Former JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist K.K DOWNING has announced, via his Official Facebook page, the details on his new band KK’s PRIEST. Read below.
Los Angeles, CA – February 18, 2020 – K.K Downing, founding member of Judas Priest, today announces the name of his new band KK’s PRIEST. This all new band features some very familiar faces. With Downing on guitar, KK’s PRIEST features ex-Judas Priest members Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals, who fronted the band for eight years and recorded two studio albums, Jugulator, featuring the GRAMMY® nominted track “Bullet Train,” and Demolition, plus two live albums, and Les Binks who was the drummer on the studio albums Stained Class and Killing Machine and the live album Unleashed in the East. They are joined by Tony Newton (Voodoo Six) on bass, and A.J. Mills (Hostile) on guitar. With the line-up complete, KK’s PRIEST is hard at work in the studio creating the band’s debut album which will be released globally by Explorer1 Music Group as a part of the partnership with K.K Downing signed early 2020. More details to come.
KK’s PRIEST is represented exclusively by Andy Gould for Explorer1, with Jim Morewood handling the band’s global bookings outside the U.S. for the K2 Agency. Extensive touring and festival dates are already being planned with KK’s PRIEST taking to stages around the world to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Judas Priest and K.K Downing’s career as a founding member. The band will deliver everything that fans would expect of Downing and his ability to deliver up everything that is Priest including newly written metal masterpieces.
“Forging ahead with KK’s PRIEST was not only inevitable, but was essential for me to perform and deliver everything that is expected from me and KK’s PRIEST” says K.K Downing. “Due to the massive demand and overwhelming support from fans around the world, I feel this is where I belong, and a set combining the true, classic songs and sound of Priest, together with great, newly forged metal tracks, is what fans can expect when KK’s PRIEST is taking to stages.”
Last summer K.K Downing made his first public appearance in almost 10 years, performing classic Judas Priest cuts at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in the U.K. In November K.K Downing called on Tim “Ripper” Owens and Les Binks for a surprise, one-off performance, featuring Hostile’s A.J. Mills on guitar and David Ellefson from Megadeth on bass. The band performed a blistering set of classic Judas Priest songs as well as deep album cuts that have never been performed live. With an overwhelming response and the instant chemistry Downing, Owens and Binks shared on stage, KK’s PRIEST was born.
K.K Downing’s genre-defining guitar style helped establish Judas Priest‘s iconic sound and helped propelled them to one of the top Heavy Metal bands of all-time, earning numerous accolades including a GRAMMY® in 2010 for “Best Metal Performance,” a total of five GRAMMY® nominations and multi-platinum and gold releases.
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voicerecently spoke to former Judas Priest, Iced Earth singer Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. Owens spoke about the November 3 2019 K.K. Downing Steel Mill show in Wolverhampton U.K. along with former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks and Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson. He also spoke about his upcoming new solo album package and the new Three Tremors (Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, Sean ‘The Hell Destroyer’ Peck, Harry ‘The Tyrant’ Conklin) ‘THE SOLO VERSIONS’ Release + US TOUR Nov. 15 2019 through Steel Cartel Records.
Watch the interview below.
When asked about the upcoming show with former Judas Priest member K.K. Downing and how that all got put together
“I had gotten a call from some mutual friends of all of us of K.K. and Dave Ellefson. He was like listen I think it’s a good idea to do a show David’s coming to the UK doing his book thing, he’s doing a tour and I’m trying to see if maybe K.K. wanted to join in because it’s his hometown and are you interested? I’m like yeah, I mean I really I had to squeeze it in though as I am booked with shows that month. Right After that gig I got to fly right home because I got a drive to Quebec City, Canada and start doing a short Canadian tour there with Glen and Shawn Drover. So when they ask me I was like absolutely, I definitely want to do it and it’ll be a fun time and I am looking forward to it . The plan is to make it a great set of music, it’s going to be a great night, you also got Blaze Bayley opening up the show.”
When asked of he would consider a tour with K.K. Downing, David Ellefson and Les Binks in the future
“Right now this is it, this is what we’re doing, we’re doing this one off. This is just a one-off special show. Right now that’s the only plan. I would love to do it. It would be great to do a tour but it’s just a matter of working it out with everybody schedules. As an example I’m booked up with an upcoming Three Tremors tour and my solo touring, I’m booked up pretty solid that’s not even throwing in a hologram tour if we end up doing another one.”
When asked about the new Three Tremors SOLO album re-release
“I recorded my version, I recorded all of of the songs complete. I didn’t attack the songs in parts, we sang the whole record which made it harder to mix because then they had to go how we gonna mix this thing we have to figure out who’s singing what and where. Sean Peck heard my version and goes his version is actually different than my version. I did that on purpose because when he sent me the template to sing the songs I sang it layered because I wanted to be different. For these solo albums we didn’t go back and rethink things or redo things. I think the solo versions are a brilliant idea. The solo albums are gonna be released as a three-disc set that won’t be much more of a cost to buy than a regular disc, so that’s pretty cool.”
