistaken someplace. It does not make sense. How can Ian, the bass participant that is by no means written any songs, deny me the chance of being within the band? All of these years, and I’ve written all of these songs and riffs, however how can he stand over there and play bass and never enable me to play the guitar to these songs? It does not make any sense. And it does not make any sense to not have the unique man again from the trademark lineup. It does not make any sense. Am I that dangerous? [Laughs] However anyway, so I’ve gone forward and made two albums [with KK’S PRIEST] in two years, and people guys have executed two albums in 14 years. I simply do not get it. I do not get it.”

Pressed about whether or not he thinks it is attorneys and administration inflicting all the problems between the members of the basic PRIEST lineup, Downing stated: “Properly, any individual on the market has determined that ‘I’m gonna change historical past and I am gonna be the one which’s gonna determine what the followers hear and what they do not and who they see and who they do not.’ Someone in that band is making these selections. However they solely have it on their conscience, actually, as a result of everyone knows what the followers… I imply, [former PRIEST vocalist Tim] Ripper [Owens] is a superb singer and he made two nice albums with us. We did so many excursions and he is a stunning man and he is nice, however the fan demand to have Rob again within the band was simply too overwhelming, actually, as a result of Rob, I assume, their assertion is Rob is the voice of the band, identical to Freddie Mercury with QUEEN or Bruce [Dickinson] with [IRON] MAIDEN, and the checklist goes on and on and on. In order that’s plain. And I feel that Tim can be the primary to acknowledge that and get that. Even when he sang the songs higher, as we spoke, Rob is the voice of JUDAS PRIEST. However now gladly Ripper is the voice of KK’S PRIEST, as a result of that man is singing so significantly better than even I’ve ever heard him earlier than. It is implausible. So I am so lucky to have him again within the saddle with us.”

Requested if he would contemplate rejoining JUDAS PRIEST if the band was going to make one ultimate album and he was approached about taking part in on it, Downing stated: “One factor’s for certain: that may by no means occur ever… I do know Glenn‘s retired from touring. However whether or not he can write and document, I do not know. I have never had an replace on Glenn‘s well being, sadly. I actually do not know. However it’s solely as a result of I am so shut and within the trade, I heard an terrible lot of issues from a very long time in the past, however, like I say, unconfirmed.

“I must say, at this level. I spent numerous effort and time attempting to work issues out in a approach,” he defined. “It is fairly difficult stuff. Like I say, I wasn’t pleased with numerous issues. The Fiftieth-anniversary e-book and all the pieces that is executed, I do not get something, any cash from any of that in anyway. So it will get powerful to see all of the merchandise with all these photos that I paid for and was part of creating, numerous these photos. It will get very industrial, the entire thing, and possibly that is what it is all about anyway. The primary three, 4 years of JUDAS PRIEST, the 50 years, Glenn and Rob weren’t there, so how does it turn out to be a Fiftieth-anniversary e-book should you do not embrace the primary years? And it wasn’t proper to try this. They usually requested the followers to pay 5 hundred {dollars} for a e-book that is not correct. However there’s so many issues, grievances, it will get to be a quagmire.

“In 2010, all of us, as mates, as administrators of the corporate, as businessmen, as bandmates, all of that, all of us determined to finish the band. All of us determined to retire in 2010,” he continued. “The administration — and I’ve obtained the e-mails — stated, ‘We’d like you to think about a tour title meaning the definitive finish of the band.’ So the tour title was the ‘Epitaph’ tour. So, due to sure circumstances, I used to be being requested to jot down an EP to assist the tour. So I am saying, ‘So that you need me to finish my profession on an EP? I am not gonna do it.’ So, there was numerous disgruntlement then, and I ultimately went, ‘Proper. If no one’s gonna hearken to me, you are able to do the farewell tour by yourself. I am not doing it.’ And so I opted out to do the farewell tour. 15 years later, it is easy to say now, but when the thought was then to hold on, I ought to have identified about it, I ought to have been advised about it. Or no less than if the choice was that they have been gonna keep on, I ought to have had the choice to… They need to have stated, ‘We’re carrying on. Will you step again in?'”

Downing added: “However then they rapidly introduced, and possibly they have been stunned that Richie [Faulkner, Downing‘s replacement in PRIEST] would carry a newfound power to the band, as a result of that is what they stated in statements to the press. They usually additionally stated, ‘Properly, not one of the followers are lacking Ok.Ok.‘ so possibly they felt — I do not know — reborn with out me. Which is a bit odd, as a result of I truly felt on the time, in 2010, that I used to be the power within the band, that everyone else appeared to simply undergo the motions. I did not find out about Glenn‘s sickness on the time. However one thing did not appear proper. I do know that Rob launched two studio albums in 2010 and did a world tour, together with the Ozzfest, singing JUDAS PRIEST songs, and everyone was in worry that he was gonna take off once more. So we thought that all of those causes have been why we wanted to fold the tent, actually, on JUDAS PRIEST. And that is what we deliberate. Somebody moved the goalpost on me, I am afraid.”

When the interviewers advised Downing that they, and different PRIEST followers, miss seeing him up on stage with the band, Ok.Ok. stated: “Thanks a lot, guys. And I can perceive why. I used to be there so lengthy. [Laughs] I used to be like an previous shoe or a wart in your neck or one thing. I used to be part of life. The final tour that they simply did, I noticed the setlist they usually have been taking part in one track off the final two albums. All the remainder have been my songs.”

He continued: “I can solely surmise that there is industrial facets [that are standing in the way of me returning to PRIEST] and simply… I do not know. I do not know. Perhaps Glenn did not actually ever need me to be there and him to not be there. I do not know. Perhaps he noticed that as an finish of an period, and I feel he is proper, so far as I am involved.”

Downing carried out with PRIEST finally 12 months’s Rock And Roll Corridor Of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles.

PRIEST acquired the Musical Excellence Award on the November 2022 occasion, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon within the Performers class.

The JUDAS PRIEST members that obtained inducted embrace present members Halford, Hill, Tipton and Scott Travis (drums),together with former members Downing, drummer Les Binks and late drummer Dave Holland.

Halford, Hill, Tipton and Travis have been joined by Binks, Downing and present guitarist Richie Faulkner for a three-song medley consisting of “You’ve got Received One other Factor Comin'”, “Breaking The Regulation” and “Dwelling After Midnight”.

Faulkner, almost three many years Downing‘s junior, joined PRIEST after Ok.Ok. left in 2011 amid claims of band battle, shoddy administration and declining high quality of efficiency.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he despatched two resignation letters to his bandmates when he determined to give up JUDAS PRIEST. The primary was described as “a sleek exit observe, implying a clean retirement from music,” whereas the second was “angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with particular events.”

Downing later stated that he believed the second letter was “a key motive” he wasn’t invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton‘s choice to retire from touring.

Picture credit score: Thoughts Artwork Visible