In a new Interview with Bleeding4metal.de, KK Downing discussed Judas Priest members saying:
Bleeding4metal.de: Is rock (and metal) dead, as Gene Simmons said? If so, why, if not, why not?
Downing: “Not for now. There are still lots of great bands out there rockin’ out!”
Bleeding4metal.de: What would be the best part of the modern music business if JUDAS PRIEST started out now and what would be the worst?
Downing: “There’s no too much of an upside for new bands of today, as there is not the support that there was back in the day. Essentially, revenue from sales of records has dried up. This has had a tremendous knock-on effect throughout the industry and has become devastating for younger bands.”
Bleeding4metal.de: I know that the possibility of you rejoining JUDAS PRIEST now is not too likely. Nevertheless, I believe many fans would love to see a final stint of you with them, and so do I. How long do you think you would need to get back in great performance shape? I remember Ian Hill said in an interview you would probably not be at the peak of your game now if you rejoined.
Downing: “At the time I quit the band, I had more energy than anyone else on stage. In fact, that is one of the reasons I quit. The band just seemed to have slowed down to a steady walk. Even Richie [Faulkner, Downing‘s replacement] would do well to keep up with me if I rejoined. It seems wrong that Scott, Richie and Andy [Sneap, PRIEST‘s touring guitarist] are not officially members of JUDAS PRIEST as they are on a wage. So, only two members are on stage right now. Yet they don’t want me back. It shows the strength of the brand name JUDAS PRIEST that I spent 40 years being a part of.”
Bleeding4metal.de: How many compromises would you make if you were offered to join JUDAS PRIEST again? Or would you just say “on my terms or not all”?
Downing: “There wouldn’t need to be any compromises, I would just step back in and do what I have always done. I guess that would also be my terms, to allow the fans to see me as they have always done.”
Bleeding4metal.de: If you rejoined the band at all, how long would you see yourself doing it? Could you see yourself getting back into the groove that much you wouldn’t feel like stopping at all?
Downing: “I have no doubt that if I returned that I would be completely committed, just as I always was.”