When asked about the musical direction of the next Three tremors album
“Sean Peck is already working on the next Three Tremors record. I think the next record we’re gonna probably tame it down, at least that was my request. The first Three Tremors album was perfect it needed to come out and hit people in the face with power metal. We’re not getting three singers together to make that a mellow record or commercial record it’s gonna slam you in the face. The next one will as well but I think we’ll probably bring it back a little bit on all us just attacking it all three of us all the time. Sean is gonna start sending parts to us so we can add our two cents. In terms of a timeline Sean is thinking I’m going to get this album out.
Here’s the issue we got a ton of touring coming up, so I think Sean’s trying to get a lot of it written music-wise and any ideas now. ”
When asked about Ripper’s upcoming solo album
“I’m actually working on my own solo record now. I just kind of started. I’ve had Beyond Fear tunes and stuff lying around that we had written back in the day and I might use one or two songs from Beyond Fear. I want this album to be a little different. I really like how the ‘ A New Revenge’ record (Enemies & Lovers) came out. Maybe make my solo album in that vein but a little bit more heavier. Maybe use a little more of a different angle on my vocals, add some of my low real heavy stuff and a few more highs. Not aiming to have many guests on the album I don’t know who I am going to have play yet but I would love to get Simon Wright (ex AC.DC) on the drums. For writing my solo album I called guitarist Keri Kelli who we wrote together on the ‘A New Revenge’ album and told him, I know we’re both swamped but I’d like to start working on a new solo record. I mean could make it heavier because that’s the way my voice is or I could do it Beyond Fear heavier record but I want to save that if I do a Beyond Fear record. I also called John Capri from Beyond Fear and I said John I want you to write on my solo album too so we have that old-school hardcore influence. I just like all those influences into it to making a heavy metal hard rock record. I had one song title that I’d like I said that we had written for the second Beyond Fear record that I wrote with John Capri, called Judgment Day, (we were going to name the album Judgment Day) it was one song that I thought fit really well with my Sabbath like kind style. So I think it would fit really well with my solo record, I might even make that the title of the album ‘Judgment Day’, so you got an exclusive with that one. For my Solo record I’m actually gonna look for a label, I know it’s a hard thing to do in this day and age but I’m so busy that I am probably going to look for a label shop my solo record and put it out. ”
When asked about his mini Canadian tour called ‘A Night of Metal’ with Glen and Shawn Drover
“It’s a perfect name for us because we’re just jamming metal songs, we’re having fun, probably have a beer and get on stage. We always seem to do it through Canada and it’s usually just the three shows but this this time for some reason the last minute we added more dates like Windsor and Ottawa.”
A Night of Metal in Canada Dates
W/ Ripper Owens, Shawn Drover, Glen Drover, Adrian Robichaud
•Nov 6th L’anti Bar & spectacles, Quebec City
•Nov 7th Piranha Bar, Montreal
•Nov 8th The Brass Monkey, Ottawa
•Nov 9th The Rockpile, W. Toronto
•Nov 10th The Backstage, Windsor
TOUR DATES: The Three Tremors
Jan 27 Mon Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
Jan 28 Tues Dallas, TX – Trees
Jan 29 Wed Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Jan 30 Thurs Ybor City, FL – Crowbar
Jan 31 Fri West Palm Beach, FL – Respectables
Feb 1 Sat Orlando, FL – Soundbar
Mar 28 Sat Denver, CO – Herman’s Hideaway
Mar 29 Sun Santa Ana, CA – Malones
Mar 30 Mon San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick
Apr 1 Wed Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
Apr 2 Thurs Waterford, NY – Chrome
Apr 3 Fri New Bedford, MA – The Vault Music Hall
Apr 5 Sun Elmhurst, NY – Blackthorn 51
SPIRITS OF FIRE – feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens, Chris Caffery, Steve Di Giorgio and Mark Zonder – released their self-titled debut album “Spirits Of Fire” on February 22nd via Frontiers Music Srl. Today this outstanding supergroup has unleased the title track for streaming, check it out here:
The SPIRITS OF FIRE music can best be described as “classic Priest meets Savatage”.
“Spirits Of Fire” Tracklisting:
1. Light Speed Marching
2. Temple of the Soul
3. All Comes Together
4. Spirits of Fire
5. It’s Everywhere
6. A Game
7. Dispensable
8. Meet Your End
9. Never to Return
10. The Path
11. Alone in the Darkness
Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions as well as session bassist for tours. For further information, please contact via email: alexalphaomega@gmail.com – robertoalphaomega@gmail.com.
The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.
Watch Steve Di Giorgio LowDown: Bass Playthrough | Terra Odium – Crawling:
In Summer 2017, TESTAMENT’s Steve Di Giorgio teamed up with Tim “Ripper” Owens, Chris Caffery and Mark Zonder, for a new musical project, SPIRITS OF FIRE! This outstanding supergroup will release their self-titled debut album, on February 22, 2019, via Frontiers Music Srl. Today SPIRITS OF FIRE have premiered a new video, ‘It’s Everywhere’, exclusively on Ultimate-Guitar.com, here.
North American fans can get LIMITED EDITION, exclusive red color vinyl & collector’s box (feat. CD + T-Shirt – