Rike, Finland :
Hey K.K. Brilliant site! Thumbs up for the millworkers! Both you and Glenn have noted Rory Gallagher as one those guitarists that have influenced your playing. Because of your recommendation I “found” Rory few years back and nowadays he has a special place in my CD collection next to my Priest records 🙂 So, my question goes: Did you ever get the opportunity to meet Rory and did you ever see him play live? Keep up the good work! And hope seeing you back in Tampere near future!
Hi Rike! Yes I saw Rory many times but I never got to meet him. I was just a teenage fan at the time and he was a super guitar hero but I do have some cool early DVD’s in my collection of him touring in the 60’s and 70’s. It is of course tragic that he is no longer with us but his music lives on. Thanks for being a fan of his.
Regards K.K.
Kipp Mitchell, Keystone Fla:
MR. Downing I was curious as to your string customisation and if you modify your pickups (Reverse wind?) I have heard this helps for holding a note for a longer time. (Favorite pics?) Thank you and the band for the many great years of music and inspiring me to play.
Hi Kipp! My strings are 8,10,14,20,30,40. This will give you a balanced feel. No I do not change my pickups as there are so many to chose from if you want something different. Picks are very important as you know and they make a difference to your sound so I change quite a lot. E.g a thin stiff plastic will be bride on an acoustic and a thick soft plastic will be the opposite. My general favourite is a stiff 1 to 1.5 mil for positive fast picking. Thanks Kipp keep on rockin!
Regards K.K.
Bez:
Hi!!! Judas Priest Is My Favourite band since 1999, I’m now 16 years old, and I remember the show in Latvia 2005, 2nd of December! Thanks to All of you, I have one question – will you guys come back to LATVIA ?!?!?! 2nd of December, it vas my best day in my life, I want to see Priest again! Bez
Hi Bez, thanks for coming to the show. We hope to see you again soon in Latvia, we had a great time there. Until then please say hi to all of our fans on our behalf.
Regards K.K.
Chris Gillum, Manatee County Florida :
I remember when “Screaming For Vengeance” was released way back in my high school days. You had the classics as we all know, but true Priest fans at least from my neighbourhood chose our anthem to be “Bloodstone”. K.K’s solo on this song was mesmerizing. You could hear this song and solo being played and rewound over and over in our hood. When “Defenders” came out, “Jawbreaker,” “Eat Me Alive” and “Rock Hard Ride Free” stepped up and from what we heard was a true guitar hero with his own style. To this day K.K. has not received the recognition he deserves as truly one of the best metal guitarist ever (One Shot At Glory solidifies this). I have practiced many hours on my guitars and seem to be able to pick up Glenn’s solos without much difficulty. As far as K.K.’s, well I can’t quite jive it. I have a Custom built Flying V that is a Jackson Randy Rhoads- body with a Hamer neck with shark fin inlays and Dimebag Darrell pickup in the bridge position. Since I am nearing 40 years old and don’t have much time to play anymore I have collected every CD from Priest and have them put away for my son when he is old enough to play my guitar that is going to be his. I am desperately looking for some K.K. tutorial material and any advice how to achieve K.K.’s sound, can u help? I am hell bent on my son someday being able to play a guitar like that, if he so chooses to learn, which all kids want to be rock stars. Thanks to K.K. for keeping my nose in the guitar and off of the streets when I was a teen. I was headed for trouble but now am a sheriff’s deputy in Manatee County, Florida working in fugitive apprehension. Thanks for any help, and K.K. thank you for many years of your special guitar playing.
Hi Chris, Thanks a lot for your support and I am happy that you are literally on the right side of those iron bars. It is strange that I too could have easily have gone the wrong way as a teenager but thanks to music I am now also in a creditable job. Regarding my sound and tuition please keep checking the Steel Mill as I intend to make it as informative as I can in that respect for you and all other guitarists. Please try to find more time to jam along with the tracks you like most, then you can pass those licks on to your son to help him on his way. Again many thanks!
Regards K.K.
Nick:
Hey K.K. I was wondering who makes your guy’s leather jackets and pants, and does he have like a website or something I could look at because I really want some of that gear. If you were a Priest song then what song would it be? Do you know were I could get either a K.K. Hamer model or if Glenn has a model out? Thanks, Keep feeding the flames!
Hi Nick. The guy who makes not just our stuff but many bands is called Ray Brown and he lives in L.A. For more info you can contact Jayne Andrews at Trinifold mgt ,12 oval rd, Camden, London.
