Former Judas Priest guitarist Okay.Okay. Downing considers it “insulting” that his former bandmates even briefly thought-about touring with a four-piece lineup.

In recent times the legendary steel group’s foundational twin guitar roles have been crammed by Richie Faulkner, who changed Downing in 2011, and Andy Sneap. The latter took over touring duties for Glenn Tipton in 2018 after Tipton was identified with Parkinson’s illness. (Tipton nonetheless often joins the band onstage for encores.)

Earlier this month, Judas Priest introduced that Sneap would not accompany the band on their upcoming tour, leaving them with only one guitarist (Faulkner) for the primary time since 1974. Every week later, after followers expressed concern and Sneap known as the choice “disappointing,” the band reversed course and introduced that Sneap would certainly be within the fold after they hit the highway this March.

“I am like everyone else, I am completely bemused,” Downing advised Rock of Nations with Dave Kinchen concerning the announcement and retraction in an interview embedded under. “It was simply so excessive and insulting in a means, I assume, and insulting to Glenn as nicely. It was sort of a slap within the face, saying, ‘Okay, you two guys did it, however we predict only one man can do [it.]” It sort of made us and every little thing that we have performed and created [seem] superfluous, actually… I am positive Glenn will agree with me that it does have a price. There should be one thing behind the scenes that we do not know.”

Final August Downing launched Sermons of the Sinner, the debut album from his new band KK’s Priest, which additionally options former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens.