[Metalwrath]

Taken from the Judas priest Website :


It is with regret that Judas Priest announce that K.K. DOWNING has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming EPITAPH Tour.

The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well.

Some guy who played guitar with Lauren Harris has been announced as his replacement.

R.I.P. Judas Priest

[pablov8]

This is such a bummer.... Judas Priest without KK is not Judas Priest, is something like Judas Pr or as Priest
I was looking forward to see them for the last time all together

[mooyagi]

Isn't this their farewell tour? KK can't suck it up for one last go? That sucks.

[metalgoddess]

I was so happy this morning until I heard this. Priest is me and Ron's #1 favorite band.

I wonder if KK has health issues and that is why they were doing a "final" world tour. After announcing and booking it, maybe he took a turn for the worse and decided he couldn't do it. That's what I am speculating.

I will still go see them tour, regardless. Anyone know anything about the fill-in guitarist, Rickey Faulkner?

[pablov8]

I wonder if KK has health issues and that is why they were doing a "final" world tour. After announcing and booking it, maybe he took a turn for the worse and decided he couldn't do it. That's what I am speculating.

I'm sensing the same . I hope we're both wrong

[viathyn]

Anyone know anything about the fill-in guitarist, Rickey Faulkner?

If this guy really is the dude who was playing with Lauren Harris (I saw her opening for Maiden on the somewhere back in time tour), then that's pretty cool because he was the only thing that remotely impressed me with her show. He's a pretty decent player from what I saw.

[metalgoddess]

Anyone know anything about the fill-in guitarist, Rickey Faulkner?

If this guy really is the dude who was playing with Lauren Harris (I saw her opening for Maiden on the somewhere back in time tour), then that's pretty cool because he was the only thing that remotely impressed me with her show. He's a pretty decent player from what I saw.

Oh! Lauren Harris! I saw that tour as well, and you're right!

[last_candle]

it doesn't make such a BIG difference for me - I'm just happy I'm finally going to see JP live
but it sucks nonetheless and it doesn't seem necessary (but we do know know all the details)

[Bentz!]

Yeah, that blows huge donkey cock. Best wishes to Mr. Downing.

[ShoreSlayer]

it doesn't make such a BIG difference for me - I'm just happy I'm finally going to see JP live

You don't understand

You're no longer going to see them.

Glenn's a genius and Rob's the voice but without KK you're just not gonna be seeing 'true/classic' Priest.

But I guess if you've never seen them before you really won't care or notice that much

*edit* I really do hope KK is okay

[Rum Runner]

DUH!!! I wish I had seen this thread so I wouldn't have posted about this on a new thread in Off Course. I thought it was strange that no one else mentioned it yet but I was looking in the wrong place.

To summarize my other comment ... this sucks!

[Bolt_Thrower]

I'm not the biggest Priest fan but it sure seemed to me that Priest was really Halford and Tipton all along. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Metalwrath]

K.K Downing and the drummer started Priest.
Rob Halford was hired later on.

[Captain Metal]

Yeah, without KK, the band never would have existed. Halford came later and then eventually Tipton.

And to correct Wrath, Ian Hill (bassist) was actually the other original member (along with KK), not the drummer. Now Hill's the only truly original member left.

Hopefully this isn't some serious health issue that has forced his hand in doing this.

[last_candle]

it doesn't make such a BIG difference for me - I'm just happy I'm finally going to see JP live

You don't understand
You're no longer going to see them.
Glenn's a genius and Rob's the voice but without KK you're just not gonna be seeing 'true/classic' Priest.
But I guess if you've never seen them before you really won't care or notice that much
*edit* I really do hope KK is okay

I didn't grow up with the band and therefore aren't really 'sentimental' about JP and the bandmembers
if the other guy can play the songs properly, I'm ok
I won't be able to see anybody on stage anyway - Wacken's too big and I'm going to watch the show from far far away

[Metalwrath]

For me Judas priest is one of the first metal bands i ever got into when i was about 14.
Got abuse from friend who started getting into metal at the time because they were apparenly 'Old guys' etc
I know i have seen Manowar 9 times and Judas priest only once but to me Judas Priest will always be my favourite band of all time.
They had the ultimate meal lead guitar duo which basically redfined metal although personaly in my eyes Judas Priest,Running Wild,Accpet and even Saxon ere the forefathers of heavy metal.Not Black Sabbath as a lot may claim.Yes Black Sabbath was the gateway to the creation of metal but they did not create it nor did Led Zeppelin.
I don't think Judas priest ever made a bad album.they have always had a consistancy in their music even with the later albums.
It's hard to find bands that can cope with the metal scene these days.
Good example being Saxons last album.bad example bing Manowars last EP:Thunder in the sky.Terrible sound.and too much vocal harmonizing.

