Ex-JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist K.K. DOWNING Returns To Stage For First Time In 10 Years (Video)

August 11, 2019

Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing joined ex-MANOWAR axeman Ross "The Boss" Friedman for four songs earlier today (Sunday, August 11) at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom. This marked K.K.'s first public performance since October 17, 2009 when JUDAS PRIEST played the final "British Steel 30th Anniversary" date on the "Nostradamus" world tour at Japan's Loud Park festival in Chiba City, Japan.

Fan-filmed video footage of Downing's appearance — consisting of the PRIEST classics "Green Manalishi", "Heading Out On The Highway", "Breaking The Law" and "Running Wild" — can be seen below.

Prior to the concert, K.K. said in a statement: "I'm really delighted and really looking forward to sharing the stage with Ross The Boss and saying hello to all our fans together. For me, as you know, it's been far too long, so I sincerely hope to see as many familiar faces as possible at this truly unique event. True metal for true metal fans at the U.K.'s truest metal festival. United we stand!"

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

Last summer, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Downing's autobiography, "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", was released in September via Da Capo Press.

A founding member of MANOWAR, Ross recorded six albums with the band before leaving after 1988's "Kings Of Metal".

ROSS THE BOSS is currently recording its new album for a 2020 release via AFM Records.

The band's latest album, "By Blood Sworn", was released last year to critical acclaim.

Posted by Carlos Aguilera on Sunday, August 11, 2019

Posted by Martin Curtis on Sunday, August 11, 2019

KK Downing Defending the Faith on stage today for the first time in nearly 10 years..🤟🏼www.metaldefender.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1BnLXcA-ym/?igshid=w04tudfhbr8f
Posted by K.K.Downing's Metal on Sunday, August 11, 2019

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