Alex, Denmark:
I am a 17 year old kid from Denmark who is completely
obsessed with all things Judas Priest. :) I love your and
Glenn’s playing and the song "The Sentinel" was what
got me to pick up the guitar in the first place.
I have a question, I have a Fender Stratocaster, it’s a highway
one. I like it a lot, it has a maple neck/fretboard and a
Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and single coils in the
neck/middle. A real superstrat. But I want to change the stock
tremolo. It’s good, but I am having tuning stability problems.
I was thinking of going Kahler, because you use it but I also
saw that you use Floyd Rose. What are the advantages with
each system? And which one would you go with?
I also have a few more questions if it’s alright.
The black sunglasses you had on the Priest...Live! video.. What
brand are they? I have been looking like mad for some as I
think they are cool as hell. You wouldn’t be interested in
selling them, would'ya?
And I soon have some money so I can afford a Gibson Les Paul
Custom...
But what do you think of them? Are there other
hard-rock/metal guitars you would look at in that price
range?
Also, I have a JCM2000 DSL 100watt head but I have some
problems dialing a good Priest tone in.... Could you unveil
your settings if you have a JCM2000?
Thanks a lot mate. Hope to see you guys, the next time you are
in Denmark.
All the best
 Hi Alex! Trems are always a debatable issue. On the up side there
is only 2 to choose from. Kahler has the best feel for smooth wide
vibrato, it’s easier to make adjustments, intonation, separate
string height etc. Easier to fit also, less obtrusive profile, easier to
change strings. But beware especially if you do not use heavy
strings because it does not return in tune as good as a Floyd Rose. The
worst thing about Floyd Rose is that they do not last because the blades
ware on the pins at their point of contact. This you would expect to
happen with time. I know that Eddy Van Halen changed his for each tour
or even during a tour. if you choose Floyd Rose buy the best quality one
if you can as it will be worth it. Anyway I think trying them both out is
the only way to go to see which on works for you best.
Sorry but the glasses have long since gone, otherwise you could have
had them as a gift from me.
I personally never fancied a Les Paul. I think they are heavy and the
fret board is limiting especially if you have small hands when you want
to play higher up. Also I can’t really imagine one of the trems we are
discussing on one.
I do have a 2000 head but it is in our warehouse and I have not played
it for some time so I can’t recall the settings I like. However you
probably won’t get what you want with your strat for the rhythm sound,
it would be easier if you had reasonably high output humbuckers. I
have tried the J.B pickups you have on my strat but it did not give me
quite what I wanted either. So the combo of strat and the J.B’s was a no
go!!!!!!!!!! But the amp is fine, it has the Priest in it...All the best.
Regards K.K.
Rita:
É com um enorme prazer que espero iniciar um contato
com você, sua guitarra mágica e seu estilo carismático,
juntando com a melhor banda Metal Judas Priest, eu
aguardo ansiosa para saber, quando vocês ou você vem para o
Brasil?
Desculpe escrever em portugues, mas se precisar aprendo
inglês p/falar com você...
Beijos!
Olá, Rita, Obrigado por verificar, eu como o Brasil e muito
embora eu tenha feito essa tradução para você eu não falo
portuguse, Pero mi Espanole s não demasiado malo. Esperamos
para ver você quando estamos no Brasil no próximo ano, pode
enviar uma foto para o fã forjar na usina siderúrgica, adeus por
agora
Regards K.K.
Rita:
Você vê um dia o Priest fazendo um show acústico?
Acho que você já deve ter ouvido mais de 1000000 vezes
que você é demais???
Te digo mais uma vez: Você é demais!!! Adoro você!
Olá Rita, Quem sabe o que o futuro nos reserva? Eu penso que
um acústico sab seria muito que fazer, como um daqueles mostra
desligado ou mesmo talvez um passeio completo, veja você
próximo ano.
Regards K.K.
Emre, Turkey:
Hi K.K.
I'm EMRE from Turkey / Istanbul again =)
K.K. have you ever watched the actor Owen Wilson from
USA? Here are some links and details about him:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005562/
http://www.nmmi.cc.nm.us/public-
affairs/images/Owen%20Wilson.jpg
Please take a look at him. Because he totally resembles you.
Maybe someone before has said that to you or you may know
him before but he really looks like you. Please reply to my
question. =)
Thanks, Rock Hard Ride Free
Hi Emre. Hey, thanks for the complement. That guy is not bad
looking at all but I guess you are thinking of me in my younger
days. But I can see the likeness. I hope you and all our fans in
Turkey are getting plenty of metal as I know there are many fans
in your country. Hope to see you all next year.
Regards K.K.
Jonas, Norway:
Hey!
When you were 16 and "disappeared for 6 weeks hitch
hiking around Europe to attend music festivals" how did you
survive? Did you bring some money for food, or did you pick up
small jobs along the road, worked for food?
Did you see any great bands around that time?
Will I see you guys at Sweden Rock Festival 08? That would be
great (and play the Sinner for me)
Feed the flames!
Hi Jonas. To tell you the truth me and my friend had very
little money. We lived mainly on things that we begged, stole or
borrowed. In England the milk man left milk on people’s
doorsteps so we drank a lot of milk. We were a couple of naughty
desperate kids so it was not too difficult to survive. I remember a
festival in Belgium when we planned a raid on a small compound where
crates of beer were kept that was guarded by the army. We got caught
but managed to slip their grip and disappear into the crowd. But yes I
was lucky to have seen them all - Hendrix, Zeppelin, Ten Years After,
Free, Jethro Tull. In fact I saw everyone from T-Rex to the Grateful
Dead (not exactly my cup of tea). Definitely count us in for Sweden
Rock, we had a great gig last time. See you there!
