During an appearance on Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon, Michael Schenker addressed classic Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing’s claims that he was invited by Michael to join Scorpions around the time the band parted ways with Uli Jon Roth in 1978.
As reported, KK said that he declined because “felt like Priest were probably gonna do better than the Scorpions because Scorpions had just lost their guitarist.”
And now, Schenker said when asked if KK’s story was true:
“I don’t get that part. Here’s what happened – after I helped out UFO on the tour because their guitarist didn’t show up – so I played two sets, one with Scorpions, one with UFO, for two gigs, and that’s when UFO asked me to join them.
“And that’s when I went to Uli and I told him I’m going to India to meditate, and he can join the Scorpions to help. I remember this guitarist who would be able to continue with the Scorpions without too much damage. I joined UFO, and there is nothing about him [Downing] joining the Scorpions.”
Michael also said during the conversation:
“I went with my girlfriend to watch Judas Priest; I looked my girlfriend, she looked at me, we couldn’t believe K.K. Downing looked exactly like me. He had the Flying V, curly blonde hair, I thought I was standing on stage.”