Rob Halford says that that JUDAS PRIEST is open to reuning with longtime guitarist K.K. Downing for a one-off performance at a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.
PRIEST is among the first-time nominees to the Rock Hall, part of a list of nineteen potential candidates that was unveiled on Wednesday evening (October 4).
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Speaking to Billboard on Thursday (October 5), Halford said that he had not had a chance to speak to other members of the band yet, but he’s confident that “we’re all very, very happy and we’re thrilled and we’re very genuinely honored by this opportunity for PRIEST and for heavy metal.”
As for a possible reunion with Downing, who left PRIEST somewhat acrimoniously during 2011, Halford said: “Everything’s on the table for anyone that’s been associated with PRIEST in and out of the band. It’s going to be an absolutely spectacular night, should we be inaugurated — so get the votes, I say.”
Downing went on to say that one way to guarantee his reunion with JUDAS PRIEST is to schedule a massive tour featuring of BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN and PRIEST. “It would be something I would have to be part of,” he said. “Only because I’d like to see the greatest heavy-metal tour happen because it’s never happened. And it’s never gonna happen. Unfortunately, that chapter of history won’t be there forever, which is kind of sad.”
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K.K. told the “Rockin’ Metal Revival” Internet radio show in 2015 that he was optimistic that PRIEST would one day get inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He said: “Well, I certainly hope so. But everything comes to us in the end, I guess and hope. As hard workers and as prolific a band as we’ve been, producing material and tours for so long, it was… not as though we really, really care about winning Grammys, but lots of other bands do. We’re thinking, ‘Why do we get pushed to the back of the queue?’ So I guess the Hall Of Fame, there’s still a lot of fantastic bands that have still not been let into the Hall Of Fame, but I guess that everyone’s turn will come.”
During a 2015 interview with Guitar International, Downing elaborated on his reasons for leaving PRIEST. He said: “I had lots and lots of reasons for not continuing, as I wasn’t content with things as they were. I wasn’t happy with the band’s live performance. I thought it could have been better; not that the fans would notice. To me, PRIEST was always a stealth machine and that’s what I liked about it. Even though you get older, you still need to be able to deliver the goods. People came a long way and paid a lot of money to see us, so you’ve got to make sure you still give 110 percent. I thought that should be inherent and what it should always be.”
K.K. also said that he didn’t think his return to PRIEST would “ever, ever happen.” He explained: “Obviously I’m quite happy for Richie Faulkner to be in the band. But I really wasn’t expecting to have someone who had so many familiarities as me, the looks and everything. At a glance, nothing too much has changed for the fans.”