Rob Halford tells us he doesn’t feel Judas Priest will have a sit down with former and disgruntled guitarist K.K. Downing prior to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 5th in Los Angeles.
“We know each other so deeply, like family, and it’s none of the drunk uncle at the Thanksgiving dinner table. You know what I mean by that. I think there’s just an understanding where you don’t really have to speak the words. You just know. The music speaks for itself, as it always has with Priest. And, I’m always a guy that lives in the reality of the moment of what’s happening now, so I can’t make any predictions. So, we’ll deal with reality when it’s staring us in the face.”
While Halford has said he and the band have no problem performing with Downing that night, Downing hasn’t committed one way or the other.
“I thought about it briefly, when we were nominated, what would happen. But, it’s November and a lot of things can happen between now and then, especially with men of an age like us. But I think it’s just a question of seeing how everything lies when it comes to them, really … a lot of things could get better, but they could get worse, or stay the same. You never know, do you?”
Downing “retired” from Priest in 2011. He has since claimed there was conflict, shoddy management and a declining quality of their performances.
He has since formed his own Priest cover band, KK’s Priest, with former Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens.
Richie Faulkner replaced K.K. in Priest, which had re-energized the band.
REUTERS PHOTO
