K.K. Downing officially retires from Judas Priest.

manny wrote:

It figures, I am glad it has nothing to do with his health, and he is a classy guy asking his fans to support Judas Priest, hopefully the band and Downing can resolve this issue with their management, I can't believe management would let the situation get to the point where one of the signature members of the band walks away.

Especially on what is being advertised as their last world tour.

I hope this doesn't deter KK from creating more music. I'd love to see what kind of solo offering he could put together. On the other side, I still support Priest. Yes, it won't be the same but that doesn't mean the band still can't be good. The tour will be fine, what I'm most interested in is the album this new version will release.

What's really sad is that I believe sooner or later all of these guys are going to wish they had worked out their problems but it will be too late to really make a go of yet another reunion.

It's sad, but he has put a lot into Priest and deserves a good rest, especially if it's for his health.

Im just greatful I got to see Priest in 08 with Kk on board. It is a real shame however, Priest are one of my all time favorite bands, and i wouldve loved to see them do a farewell tour the right way, but things like this just happen.

This does not make any sense. Why would he leave if not for something dramatic like health issues? He's not going to go solo, the band is about to retire anyway, not much more touring to do, just leisurely studio time, I'm sure.

I hope he's okay. I cannot imagine Priest without the twin guitar attack of Downing / Tipton, and I don't know if I want to.

Without Tipton-Downing magic,m what is Judas Priest? But they have given enough for the fans, so perhaps they need their time of rest as well.

Wow!!!!! that is shocking!!!!

As much as it sucks that KK left the band... they need to end their career with a better album than Nostradamus.

Troublezone wrote:

As much as it sucks that KK left the band... they need to end their career with a better album than Nostradamus.

Nostradamus is not bad if you cut away the fat and the interludes,etc. and it was trimmed down to one album of the strongest tunes.

Some fresh blood might do wonders ? Flowin into those cob-webb filled places of the brain that write songs. I just hope and pray that they don't do one of those "let's re-record" the older tunes things. That would really suck, big time. I'd like a cross between "Sin After Sin" and "Pain Killer" with just a touch of "Screaming For Vengeance".

looks like we better really soak up this last priest album for what its worth, it's probably going to be the final one!

James B. wrote:

Some fresh blood might do wonders ? Flowin into those cob-webb filled places of the brain that write songs. I just hope and pray that they don't do one of those "let's re-record" the older tunes things. That would really suck, big time. I'd like a cross between "Sin After Sin" and "Pain Killer" with just a touch of "Screaming For Vengeance".

I imagine it will end up sounding like a cross between Painkiller and Angel of Retribution.

I think it is sad they wont be going out together...

Troublezone wrote:

As much as it sucks that KK left the band... they need to end their career with a better album than Nostradamus.

I believe that Nostradamus is an amazing album, but not one that a band like priest should conclude its career with.

It is sad but at the same time I was hoping that we would not have another turmoil in Priest.

I find it bemusing that at their age they cannot set differences aside and focus on delivering to the audience the package it wants.

It's like how the rest of Aerosmith have been bickering with Steve Tyler - come on none of these guys are in their 20s or 30s anymore, there's no going solo in your 60s or replacing a musician who has been in the band for over 3 decades with some young and inexperienced guy (well unless you are KISS cause one day you won't really know who is behind the make-up ... it could be a stand in for Gene!).

In any case, I think whatever differences of opinion they might have they should be able to work through them in a mature and sensible manner.

Touring without KK will not be the same - I can't even believe they have seriously considered it... I don't think the audiences will support this move...

Sure they supported the band when Ripper was in it (some at least) and some will probably still support them now but the timing was far different then... at the time Priest had been away for 6 - 7 years before releasing a new album and during that time metal's popularity in the U.S. (which had the biggest share of the market) plummeted!

Of course any return by the Priest would have been welcomed - with Halford or a new singer. Even then, Priest were mostly popular around Europe in the late 90s and kinda rode the wave alongside other metal bands in their predicament at the time (i.e. well received in Europe but virtually unheard of in the U.S.)

Now, I think people know better - tolerance for new comers replacing old timers is a lot lower than it used to be. With bands like Priest once more reaching a wider audience as they did in the 80s, people will not take so lightly to the band touring in KK's absence.

Is the band Judas Priest complete without the Tipton-Downing duo? I guess even Halford was replaceable, but not Tipton or Downing. Just my opinion.

It begs the question, who was most responsible for the stylistic approach on the last album? Maybe I need to spin "Nostradamus" again, but I can't lie, it's a tough album to sit through on one sitting.

News continues to come out regarding K.K's departure. It looks as if this decision has been imminent for quite some time, since DECEMBER! Wow...

http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/428364/pid/400512

Fat Freddy wrote:

Meet the New Guy:

ultmetal wrote:

That sucks! It's not Priest without him.

Meh. It was Priest without Halford, it can be Priest without Downing.

No it wasn't. Halford, like Downing, is one third of the band's songwriting team. Their music suffered without Halford and I'm afraid it will suffer without K. K. as well. As always, when an integral member of a favorite band departs, it's disappointing news.

Still waiting for the follow up announcement that Ian Hill actually "retired" from Priest 10 years ago, and the "Ian" we've seen on stage since then has been a lifelike android double, ala "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park"

They will replace all the Priest members with new ones just like Kiss wants to do...

They never claimed they would be writing songs without KK, just touring without him. And KK never said he was out of the songwriting team, just that he wouldn't be on this final tour.

Well, if I manage to catch Judas Priest on this tour, it will continue my streak of only seeing bands with replacement members...haha!! Nikki used to bust my balls over only seeing bands when members had been replaced...

Journey (x2 w/ Augeri)
Motley Crue (x1 w/ Corabi and x1 w/ Samantha Maloney)
Firehouse (5x, never once with original bassist)
Ratt (Crane & Kelli)
Slaughter (x2 w/ Blando)
Dokken (Beach)
Dream Theater (x2 w/ Rudess)
Van Halen (x1 w/ Hagar and x1 w/ Cherone)
Metallica (x1 w/ Newsted and x1 w/ Trujillo)
L.A. Guns (Jizzy Pearl)
Believer (Wyatt Robertson)
Testament (Bostaph)
Scorpions (Kottak, Jabs & bassist)

Update from KK's website. Nothing really that we didn't already know however...

Quote :

"I would just like to say a big thank you for your support and kind words. It is most heart-warming for me to be the recipient of such graciousness and compassion from you all.

"For some of you that would seem to desire some more details as to why I have resigned from the band, I can only say that there is nothing more underlying than I have already put in my initial statement. I would like to reassure you that I am still here for you and I am still the same person with the same feelings and sentiments.

"I have been lucky enough to have had a great life and to have fulfilled many goals, one of the most significant being the friendships that I have made with you my fans. Many of you I have met and we have enjoyed some time together, some of you I have just had a beer with and with others I might only have shared a couple of laughs or simply signed my autograph.

"Nothing could ever have been more rewarding than to have experienced and enjoyed our special relationship and the things that we have shared together — those being music, friendship and the love of life itself."

That statement just shows that he is a classy guy all the way, I wish him the best.

manny wrote:

That statement just shows that he is a classy guy all the way, I wish him the best.

Very respected person indeed.