I think you could put me down as SINNER, I am not sure if you could get a new Hamer but I know at one time Hamer did make K.K. Vector VS and also an SG GT guitar for Glenn so maybe a second hand one might be an option. Other than that Hamer has a custom shop so they can make what you want, I hope this is of some help. Many thanks Nick!
Regards K.K.
Kat T. Tennessee:
Why haven’t Judas Priest been inducted in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? They had a list of people who are most likely to be inducted and Judas Priest is not one of them. You guys should have been there years ago. The people who are going to be inducted really didn’t contribute to the shaping of music. As far as I’m concerned if it wasn’t for Judas Priest a lot of bands would not exist today. Keep up the good work, long life, and good health to you.
Hi Kat,. Yes we are with you on that, of course we are a little disappointed but that’s the way it goes. Maybe Nostradamus will work his magic for us.
Thank you for your support.
Regards K.K.
Rebecca in San Antonio, Texas:
Hi KK. First off, I’d like to thank you and the Millworkers for posting my photo in the Fan Forge section. It was a great night in Vegas and you were such a kind gentleman for allowing us to have our picture taken with you. I’ve been a fan of Priest since the early days…1976 I believe.
I would like to know if you remember a deejay from San Antonio by the name of “The Godfather” Joe Anthony and was he very instrumental in assisting Judas Priest via radio airplay? I am aware that he was helpful to many bands of the era. I also know that he was a true fan of Judas Priest. Thanks and BIG metal hugs from San Antonio!
Hi Rebecca, Yes I remember Joe and will never forget him. He was a great guy and responsible for San Antonio being one of the greatest places to play in the world. They should erect a statue of the Godfather of Rock for all to see. He is sadly missed by us all, Thank you for speaking of him.
Regards K.K.
METAL ANGEL singer of Judas Beast Hungarian Tribute Band – BUDAPEST/HUNGARY:
HI K.K! HAVE YOU EVER LISTENED THE METAL ANGEL’S COVER OF JUDAS PRIEST’S ANGEL? www.myspace.com/metalicusangelus DO YOU LIKE IT? BEST REGARDS,
Hi Metal Angel. Yes I checked it out, sounds great. Keep up the good work, I am sure that you get a killer reaction from the fans when you play live. Thanks for taking care of Hungary for us until we return. And thank you for your tribute!
Regards K.K.
Dave (Grimm Reaper):
K.K. Hello. First off thank you for the over 30 years I’ve been listening (yes, I’m an old one). My question is: What is your opinion of Glenn’s? 2 CD’s and if you were friends with Cozy and John: please accept my belated condolences. Thanks.
Hi Dave, I did meet Cozy and John several times but were not friends as such although i would have been honoured to have been. I have not heard Glenn’s second album yet but he certainly played some of his best solos on his first album. Thanks Dave!
Regards K.K.
Evrim Kaydýrma from Turkey/Balýkesir:
I am a -17 years old- fan of you. It is a great chance to write to you. I’m sure everybody in Turkey doesn’t know this website because of lacking of English
=(But in your lyrics, we all know your songs meanings =) Or we try to understand =)
What I want to ask you is what Nostradamus (album) means to you. And if you know what it means to other band members? How much are you hopeful about Nostradamus? Do you think it will break out as much as Painkiller? We would like to see Judas Priest in Istanbul. Take care of you Big Man,
stay hard n heavy!
Hi Evrim. I can only say that Nostradamus is still evolving, but we are all enjoying the work and we hope it will be a proud day for us when it is released and of course we are very optimistic that it will be the best work that we have ever done. We know that we have many fans in Turkey so we hope to visit you on our next tour.
Regards K.K.
Chris in Capitola California:
K.K. I love the guitar tone on British Steel through to Screaming for Vengeance.
What happened to Engineer “Louis Austin” and why did you stop working with him after Screaming for Vengeance? Thanks K.K. You are a brilliant insane Monster Shredding Lead Guitar player!!!!!
Hi Chris. Yes what did happen to Louis? He was a cool dude and as you say an excellent engineer. Who knows maybe we will work together again one day to try to recapture those sounds that you like.
Regards K.K.
Manuel, Germany:
Hey Kenneth! I’m a quite new Priest maniac since 2005 when I saw you guys live in Zwickau in front row, I’ve just shook my hand with you 🙂 Back to topic, we all know that you and the guys were on tour with AC/DC back in 1979 during the “Highway to Hell” European tour. My question to you is how it was to be on tour with Angus & Co and especially with the late legendary Bon Scott (Rock in peace my friend), any memories about him? Does any photos exist with Priest and AC/DC together? That’s it for now, see you next year buddy! Manuel from Germany, LONG LIVE BON!!!
