Interview: K.K. Downing Plans to Keep Going… with the Help of Green Tea
Though he has certainly earned his rest as a lauded member of Judas Priest for decades, K.K. Downing is not slowing down any time soon. Well, maybe he’s sipping green tea instead of pounding beer. But hey, he’s 72 and helped found this entire genre; he’s earned it.
His new project, KK’s Priest, has already released their second album, The Sinner Rides Again, out now via Napalm Records. It follows their 2021 record Sermons of the Sinner. Those who have checked the project out know that K.K. and company aren’t just rehashing old Priest riffs or trying to stay relevant. They are very much continuing their musical journey, making albums that still hold up in 2023, despite the age of the members.
We caught up with K.K. about why making music and touring is important for him to do for as long as he is physically able, as well as how this project continues his mission of bringing metal to the masses… and why he no longer pounds beer before a show.
Based on the titles of the last record and this one, there is definitely a connection between the two albums. How are they alike and different, and what was the process like for creating this album?
The writing process is actually a great story—It was Christmas time, and I’m not really a Christmas person, and the weather was really bad. I live on my own in a rural area, so I just shut the doors and really got on with it. The record and the material came together quickly. It’s still very similar to the last album, but we made the decision to make the production a little bit more edgy and metallized a bit. The first was a bit more classic sounding as opposed to this one. But to be honest, I think you could put both albums together as a double album, and that would work fantastically well.
And then you did a documentary to go along with the release of the album—How did that come together, and what do you feel like that offers to fans alongside the record?
I think it’s nice for fans to have something a little candid and behind the scenes, just showing that we’re real people; we do just as crazy things as anybody else.
It’s funny how people are reacting because at the end of the documentary, I’m drinking some cold green tea. One person posted on socials and said, “Wow, that’s just not rock ‘n’ roll. What happened to the crate of beer before you hit the stage?” I like to hit the crate of beer after the performance; I need to be on for the audience. They travel a long way and they pay good money, so it’s only fair. I believe they should get every cent worth out of the band.
Wow that’s ridiculous—I don’t think people realize, even for folks in their 20s and 30s, how rigorous touring is. You’re not just going to be pounding beer; you need to drink tea and stuff too.
Yes we have to be a bit sensible because sometimes we get a call saying, “Can you come to England tomorrow and play a festival with Megadeth the next day?” So then we have to drive all night, and then when we get there, we’re pretty beat up, to be honest. And people don’t understand that you get tired; you get exhausted; the last thing you want to do is start hitting the beer before you go on stage. It’s gonna wipe you out.
Speaking of all that touring, I am assuming you have even more plans in the works in support of this record?
Absolutely. We’re putting in dates already for the European festivals next summer, and we’re hoping to tour America. We’re definitely going to do the cruise ship show in the U.S. out of Florida, so we’re looking for some other shows out there as well, so we can possibly continue the tour out there.
So you’re being pretty ambitious with the touring; you want to stay out on the road in support of the record.
Yep, we’re just getting going. We’re open to going anywhere and everywhere that want to offr a show to the band.
Do you already have any plans for the next album after this one? Something to complete the trilogy?
It depends on what we’re doing and if we have some downtime. If we can’t do shows, it’s definitely feasible to put some more material together. We have four records now, and I enjoy playing some of those classic songs I wrote throughout my life, but if we can’t tour, then we’ll be writing.
It’s admirable how much you want to stay out on the road, and I wanted to ask about that specifically. I know a lot of fans would say if anyone has earned retirement after all the cool stuff you’ve done, it would be you, but I read your quote from the press release about how so many metal heroes have died, and you just want to keep defending the music for as long as you can. Is that kind of the mindset, that you just want to stay playing as long as possible?
I think so. I always thought at some point there would be an opportunity for me to reconvene with Judas Priest, and then when it was confirmed that that door was really well and truly closed, I started thinking about what to do next. I started with Priest in the ’60s, at the very beginning; it’s been my whole life. So I just want to continue doing what I’ve always been doing.
And also, with KK’s Priest, it really feels in a way like the cage doors have been open. Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done. I’m really proud of everything Judas Priest achieved, but I feel as though I have a perfect right to continue and keep the genre of classic metal alive.
So many artists I look up to, like Jimi Hendrix and Cream and Blue Cheer, Jethro Tull, the list goes on and on, and they just aren’t around anymore, either dead or retired. And there’s newer metal, and so much of that is great as well. But I’ll be 72 next month, and a lot of my friends are passing away. It’s really getting a bit serious now in that respect. So I’m thinking, well, I’m able to do this. I’m going to enjoy doing it.
For example, I know you’re in Denver. I think about how many year’s I’ve been coming to Denver, playing great venues like Red Rocks. When Priest first came to Denver, I feel like we played a really small club in the city. You know how many times I’ve been through Denver airport? So many times. And there are just so many good memories like that everywhere from touring. That’s something I don’t want to give up yet.
KK’S Priest with Paul Di’Anno and Burning Witches across the U.K. in October:
October 10, 2023 – Nottingham @ Rock City
October 11, 2023 – Manchester @ O2 Ritz
October 12, 2023 – London @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
