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It\u2019s been 15 years since longtime Judas Priest<\/a> guitarist K.K. Downing<\/a> (who joined in 1970) left the band<\/a>. It\u2019s widely known that the split wasn\u2019t entirely positive, and in a new interview with Metal Hammer<\/em>, frontman Rob Halford<\/a> commented on Downing\u2019s involvement in the new (and official) Judas Priest documentary, The Ballad of Judas Priest<\/em>.<\/p>\n During their video interview<\/a> with Metal Hammer<\/a><\/em> (uploaded to YouTube on April 11), Halford and co-directors Sam Dunn and Tom Morello<\/a> \u2013 yes, that<\/em> Tom Morello \u2013 discussed many things regarding the new documentary.<\/p>\n Early on, they\u2019re asked about Downing being interviewed for the film (specifically, if there were \u201cany discussions\u201d about \u201chow to deal with him in this movie\u201d and what the \u201ccurrent status\u201d is of Halford\u2019s relationship with him).<\/p>\n \u201cI think that respect is still there. I think that the love and respect that we still have for each other is still there,\u201d Halford replied, adding:<\/p>\n The fact that he’s as important to Judas Priest now as he was then in telling the story. It had to be that way. It had to be that way because he was there at the very beginning, before I even personally joined the band [in 1973]. So, his value and the work that he created in his time with Judas Priest \u2013 the fact that we still play a lot of songs that K.K. wrote with myself and with Glenn<\/a> [Tipton, guitarist].<\/p>\n It’s really important and vital, and I think it sends a message out to the fans and to everybody else in the metal world that even though there is a separation from being included in the band \u2013 or not in the band \u2013 when we go out in today’s world, that’s irrelevant. The fact that we still do have this respect for each other is important.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n As for the possibility of a proper reunion between Downing and Judas Priest (not counting their 2022 one-off performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony<\/a>), Halford contemplated: \u201cWell, I think what he said in the documentary was simple and straightforward and eloquent, that he wasn’t feeling certain things that was important.\u201d<\/p>\n He elaborated:<\/p>\n When you go to work with music, you really<\/em> have to wanna get on that stage. You can’t hold anything back, you know. You have to be there for the right reasons. If you’re not up there for the right reasons, then you don’t really have the right to be on that stage. You can’t just be going through the motions. You can\u2019t just be going up there ’cause you want the check at the end of the tour. It’s none of that. It’s just a really<\/em> potent, internal feeling that makes you wanna get on that stage and give yourself with that amount of honesty and conviction to your fans. And if you’re not feeling that, then you do what K.K. did.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can watch the full interview below:<\/p>\n Per Blabbermouth<\/a>, The Ballad of Judas Priest<\/em> will get its North American premiere at Canada\u2019s Hot Docs international documentary film festival<\/a>. The festival runs from April 23 to May 3, and The Ballad of Judas Priest<\/em> will screen on Sunday, April 26, and Friday, May 1 (both at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema).<\/p>\n The official synopsis (via the Hot Docs website<\/a>) reads:<\/p>\n Over the span of 50 years, Judas Priest pioneered and continues to define the heavy metal genre, releasing 19 studio albums and performing in sold-out arenas for one of the most dedicated band fan bases. A group of English blokes coming from working-class Birmingham, the band\u2019s blistering message of rebellion resonated and popularity soared\u2014but so did the voices of detractors, who falsely accused them of breaking the law and of embedding subliminal messages in their music amid the Satanic panic of the 1980s. Band members are keen to delve into their past, sharing previously unreleased material from their personal archives, but it\u2019s frontman Rob Halford\u2019s story of coming out on MTV and being met with acceptance that really showcases the inclusive spirit of metal. Co-director Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine<\/a> gives the band their flowers in a film featuring rock royalty like Dave Grohl<\/a> of Foo Fighters<\/a>, Metallica<\/a>\u2019s Kirk Hammett<\/a>, Run-DMC<\/a>\u2019s Darryl McDaniels<\/a>, Smashing Pumpkins<\/a> frontman Billy Corgan<\/a> and the late great Ozzy Osbourne<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can see more information about the festival \u2013 and grab tickets \u2013 here<\/a>. Downing replaced co-founding guitarists John Perry and Ernie Chataway in 1970, and he appeared on every Judas Priest studio album from their debut (1974\u2019s Rocka Rolla<\/a><\/em>) to 2008\u2019s Nostradamus<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n Downing eventually attributed<\/a> his 2011 departure to a longtime \u201con-going breakdown in working relationships between myself, elements of the band and management for some time.\u201d He\u2019s also clarified that he wasn\u2019t satisfied with the band\u2019s live performances<\/a>.<\/p>\n Downing eventually became a music promoter<\/a> and was replaced in Judas Priest by Richie Faulkner<\/a>. He\u2019s also worked with Geoff Tate<\/a> and launched a new fragrance line<\/a> in the immediate years following the separation.<\/p>\n In 2016, he offered some stipulations about how and why he\u2019d return to Judas Priest<\/a> (including the aforementioned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction). In 2018, Downing admitted<\/a> that he was \u201cshocked\u201d that he wasn\u2019t asked to return following Glenn Tipton leaving their current tour to focus on his battle with Parkinson\u2019s Disease. (Andy Sneap got the spot instead.)<\/p>\n Then, in 2020, Downing started a new band \u2013 KK\u2019s Priest \u2013 with fellow ex-Judas Priest members Tim \u2018Ripper\u2019 Owens<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Les Binks<\/a>. Two years later, Faulkner confessed<\/a> that he wished Downing and Judas Priest could \u201chave a beer and just be pals\u201d; meanwhile, Tipton responded to accusations Downing made about the group<\/a> in his 2018 biography:\u00a0Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Following their one-off performance at the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Downing said<\/a> that he had \u201cnothing but respect\u201d for Faulkner. Around the same time, KK\u2019s Priest\u2019s two studio albums (2021\u2019s Sermons of the Sinner<\/em> and 2023\u2019s The Sinner Dies Again<\/a><\/em>) came out.<\/p>\n As for Judas Priest, Loudwire recently named them as one of the \u2018Big 4\u2019 of \u201880s metal<\/a> (alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden<\/a> and Metallica, of course). If that weren\u2019t complimentary enough, Exodus<\/a>\u2019 Gary Holt<\/a> proudly claimed<\/a> that 1978\u2019s Stained Glass<\/a><\/em> (and Metallica\u2019s Master of Puppets<\/a><\/em>) are \u201cthe two best metal albums of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to their upcoming documentary, Judas Priest are gearing up to embark on their 2026 \u201cFaithkeepers\u201d tour<\/a> in honor of 1984\u2019s Defenders of the Faith<\/em><\/a>. This leg of the tour will go from the end of July to the end of September, and it\u2019ll stop by Germany, France, Slovakia, Spain, Hungary, Italy and many other places.<\/p>\n You can see all of the tour dates \u2013 and grab tickets \u2013 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n How do you<\/em> feel about Halford\u2019s comments? Are you looking forward to The Ballad of Judas Priest<\/em>? Let us know!<\/p>\n Here are the all-time best rock and metal albums released for each day in April.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Did Halford Say About Downing + \u2018The Ballad of Judas Priest\u2019?<\/h3>\n
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Rob Halford, Tom Morello + Sam Dunn Discuss The Ballad of Judas Priest<\/em><\/h3>\n
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READ MORE: The ‘Big 4’ Bands of ’80s Metal<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nMore About Downing\u2019s Time in Judas Priest (And What Happened Afterward)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Other Judas Priest + Downing News<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Every Big Rock + Metal Album Released Each Day in April History<\/h2>\n