Kenneth “KK” Downing , legendary guitarist and founder of Judas Priest , shared behind-the-scenes details of his emotional reunion with his former band during last year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Chaoszine (via Blabbermouth ), the guitarist expressed disappointment with the treatment he received from his former bandmates, especially from Judas Priest's manager.
Downing, who contributed significantly to the band's history, attended the ceremony as a guest and not as an integral member who contributed to Judas Priest's legacy. This decision came from the group's manager, to which Downing responded:
“The [PRIEST] manager told us we were guests of the band – me and Les Binks . I said, ‘Go fuck yourself.’ Actually, I’m a guest of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I’m there to receive my own award. I’m not anyone’s guest. And then they were going to dictate the songs and what would be played. So I said, ‘Oh, crap. Do I have to bother doing this?’ You know what I mean? ‘Can I even bother?’ And then people were saying, ‘You have to go. This will never happen again, obviously, in your life. You deserve this.’ Anyway, I decided, ‘Okay, I’ll go.’ But obviously, we were kept apart and couldn’t walk the red carpet together, which is very sad, but that’s how they wanted it.”
The relationship with vocalist Rob Halford , however, proved to be distant. In Downing's view, the manager is the one calling the shots, and Halford is merely manipulated. This attitude serves as a reminder that celebrating a band's legacy isn't always a moment of communion, as wounds and conflicts between members can remain latent.
Amidst generations of artists of diverse styles, such as Ed Sheeran and Dolly Parton , Downing reflected on the unifying nature of rock. His unique performance provided a memorable moment for fans and attendees, who were able to witness Judas Priest's induction into the Hall of Fame.
At last year's Rock Hall of Fame, both current members – Halford, Ian Hill , Tipton and Scott Travis – and former members Downing, Binks and the late drummer Dave Holland were honored.
In November 2022, in an interview, Halford was asked if performing alongside Downing at the Rock Hall ceremony helped to dispel some of the resentment shown by KK for not having participated in the band's recent tours. Halford's response was emphatic: "I think we should let the music speak for itself, really."
It's worth remembering that in 2019, Downing expressed his intention to join Judas Priest for the band's 50th-anniversary tour. However, the response he received was that the band had no interest in his participation in that celebration.
READ ALSO: Glenn Tipton responds to KK Downing about Judas Priest: “The fans aren’t stupid”