[ShoreSlayer]

A bit more info. Quoted from knac.com

K.K. Downing press release

Dear friends,

It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am O.K.

There has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time.

Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans.

However I would urge you to please support the Priest as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed.

All my love and respect,

KK

Judas Priest have announced that original guitarist K.K. Downing has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming Epitaph Tour. The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well. Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, singer Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis unanimously agreed that they should go ahead with the tour and not let fans around the world down.

Fate also stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement - 31 year-old British guitar player Richie Faulkner - he has blended into the band perfectly and is a great talent who is going to set the stage on fire, according to a press release.

The Epitaph Tour will include songs from every Priest studio album and also tracks that they have never before performed on stage plus all the old favourites.

With a new album due to be released next year, the 'metal gods' are preparing to tour the planet once more. Heavy metal at it's best complete with lasers, lights, bikes and hellfire! It's a show not too be missed!

Judas Priest Epitaph tour dates:

* 6/7 - Eindhaar - Tilburg, Holland
* 6/9 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, Sweden
* 6/11 - Sauna Festival - Tampere, Finland
* 6/14 - Spektrum - Oslo, Norway
* 6/15 - Edward Greig Plass - Bergen, Norway
* 6/17 - Copenhell Festival - Copenhagen, Denmark
* 6/19 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
* 6/20 - Le Zenith - Paris, France
* 6/22 - Gods of Metal Festival - Milan, Italy
* 6/23 - Sonisphere Festival - Switzerland
* 6/25 - Graspop Festival - Dessel, Belgium
* 6/27 - Zenith - Munich, Germany
* 6/28 - O2 Arena - Prague, Czech Republic
* 6/29 - Stadthalle - Vienna, Austria
* 7/1 - Belgrade Arena - Belgrade, Serbia
* 7/3 - Romexpo - Bucharest, Romania
* 7/5 - Water Park, P Faliro - Athens, Greece
* 7/8 - Akademik Stadium - Sofia, Bulgaria
* 7/10 - Kazlicesme Festival Site - Istanbul, Turkey
* 7/6 - Kautatzogleio Stadium - Thessaloniki, Greece
* 7/15 - Newport Centre - Newport, UK
* 7/16 - O2 Apollo - Manchester, UK
* 7/17 - The Dome - Doncaster, UK
* 7/19 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
* 7/20 - Metro Arena - Newcastle, UK
* 7/21 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, UK
* 7/23 - High Voltage Festival - London, UK
* 7/24 - BIC - Bournemouth, UK
* 7/27 - Atlantico Pavillion - Lisbon, Portugal
* 7/29 - Coliseum - La Coruna, Spain
* 7/30 - La Cubierta - Madrid, Spain
* 7/31 - Bec - Bilbao, Spain
* 8/2 - Badalona - Barcelona, Spain
* 8/5 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
* 8/7 - Colmar Wine Festival - Colmar, France
* 8/9 - O2 World - Berlin, Germany
* 8/10 - Metal Hammer Festival/Spodek - Katowice, Poland
* 8/11 - Sziget Festival - Budapest, Hungary
* 9/10 - Portuguesa Stadium - Sao Paulo, Brazil
* 9/11 - Citibank Hall - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
* 9/13 - Chevrolet Hall - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
* 9/15 - Nilson Nelson - Brasilia, Brazil
* 9/30 - Mexico City Sports Palace - Mexico City, Mexico
* 10/1 - Telmex Theater - Quadalajara, Mexico
* 10/3 - Banamex Theater - Monterrey, Mexico

[last_candle]

thanks for the update, Rob

[Metalwrath]

Official statement made by K.k. Downing

Dear friends,

It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am O.K.

There has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time.

Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans.

However I would urge you to please support the Priest as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed.

All my love and respect,
KK

[metalgoddess]

Wow. That really sucks. I wonder what the issues are?

I see Mexico is the first of October. I certainly hope that they do the US before the holidays!

They had better not schedule the US West Coast tour dates while we're on the cruise!!

[Metalwrath]

Also Rob Halford has admitted that KK Downing had told him about his retirement before Xmas.
So basically they ahve been stalling the announcments so they could sell tickets.
Never thought that Judas priest would do somethign like that.

[Bentz!]

All of this sucks, but they'll still get my $$ when they come to town.