Long Beach Arena, CA
November 21, 1982
I thought I was bummed out when Judas Priest announced late last year that the band was planning to hang up the towel and retire. Then, the news was released that the band had rethought their decision and had plans to record a new album and possibly play some select dates around the world. Now, this past week, founding member, K.K. Downing, has announced that he has made the decision to leave Judas Priest.
The hard rock world is in shock by this news. Judas Priest released a press release on April 20th that explains that the band plans to continue on without K.K. Downing and announced Richie Faulkner as his “perfect” replacement. You can check out the Official Press Release below – straight from the band.
But something just does not seem right, something is wrong here. It seems that K.K. was the main force in an attempted end to Judas Priest. Now that Priest has decided to move on without Downing it is apparent that the band may have never really wanted to retire in the first place, it may have been a move and pressure by Downing alone.
We will have to wait and see if more official word is released by Halford and the boys. I am shocked and disappointed to say the least. I was never fired up with the Halford-less version of Judas Priest and I cannot see myself getting excited about Priest without K.K. – it just can never be the same.
I wish the band much luck, bit in all honesty, Judas Priest has already secured themselves in Rock N’ Roll History and have nothing to prove. I would hate to see the band go out in a disappointing form. Perhaps it is time for JP to hang up the leather.
the KEVIN ESTRADA blog 
