Guitarist KK Downing , vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens , and drummer Les Binks – all former members of Judas Priest – formed a band called KK's Priest .
Along with AJ Mills on guitar and Tony Newton on bass, the group is already producing their first album. The work is expected to be released this year, along with a tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Judas Priest and Downing.
“Thanks to the great support from the fans, I feel like I belong here,” Downing said in a statement, “Fans can expect a setlist consisting of Priest classics and unreleased songs from our band.” He also says that creating KK's Priest was inevitable and essential for him.
A founding member of Judas Priest, KK Downing left the band in 2011 claiming he was going to retire. After opening a resort that went bankrupt, he disappeared from the public eye for a while. In 2018, he revealed he was upset about not being invited to replace Glenn Tipton Firepower tour , when Tipton was sidelined due to suffering from Parkinson's disease.
Tim “Ripper” Owens was part of Judas Priest between 1996 and 2003, replacing Rob Halford. Les Binks was in the group between 1977 and 1979, participating in the albums Stained Class (1978) and Killing Machine (1978).