Alex , Belgium:
Hey K.K, I’m Alex from Belgium, I’m really mad about your style of playing and wanted to tell you, you’re my best inspiration!!!
So, here is my question, When I think of a Judas Priest song in which you play solo, 3 songs always come to my mind … “Victim Of Changes,” “Sinner” and”Jawbreaker!” I think “Victim” is the best solo you ever done and “Sinner” also!
But “ Jawbreaker” is awesome too and it hasn’t been played since 1984!!! Is it possible to see a show in the future with these 3 songs in the set? Because these are your trademark songs (as “ Judas Rising” or “Hellrider ”)!!!
Hope to see you soon on tour and in Belgium!!! I’ve seen you only one time and it was at the GRASPOP Metal Meeting festival in June 2004!! It was my birthday and the best day of my live!!!
Keep on rocking K.K, you’re the best and Judas Priest the band who rules them all!!!
Hi Alex! Yes for sure these 3 songs are serious candidates for the next Priest tour and you can be certain that I am really looking forward to playing these solos for you, many thanks for checking into the Steel Mill! -Regards, K.K.
Anthrax 666:
Do you think that you’ll play any new/old songs on the next Priest tour?
I mean songs like “Dreamer Deceiver or Tyrant or Sinner or Devil’s Child or Never Satisfied or Heading Out To The Highway or Call For The Priest or Freewheel Burning or Love Bites? I know that’s a lot, I’ll stop there. One other thing, do you think new Gibson Flying V’s are worth buying? Because I want to buy a heritage cherry one ( I think you can figure out why ) and don’t want to waste my money. Thanx for reading this question. K.K. YOU RULE!
Hi Anthrax 666, Yes indeed we are very aware that fans would like us to include all of those songs and more, the reason I guess why we didn’t include so many of those songs on the last tour is because of Rob being away so long we felt the need to re-establish ourselves. So now hopefully the world knows Priest is back and we can certainly be more adventurous with our set list.
I have several friends that have bought re-issues of cool guitars and many of them are very good, but they are best value if you go out and play them and make them earn their keep as they are not inclined to keep their value very well. One friend bought the Rory Gallagher Strat for £2.500 but only got £1.500 for it a year later. It is your choice to resist the temptation but I think that buying a decent original is money better spent, its value will be sure to rise.
Excellent questions, Thank You. Regards, K.K.
Adrian Schroeder, São Paolo, Brazil:
Hi K.K. I am Adrian Schroeder and I live in São Paulo Brazil. I am 38 and I have been with Judas Priest since late ‘70’s, thanks to my parents. And my children are going to the same way! You guys are immortals!!!
I have a question: Why don’t you never play ROCKA ROLLA songs? Man you can believe me: here in Brazil, a GREAT NUMBER of fans really ask for songs like RUN OF THE MILL, ROCKA ROLLA or CHEATER. They dream about these songs. I understand it sounds different kind of metal platform, but don’t you think it would be cool? It could be a kind of medley or something like that. I’m sure it would be great!!!
The site is really amazing!!! I am a Judas Priest collector since 1980 and The discography section is amazing! Congratulations, man! I hope to see you in Brazil soon!
regards and metal cheers
Hi Adrian, I hear what you are saying, I think that your idea of a medley at least is excellent. I will speak to the guys to see what they think, you have my vote so we just need to get the O.K and we will be ready to Rocka Rolla. Good question!!
Regards to you and all of the Brazil fans, K.K.
Bren, Seattle:
I was wondering, what the heck you do with all those wonderful stage outfits once the tour is done? Do you keep them? Sell them for charity? Or do they just go to a special heavy metal closet in the sky?
Hi Bren. Well, I guess the answer is a mix of all that, usually if they are not too disgusting we prefer to raise money for charity with them but I still have a few bits and pieces lying around. I guess they can be a bit nostalgic. Thank you for your question.
Regards, K.K.
Judas Turkey:
When do you think you will to come to Turkey? In here thousands fans are waiting the Metal gods..
