KK Downing left Judas Priest in 2011.
bassist Ian Hill has spoken about the reasons why KK Downing , the band's former guitarist, was not invited to join and replace Glenn Tipton , who is sidelined due to the progression of Parkinson's disease.
“I think he just put a little bit of malice in it, to be honest. I mean, KK’s place in the band has already been taken; he’s sitting there [referring to Priest’s current guitarist, Richie Faulkner Nostradamus tour , which is the last one he played on, and he would be prepared to play songs from the new album…probably not. Besides, he would have to learn Glenn’s parts as well. So, that’s why we didn’t ask him to come back. Also, he’s been retired for almost eight years, as far as I know, so he’s hardly at his peak at the moment. So, yeah, I’m not sure what he wanted with it – I really don’t know, I think it might have just been [him putting] a little bit of malice in it.”
Downing announced his retirement in April 2011, being replaced by Richie Faulkner, and Tipton is being replaced by the producer of Judas Priest's last album, Firepower , and also guitarist for Hell , Andy Sneap .
