Judas Priest’s cofounding guitarist K.K. Downing has released a new version of the band’s rare track “Never Satisfied” featuring vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens. Ultimate Classic Rock reported the news.
The guitarist explained how the collaboration came together spontaneously during a casual jamming session.
“I thought, ‘I’m just going to plug the guitar in and have a go at jamming along to a couple of these songs,'” Downing said. “I just had fun doing it and I thought I would put the track down and ask Ripper if he’d do the courtesy of throwing a vocal on there. It came about really quickly and it was fun.”
The track is a reworked version of a song from Judas Priest’s 1974 debut album “Rocka Rolla.”
This collaboration marks another chapter in the ongoing musical relationship between Downing and Owens. They have maintained their creative partnership beyond their time with Judas Priest.
Wikipedia documented that Tim “Ripper” Owens first gained attention as Judas Priest’s lead singer in 1996 when he was recruited to replace original frontman Rob Halford. Owens recorded two studio albums with the band. He was noted for his powerful operatic vocal style similar to Halford’s approach.
The vocalist is currently the lead singer for KK’s Priest, the band formed by K.K. Downing after his departure from Judas Priest. Tim Ripper Owens’ official biography noted that this partnership has allowed both musicians to continue exploring their heavy metal roots while maintaining creative independence from their former band.
Owens has reflected on his musical journey in recent interviews, sharing insights about his background and influences. Blabbermouth revealed that he grew up surrounded by classic rock influences such as Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and Kiss. These influences helped shape his passion for singing and heavy metal.
Owens and Downing reconnect over the early roots of Judas Priest’s legacy with this new collaboration. They bring fresh life to a classic track from the band’s formative years. The spontaneous nature of the recording reflects the enduring chemistry between the two musicians.