Hello!!! And thank you for contacting me on behalf of our good fans and friends in Turkey. I think I can speak for me and the guys by saying that we would love very much to play some concerts in Turkey. We have heard so much about the many metal fans there, all we need is for a promoter to arrange for us to be able to come and play. But i think that it will be inevitable because wherever there is a metal audience there will be Judas Priest, it is only a matter of time. So please be patient with us. Until then keep flying the flag of metal and keep feeding the flames!
My sincerest regards, K.K.
James Wills, United Kingdom:
KK, if you or Priest ever had the chance to get “Rocka Rolla” and “Sad Wings Of Destiny” from Gull Records, what songs would you play live and which is your favourite one if you listen to the albums at all?
Hi James! Actually we can play whatever songs we like, as you know we have been playing songs from “Sad Wings” i.e. “Victim” etc. for some time. And we have been talking of playing some of the older and more obscure songs, so I hope you will be pleased the next time we tour. Of course I would like to play an extended version of my solo on “Rocka Rolla.” Also “Run of The Mill” and “Never Satisfied” to name a few. A fan from South America just 2 days ago suggested maybe a long medley of those early songs on the next tour, so we will see what will be. It will have my vote. Thanks for an excellent question.
Regards, K.K.
Jonas Bye, Norway:
Which song did you enjoy playing the most on the AOR tour, and why?
Hi Jonas! This is a hard question, but I think “Judas Rising” was cool because I enjoyed playing the solo and the intro was pretty exiting when the angel back drop came up and Rob was raised up. Plus the song rocks !!!! Many thanks.
Regards, K.K.
Damian, Poland:
Dear Kenneth! I love Judas Priest very much. I’m 18. I live in Poland and I have never seen Judas Priest’s show live. I have a wish – please come to Poland. I have many JP’s albums but I haven’t enough money for CDs (I hope to buy all of them in the near future). I have – I think – the most important dream in my whole life. My dream is play with Judas Priest one song at the future concert in Poland. I will be happiest guy in the world if You agree!!! Also I will be very glad if You send me a message!
Hi Damian, I am guessing that you are a guitarist? Well I can’t promise that you can jam with us, but I can promise that we will be in Poland on the next tour. So at least there is a chance we can say hi, don’t ever stop dreaming though because if you want something enough it can come true. When I was your age I had a dream to become a famous guitarist!
All my best regards for now, K.K.
Robert Starling, Cheltenham, England:
Hi K.K. Just wondered if you deliberately tried to avoid Black Sabbath – comparisons (broadly same style, same city etc.) by speeding up your sound, and having a more streamlined song structure? And was it difficult leaving the 70’s sound behind? Was this is a conscious development – do you think, or was it more of a natural evolution for the band? Anyway, sorry is that 3 questions?
Hi Robert! Actually although we were aware of Black Sabbath we did not pay any attention at all in respect of comparisons, being I guess that it was only the start of the Rock and Metal evolution and there was so many alternatives available to us in respect of Image, Direction etc. Also being a Hendrix fan I was into music with more versatility, so I guess that might answer your next question. That is Priest evolved naturally and wantingly through the decades always pushing the boundaries of metal as far and wide as we could in order to make this great style of music known to as many people as possible.
Thank for the questions.
Regards, K.K.
Ken A., Orlando, FL, USA:
What prompted your move from Hamer to ESP guitars?
Will Hamer be making any new custom guitars for you and Glenn for the new album and tour?
I believe it was the “Jugulator” tour that was soon to begin, and I suddenly realised that I fancied having made a guitar that i had a rough design for in my head. So I spoke with my good friend Jol Danzig at Hamer but as it happened they had just moved and decided to concentrate on the top of the range products. Jol said he could make my guitar but the wood that they were maturing would not be ready for around 6 months. So i approached E.S.P and they were able to help to put my design together. I still like my black E.S.P. a lot and play it very often. However since then Hamer have made me a couple of nice guitars including what I believe to be the first ever gold top flying V. Thank You Ken for the question.
Regards, K.K.
Glyn (Zaphod) Evans:
Hi! When did you begin scalloping your guitars, and when can we see an ESP signature series mini V come out?