Regards K.K.
Mindy Deitz, Warren Mn:
Dear K.K.
I just wanted to wish you and Glenn a happy birthday and
I hope you celebrate it with fun with friends. I wish I could be
there to celebrate it with you guys but I can't so have fun and
enjoy. I have a lot of people who are starting to love your
music. They didn't know Judas Priest was heavy metal and I
said of course they are. They are the Metal Gods. Can't wait to
see you guys in concert. I'm getting very excited.
Hi Mindy. Thanks a lot for thinking about us. We will see you on
tour next year!
Regards K.K.
Sven Jonderko, Germany:
Hey K.K. My name is Sven and I’m 16 and come from
Germany.
I love Judas Priest your music is great. I have never seen
you live, I hope that you’ll come to Germany during the next
tour. I have four questions:
1. Have you ever used drugs on tour?.
2. What was your first guitar?
3. How many years have you played guitar?
4. Do you or the rest of the band have any children?
Hi Sven, I honestly can say that I have never participated in any
drug use in my career as a musician. Please keep logging in at
the Steel Mill and you will soon see my extended biography that
will answer a lot of questions for you. Of course I will always be
happy to answer any additional questions you may have. I
personally do not have children but Ian has a son and daughter and so
does Glenn. See you on tour soon.
Regards K.K.
Alex, the crazy fan from Belgium:
Hi K.K. I wanted to wish a real Heavy Happy Birthday from
all the Priest fans from Belgium and France!
I'm now the webmaster of the French Judas Priest forum
( http://judas-priest.zikforum.com/ ) and everybody wanted I
wish you the best for your birthday and this new year that will
be really metal for sure!!!
We have a little question for you!
When you released Angel of Retribution everybody said this
album sounded like classic Priest! I agree with that! But my
question is how do you think Nostradamus (if it's the name of
this new baby???) will also sound classic or will it sound
different to what we're used to?
Finally I've got one more question for you! You’ve used EMG'81
pick-up for a while now! What's the advantage in using this
kind of active pick-ups in place of classic passive hampbucker
(in general or in your opinion)?
See you soon on tour, I hope in Belgium or in France...btw what
do you think about beers in Belgium?
Could you come on our forum and say a big hello to us, just for
fun we would be so pleased with that!
Keep defending the faith Ken! You're the best!
Hi Alex. I can’t give too much away about NOSTRADAMUS but
you know Priest have always endeavoured to push the
boundaries of metal as wide and far as we can in order to attract
people to this great music that we all love. EMG’s have the
highest possible output with the least amount of noise ratio that I
know of. This prevents unwanted radio frequencies interfering with your
playing. Also it helps with getting that extra overdrive and sustain that
metal players like. And yes Belgium is famous for its wide variety of
beers as you know, personally I prefer the not so strong ones, say 4-
5% proof as we in England like to drink a few pints at least in one
session. Cheers Alex, I will check in to Zikforum when I get a chance.
Many thanks.
Regards K.K.
Rita and Arthur:
Kenny...Downing!!!!!
I wish the great master of the guitar ...
Happy Birthday!
Kisses ...
Rita and my son Arthur.
Hi Rita. Thank you for your kind birthday wishes and of course
your photo, maybe you can send one of you and Arthur for the fan forge.
Regards K.K.
"Pigeon", Baltimore:
K.K.
First off, you are the best! I have been a die hard Priest
Fan since 1986 “Turbo” album. I have seen Priest 18 times live
and loved every minute of it.
My question to you is, could you play some unique songs during
your next tour? I'm thinking 'Heart of a Lion' , 'Red White &
Blue' , 'Prisoner of Your Eyes' , and 'Fire Burns Below'.
Your die hard fans (me), would greatly appreciate this. Just
give me one of these songs and I will love Priest even more, if
that's possible!!
Keep Working the Steel Mill
Best Regards
Hi Pigeon. Well I can’t promise as we have so many requests for
other archive songs but I will see what the guys think. Anyway we
will see you next year on tour.
Regards K.K.
Chrissie:
Hi,
I really hope that I am sending this to the right place
right now and I am also hoping that Ken"K.K."Downing is going
to get this. My name is Christy but I am also called Chrissie or
Chris by my family and friends.
I just wanted to say that you are an Amazing Guitar player and
I love you!!I love to see you on stage and I can't wait to see
you live one day soon hopefully!!
I am just overwhelmed to see you still Rocking as Hard now as
you did 20 years ago.I am 21 but I have seen the DVD's and
live performances from the earlier/later 80's decade and you
guys are still as Heavy Metal now as you were then.
You and Glenn are the best Guitar Duo in Metal history and you
guys just work so well together.I just wanted you to know that
I am a huge fan of Judas Priest and I always will be.
Love you
Huggzzz and Kissez from,
Chrissie
Hi Chrissie. Thanks for the kind words, we will see you next year.
I am guessing that you are somewhere in the southern states?
Regards K.K.
Breezy, Tacoma:
Dear K.K., from one flirt to another, what’s it like knowing
you are the leading man in millions of women's fantasies?
Myself included?
Big warm hugs
Hi Breezy. Thank you for flattering me ,I only wish that I felt so
desirable but thanks again for making me feel good for a day.
Regards K.K.
Kat:
Hello Mr. Downing!
When you go on tour next year the perfect band to go
with you { I think} is Saxon. Have you heard their newest CD
The Inner Sanctum? Priest and Saxon would be cool
together! What do you think?
Hi Kat. Yes I agree but it obviously depends on their schedule. I
will mention it to our agents to see what they know.
Regards K.K. |
