K.K. Downing Retires From Judas Priest

Testament1

Taken from the Priest website:

"It is with regret that Judas Priest announce that K.K. DOWNING has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming EPITAPH Tour.

The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well."


Bit of a shocker. Must be something going on behind the scenes to say that he's retiring all of a sudden and just before they embark on their farewell tour. It'll be strange to see Priest without him on stage.

RayCon

Strange one alright ....

Pyr0

Very, very shocking. Just before their last world tour starts and everthing, gutted. Seeing them at Hellfest and Wacken won't be the same!

Grid.

Ah crap....thats a shame:(!!! Looks like they're bringin' Richie Faulkner as replacement for the upcoming tour!

slavetothegrind

a shame indeed.

i salute you kk and wish you well in whatever you do, thanks for the music.

PeterIanStaker

This is the guy who is supposed to fill KK's shoes:

http://www.starnow.com/SkyWalker666/video/53523/

Er, nope.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

This is the guy who is supposed to fill KK's shoes:

http://www.starnow.com/SkyWalker666/video/53523/

Er, nope.

well the guy can play!

but nobody could ever going to replace K.k! seen the the priest in 09, great show!

honru

Really odd that he would exit the group, just like that, eight weeks before the start of the band's tour. Surely he'd want to finish off Priest with the supposed "farewell" tour?

JBnaglfar

K.K. Downing has released a statement about his exit from the band.

"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 OK.

"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.

"All my love and respect."

source

honru

Apparently he finished up with Priest before last Christmas, and it's only been announced to the public now.

SirLemonhead

A lot of the fans figured it was something to do with the management. That Glenn/Jayne Andrews combo always seems to be the source of trouble from everything i've ever heard.

I can say i'm really disinterested in the band now after this. The farewell tour won't be the same without him and a new album will oddly be even stranger without KK than when Rob left.

wandatowell

Bad news indeed.........darn it anyways

KevLeppard

Really shocked at this. Dont think anyone really saw this coming. Pity he wont be part of the send off for the band, that he had a very large hand in creating.

SouperComputer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ9KSzd1tOo

That's all.