HI Glyn, I first started scalloping my necks in the early eighties. I have heard that Ritchie Blackmore was probably the first to do it way back in the sixties. There are no plans for me as yet to do anything else with ESP, but if they contact me it might be possible to get something together. Many thanks!!
Regards, K.K.
Rafael Perfeito Pimentel Coutinho, Brazil :
Hi there folks and congrats for this marvellous site. I met KK during the “Angel of Retribution” tour in Rio de Janeiro, after the show. He was drinking a Mexican beer and I asked “You should be drinking a Brazilian one!” to which he replied: “We drink whatever they give us, as long as it’s cold and alcoholic!”.
So, my question goes: “Which countries have the best beers around???”
Also, Ken kept asking me how to speak “pen” in Portuguese and kept saying it till he got the right accent “caneta”. Is he interested in learning other languages???
Keep up the good work… or feeding the flame!!!
Hi Rafael, It seems that the promoters often think that they are giving us a treat by providing us with more expensive imported beers. They don’t seem to realise that we are foreigners so anywhere we go except England we are drinking imported beer and there is nothing better for us but to go to another country and enjoy the local culture. That’s what makes travelling so much fun, it also makes us feel more comfortable and I think that people like to see our reaction to the food and drink that they grew up on and are usually very proud of. Needless to say one of my favourite pastimes is sneaking out to some small local pub to try out its beers, as you know Brazil has some excellent beers. I have certainly tried what I consider the most popular: Brahma and also I think Cintra, Lokal and Braveria. I am not sure of the spelling though! All countries I think have at least some good beers, although in some countries the choice is staggering. Yes my Spanish is not bad; I wish I had the time to take more lessons, I wish I could speak every language so I could communicate better with everyone.
I hope to be drinking Brazilian beer with you soon.
Regards, K.K.
Chris H., North Dakota Priest Maniac :
I am a huge Judas Priest fan. 20 of my 33 years of existence in fact.
KK Downing has always been my favourite member of the band. I love his playing style. One of the most underrated guitarists of all-time.
Anyway, my question for KK is a non-music question.
KK, you and the other members of Priest seem to enjoy a good pint, or two, or three! My question for you is, what is your beer of choice? Or perhaps, what are your beers of choice? Guinness is a personal favourite of mine.
Any recommendations? I live in the States, and our knowledge of a good beer is not even close to Europeans.
Hi Chris! You are right, beer is an essential rock and metal ingredient. I love Guinness too, German beer is excellent, but England has the most variety of real ales in the world. Still after 2 hours on stage anything cold and wet goes down pretty quick. Cheers!!!!!
Regards, K.K.
Thomas:
Hello guys
I remember the tour in 1981 with Accept/Def Leppard and headliner Priest. What a great show! I ask myself if the fans ever can hope for such a 3 packline-up . Maybe Saxon, Scorpions and Priest or Maiden, Saxon
and Priest?
And a very personal question to this great man
Do you think Ken, only Blondes have more fun? What kind of women do you prefer? Thanx for the good work. Let’s feed the flames all together.
Hi Thomas, I am glad to say that you are well and truly one of us and you definitely belong at the Mill. Your memories, and those line ups you mentioned are definitely what we need more of. But on the up side they are tours that are still possible, so we will see.
On the subject of women I am still trying to figure them out, even after all of these years my friends say it’s because I have not found the right one yet. Well, I guess I had better move fast and not worry too much about the colour of the hair. Many thanks Thomas, see you soon!
Regards, K.K.
Dennis Planner, Sydney, Australia :
Dear KK. Where did you get that Flying V guitar necklace you always worn?.. It looks really slick man, and it suits you and maybe me too , haha??
Thank you for asking! Actually I was very fortunate to have been given this really cool gift by a fan. I was overwhelmed by his generosity and would like to take the opportunity to extend my thanks to him a second time. Thank You Dennis for feeding the flames! Please say hi to all metal fans down under for me. Cheers for now!
Regards, K.K.
Samppa Mustonen , FINLAND:
At the stage, you are left and Glenn is on the right side. This has been from the beginning, how did you choose your side and why?
Well,I liked that side because Jimi Hendrix was at that side as well and later when Glenn came he took naturally the other side.
