K.K. DOWNING Checks In From KK'S PRIEST's Fall 2026 North American Tour: 'It's Great To Meet All Of Our Audiences Again In The States'

KK'S PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing has shared with BLABBERMOUTH.NET the first in a series of exclusive reports from the band's recently ongoing North American tour as the support act for W.A.S.P. The two groups launched the trek on September 10 in El Cajon, California and are spending six weeks traversing the United States and Canada, concluding the tour on Halloween in Anaheim, California.

The legendary JUDAS PRIEST guitarist said:  "Hi there. K.K. checking in, on tour. I think it's now nine shows in 10 days. Totally awesome. Yeah, we kicked off in El Cajon, in San Diego, and [we're] working our way up. We went to Santa Fe for the first time. [I'd] never been there before. Absolutely fantastic. Went to the historic old town. I managed to board one of those great big heavy metal railway engines at the famous Santa Fe Railroad. I'd been watching and been aware of Santa Fe since I was a kid watching the Westerns on the telly [television] in the '50s, '60s growing up. And I know how it important it was in America, as a town, and also boasts the oldest church in the country, built in 1610. Anyway, brilliant. Totally brilliant. And yeah, just working our way through Texas now, and [we're [laying] San Antonio tonight."

K.K. continued: "[We] had a great show in Dallas yesterday. So we're heading cross-country. We'll be going through Houston into Florida, working our way up the East Coast towards New York, Canada. Full on, absolutely brilliant. Great to see, riding through these cities, seeing all the brand-new architecture and everything. And I must say, the United States is certainly really coming of age with great architecture in these cities. It's an absolute pleasure to visit and get to see, and see a lot more of the cities on this tour, which I'm determined to do. So that's all good news."

Downing said: "Obviously, we're out here with the legendary W.A.S.P., total awesome outfit. [W.A.S.P. vocalist/guitarist] Blackie [Lawless] has no trouble turning back the clock to whatever year you want. He delivers it with the same presence, show, performance — absolutely brilliant. The whole show with W.A.S.P. and KK'S PRIEST, totally energized, and it's great to meet all of our audiences again in the States. And we're having a great time. And like I say, getting to check out lots of historical places. In actual fact, I'm in the Gibbs Hotel, which is right across the street from the Alamo, here in San Antonio, so I'm gonna be checking that out. I did go there once, I think in the '70s, but it's been a long time. Yeah, totally awesome.

"Yeah, so needless to say, I would love to invite all of the Blabbermouth readers to come down to the show," K.K. added. "Sure to be playing a show pretty near you. Check out the dates on the appropriate web sites. And, yeah, it's great to see. I've definitely been bringing back some [JUDAS PRIEST] classics — 'The Sentinel', 'Turbo Lover', 'Heading Out To The Highway', whatever, some favorites from the past. And it's great to see those old classic songs going down so well with some of the newer, younger fans. Also, obviously, a lot of the older fans that were there at the time obviously really seem to appreciate bringing back the classics. So, everybody come on down to a show, if you get a chance, and we'll see you there. KK'S PRIEST, W.A.S.P. — and I guarantee everybody will have a good dose of classic rock and metal. So see you all there, you guys."

In addition to Downing, KK'S PRIEST's current touring lineup includes fellow former JUDAS PRIEST member Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),alongside guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Anthony Wall and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

KK'S PRIEST's 12-song set on on W.A.S.P.'s "1984 To Headless" 2026 U.S. and Canada tour includes the JUDAS PRIEST tracks "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and the aforementioned "Heading Out To The Highway", neither of which had previously been performed by KK'S PRIEST. KK'S PRIEST is also playing such other JUDAS PRIEST classics as "Breaking The Law" to "Turbo Lover", and is including a pair of songs from each of the two KK'S PRIEST albums, 2021's "Sermons Of The Sinner" and 2023's "The Sinner Rides Again".

KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.

KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.

KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.

Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

All photos by Mike Savoia (courtesy of KK'S PRIEST)