JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist: Why ROB Left The Band Is Still A Mystery To Me

JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing recently answered a number of fan questions via his newly launched web site. A few excerpts follow:

Q: In concert from 1970 to 1992 you played with normal tuning but concerts with Tim "Ripper" Owens you played with one step down and with Halford in "Rising in the East" with only half step down. Why? And my second question is how do you play with Glenn a solo in "Hellrider"? I can't play it, it's very good...and very hard. Oh, is "Hellrider" with tuning half step down? I found something in guitar tabs.

Downing: When we worked with Ripper we played songs with many different tunings so when we toured with him we compromised by just tuning a tone down as you say. And when Rob rejoined, because we always used to be in concert pitch with him we again compromised by tuning down by just a half step as we kind of got used to being tuned down from concert. However, we are now writing and playing in concert so I guess that’s how we will be on tour also. Yes I think "Hellrider" was down by a half step, keep practising you will get it if you try.

Q: For a particular theme or mood, is there one of you which tends to lean more towards melancholy or anger based song writing? Is there one that tends to lean more towards optimism, or is it always a collaboration?

Downing: As you know the guys and I are now all mature men, I think it is fair to say that the longevity of our existence and experiences in life has and still continues to replenish our minds with a plethora of data that enables us to compose songs that for the most part have a relevance to us all. When I was young there was a lot of confusion in my head about what was normal and what was not, I guess the insecurity I felt at home was the start of some kind of rebellion on my behalf and I was sure that there must be many kids out there that felt the same way. The love I received from my mother was in total conflict with the violent atmosphere created by my father; this formulated the most unstable good verses evil platform for me and my sisters to evolve. I am sure that this story is very familiar to a lot of rock and metal fans as I believe that our music has most likely been chosen for us consciously or subconsciously by the persons that we have become due to the turn of events that delimited our upbringing. The angst and the calm have far reaching boundaries with a multitude of emotions in between that serves to create a huge blank canvas to enable a person to express themselves, for me it is through music for you it can be through words, others will find their own vehicle. I think the reason that JUDAS PRIEST is still prolific is because we came together as brothers from different families but we were as one with the unspoken understanding that we all had been subjected to similar experiences. For this reason we are all able to present musical ideas that cover a comprehensive variety of emotions.

Q: Did you and Glenn ever get in serious fights or ever have competitions or still do considering that he has a solo album out, and I've read so many story's about Rob's reason for leaving the band which is right one?

Downing: I think it is a good thing to have some healthy competition, as I think it can give you both drive to improve your playing and to be prolific in song writing. You are bound to have some differences over music, but if you believe in the band you should overcome them. It is only fair to the other members. I think if one member wants all of the say and control you should fire him for his own good so that he can become a solo artist sooner rather than later. Actually why Rob left is still a mystery to me but what is important is that he came back for us and for the fans of metal.

Read more fan questions and K.K.'s answers at this location.