KK’S PRIESTwhich features former JUDAS PRIEST members KK Downing (guitar) and Tim “Ripper” Owens (vocals),alongside guitarist AJ Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE), played the final concert of the initial leg of its first-ever US tour on March 24 at Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Fan-filmed video of the entire concert can be seen below (courtesy of Jim Powers Youtube channel).
The setlist was as follows:
01. Hellfire Thunderbolt
02. One More Shot At Glory
03. The Ripper (JUDAS PRIEST song)
04. Reap The Whirlwind
05. Night Crawler (JUDAS PRIEST song)
06. Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST song)
07. Beyond The Realms Of Death (JUDAS PRIEST song)
08. Hell Patrol (JUDAS PRIEST song)
09. Brothers Of The Road
10. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
eleven. Breaking The Law (JUDAS PRIEST song)
12. Victim Of Changes (JUDAS PRIEST song)
Encore:
13. Strike Of The Viper
14. Raise Your Fists
KK’S PRIEST‘s first-ever US headlining tour, which featured support from THE GUNS and BURNING WITCHES, kicked off on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tour was the first of at least a two-leg USA run of shows, planned to continue later in 2024.
KK’S PRIEST‘s sophomore album, “The Sinner Rides Again”came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.
KK’S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing’s KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
K.K. formed KK’S PRIEST despues de JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.
KK’S PRIEST released its debut album, “Sermons Of The Sinner”in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.
Downing spent four months writing and recording “Sermons Of The Sinner” and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.
Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulknernearly three decades his junior.
In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band’s 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as “a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music,” while the second was “angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties.”
Downing later said that he believed the second letter was “a key reason” he wasn’t invited to rejoin PRIEST despues de Glenn Tipton‘s decision to retire from touring.
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997’s “Jugulator” and 2001’s “Demolition” — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.
