K.K. DOWNING On IAN HILL's Retirement From JUDAS PRIEST: 'I Wish Him Well, And All The Best For The Future'

During an October 14 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", original JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing was asked to comment on bassist Ian Hill's recent announcement that he was retiring from JUDAS PRIEST, effective immediately. Downing said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it has been a very, very long time for everyone, and obviously if you do have some certain issues with your health, then you have to succumb when you get the call, I suppose. But, like I say, Ian had — it was a long, good career, and very successful career.

"Yeah, obviously, it's a bit awkward for me because it's a pity that Ian didn't accept me [back] in the band a few years ago [when Glenn Tipton retired from touring]," K.K. continued. "I would be there now, even though he isn't. But I wish him well, and all the best for the future."

Asked if it was him and Hill that actually started JUDAS PRIEST, K.K. said: "Yes, it was. I had a three-piece band with my cousin Brian Badhams, who now plays with the Elkie Brooks band. And he left because we didn't have a singer, so I invited Ian in. And I changed drummers at the same time as well. And we were just a three-piece; that was all. And then [original JUDAS PRIEST singer] Al Atkins knocked on the rehearsal room and said, 'Do you guys need a singer?' So, Al joined my band, but we went to the pub and, and said, 'Can we call it JUDAS PRIEST?' Because [Al had a different band called JUDAS PRIEST and] they had been going for a year, but they had disbanded. And that's kind of how it worked. And myself and Ian had been there — well, ever since, until Ian has just retired and what happened to me did. But [I have] no regrets. It's been fantastic. [We made some] great music, and we couldn't have done it without the fans, so a big shout-out to them."

After "Trunk Nation" host Eddie Trunk noted that "it's amazing" that only two members of the classic lineup of JUDAS PRIEST — Downing and singer Rob Halford — are still actively touring, with K.K. focusing on his new band KK'S PRIEST, the 74-year-old guitarist said: "Yeah, yeah. Well, we've got a very heavy schedule, so I'll be out there. I'd love to see everyone again if they wanna come down and check out, obviously, some classic PRIEST riffs and songs and sing along with us. Everyone's more than welcome."

Asked if he feels, as a founding member of JUDAS PRIEST, even more responsibility now to kind of keep the band's music alive on the stage with KK'S PRIEST because of Hill's decision to retire from JUDAS PRIEST, K.K. said: "I think the answer to that is kind of… even though it's been dropped on me at a great height, but I think the answer to that would be yes, I think, really, because, like I say, I started this band so long ago, and it became my dream and my passion and my life. And I always wanted it to keep on going, if it was at all possible. And that's kind of where we're at. And I think every time I go out there, like tonight we'll go out [with KK'S PRIEST], then I'll play with the guys, I'll be playing these songs, for me, nothing's really changed. It's great players, looking great, performing great and playing these great songs. And so I think I'm in a really, really happy place."

Asked how he feels physically now that KK'S PRIEST is in the middle of a lengthy North American tour as the support act for W.A.S.P., Downing said: "There's bound to be creaks and this, that and the other, but I think [after] how many shows [we've already played on this tour] — I've got to do the subtraction now, 13 from 42. It's a lot of shows. 29 — is it? — back to back. And, yeah, no issues at all. I kind of look after myself and keep pretty fit. And I pride myself in that. So, no, I'm good to go. So everybody, you're guaranteed I'll be there and a great show, so come and see us as soon as you possibly can."

Back in September 2023, Downing told "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern", that he was particularly disappointed that Hill had seemingly decided against having K.K. rejoin the group when Tipton announced his retirement from touring in 2018. "Honestly, the worst thing about the whole thing is that Ian has denied me the opportunity to step back into the band," he said. "I mean, we went to kindergarten together; we were like brothers. And we spent many years at the back of the bus complaining about everybody else. [Laughs] I always thought it was me and him for many years. But I just don't know how that can happen, like I say. And Rob left the band for 14 years. And when I was instrumental in inviting him back into the band. How can he deny me the opportunity to go on stage and play my songs? They're saying, 'We're gonna do it, but you can't.' Because Ian and Rob never wrote any of the music for this band."

Asked if he thought Ian had been pressured by the PRIEST management or by Rob and Tipton to keep Downing from returning to the band, K.K. said: "Something's wrong somewhere. It doesn't make sense. How can Ian, the bass player that's never written any songs, deny me the opportunity of being in the band? All of those years, and I've written all of those songs and riffs, but how can he stand over there and play bass and not allow me to play the guitar to those songs? It doesn't make any sense. And it doesn't make any sense not to have the original guy back from the trademark lineup. It doesn't make any sense. Am I that bad? [Laughs] But anyway, so I've gone ahead and made two albums [with KK'S PRIEST] in two years, and those guys have done two albums in 14 years. I just don't get it. I don't get it."

Pressed about whether he thought it was attorneys and management causing all the issues between the members of the classic PRIEST lineup, Downing said: "Well, somebody out there has decided that 'I am gonna change history and I'm gonna be the one that's gonna decide what the fans hear and what they don't and who they see and who they don't.' Somebody in that band is making those decisions. But they only have it on their conscience, really, because we all know what the fans… I mean, [former PRIEST vocalist Tim] Ripper [Owens] is a great singer and he made two great albums with us. We did so many tours and he's a lovely guy and he's great, but the fan demand to have Rob back in the band was just too overwhelming, really, because Rob, I guess, their assertion is Rob is the voice of the band, just like Freddie Mercury with QUEEN or Bruce [Dickinson] with [IRON] MAIDEN, and the list goes on and on and on. So that's undeniable. And I think that Tim would be the first to acknowledge that and get that. Even if he sang the songs better, as we spoke, Rob is the voice of JUDAS PRIEST. But now gladly Ripper is the voice of KK'S PRIEST, because that guy is singing so much better than even I've ever heard him before. It's fantastic. So I'm so fortunate to have him back in the saddle with us."

When the interviewers told Downing that they, and other PRIEST fans, miss seeing him up on stage with the band, K.K. said: "Thank you so much, guys. And I can understand why. I was there so long. [Laughs] I was like an old shoe or a wart on your neck or something. I was a part of life. The last tour that they just did, I saw the setlist and they were playing one song off the last two albums. All the rest were my songs."

He continued: "I can only surmise that there's commercial aspects [that are standing in the way of me returning to PRIEST] and just… I don't know. I don't know. Maybe Glenn didn't really ever want me to be there and him not to be there. I don't know. Maybe he saw that as an end of an era, and I think he's right, as far as I'm concerned."

Downing performed with PRIEST at the 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the November 2022 event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

The JUDAS PRIEST members that got inducted included then-members Halford, Hill, Tipton and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members Downing and drummers Les Binks and Dave Holland.

Halford, Hill, Tipton and Travis were joined by Binks, Downing and current guitarist Richie Faulkner for a three-song medley consisting of "You've Got Another Thing Comin'", "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight".

Faulkner, nearly three decades Downing's junior, joined PRIEST after K.K. left in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance.

In 2018, 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 Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

K.K. Downing photo credit: George Chin