Judas Priest’s Ian Hill revealed in a recent interview with Greg Prato of AllMusic that former guitarist K.K. Downing has likely missed his opportunity to reconcile with the band.
According to Hill, attempts to reconnect with Downing were ignored, leading him to believe that any chance for Downing’s return to the band has been lost. He stated:
“I think he’s gone a bit too far for that now. I gave him a couple of chances to basically say hello, and he blanked me. So, he ain’t going to get another chance. It’s a pity the way it’s turned out. But things are what they are.”
K.K. Downing’s Perspective
In contrast, Downing, in a September 2023 interview with Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern, shared his side of the story. He claimed to have reached out about rejoining Judas Priest but was rejected. He said the following, referring to Hill’s involvement in this decision:
“Honestly, the worst thing about the whole thing is that Ian has denied me the opportunity to step back into the band. 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.”
The Irony Of Exclusion
The guitarist added, expressing his confusion and disappointment over the situation:
“But I just don’t know how that can happen, like I say. And Rob [Halford, vocals] 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.”
Following this, Downing focused on his new project, KK’s Priest, enjoying the freedom to lead the creative process. Despite the ongoing disagreements, the musician performed with Judas Priest at the 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles, marking a brief reunion amidst the band’s internal conflicts.