Hi Manuel. The tour you mentioned with AC/DC was one of my most cherished memories. The guys were great to us, they even let us ride with them on long journeys as they had a huge bus and we only had a small van. Bon was a total gentleman his dedication to his fans was second to none. Unfortunately I am not aware of any photos but maybe if someone who reads this has any, please would they let me and the other fans see them as we would be very grateful! Thanks Manuel.
Regards K.K.
Carl:
Hello KK, my name is Carl and I’ve been a big fan of your music for quite a few years now. I’ve been fascinated by conceptual-style metal lately, particularly with what Priest is currently working on, as well as Iced Earth. Before the announcement of the Nostradamus LP I had always wondered if Priest would ever take part in such an experiment. My question is, has the thought of making concept albums crossed your mind in the past, and would you ever make another one in the future? I have a great idea for a new one if you’re interested! If so, I can give you my e-mail because I’d love to stay in contact.
Hi Carl. No I don’t think that we ever thought we would ever get around to making a concept album although I think bands think about it. But when this idea came up it just felt right for us. I hope that it is successful enough for us to do another but we shall have to see what the future brings. By all means let us have any of your thoughts.
Regards K.K.
Brian Dillon NY City:
K.K. – What about Judas Priest\Megadeth for next tour? I think the New Megadeth CD – United Abominations – is the best CD they have released since Rust in Peace. Of course you had Megadeth open up for you on the Painkiller\Rust-in-Peace Tour back in 1990. I believe this new Megadeth CD to have completely revitalized old style metal and hopefully Nostradamus will be a masterpiece too. I just saw Megadeth open up for Heaven And Hell twice here in the States recently, at Mohegan Sun and PNC Arts Center in NJ, and they and the show were devastating. I think it would be great for you guys to do a tour together again in the States once Nostradamus comes out. Judas Priest\Megadeth – This would be killer. By the way I am a long time Priest Fanatic from NY City. You guys are the Metal Kings and are still my favourite band of all time. I saw all the Priest Shows at the Palladium in NY City – Starting with the Nov 4th 1979 show, than British Steel, Than Point of Entry – went two Nights at Palladium and was at the Pier Show along the Hudson sitting next to the Plasmatics. Of course I’ll never forget the Glory of Judas Priest headlining Madison Square Garden for the first time Oct 2nd, 1982 for the Screaming for Vengeance tour- 2nd Row Center, 2 Days before my 18th Birthday – I was like a proud father seeing my favourite Metal Band really making it. Of course I have been to every Priest tour and last time I saw you was at Mohegan Sun on AOR Tour when you resurrected Solar Angels. One other thing I must add, it always pissed me off that so many kids took to Iron Maiden over you guys. Till this day I argue about it and I always say Maiden are Great but Priest are total Magic. Maiden has really become boring, not releasing a really good disc since Powerslave – while you guys are still amazing. I am hoping Nostradamus is a masterpiece, I thought AOR was very good but not a Masterpiece. I am hoping for something like a Stained Class – You guys should redo that album. Take Care Fan Forever and Rock Forever Brian Dillon NY City
Hi Brian, I think Megadeth would be cool. As you know we have worked with those guys many times before and it has always been a good bill. Will see what we can do. Thanks for your letter and support, see you on tour!
Regards K.K.
Tito:
Hi K.K. I’m Tito… I left a message in your site…
I’ve got a lot of things to ask but I’ll tell you the
most important like
1)Will the new album be like British Steel, Painkiller
or Angel of Retribution? Just want to know it… but
you must know for me it doesn’t matter how will it be
because it is a Judas Priest album 🙂
2)Since how many years have you played guitar? I’m
asking you this because I have played guitar since 2 years
and I want to learn some techniques if you can help.
Just this for now :)… if you’re going to answer me
I’ll be happy to have met you… if you won’t answer me…
I’ll be happy.
P.S probably there are some mistakes… I’ve got B
mark but my English is not perfect
Ciao!
Hi Tito, The new Priest album is still evolving but I don’t think it can be compared to any one particular Priest album. Hopefully it will have all of the usual Priest ingredients and a whole lot more. I have been playing since I was 16. It is hard to give you technical advice not knowing what standard you play but always practice scales, start with major and minor pentatonic, then major and natural minor, then the cool stuff, diminished, harmonic minor, whole tone half tone, that should keep you busy for a while. Please don’t be concerned about your English it is very good.
Regards K.K.
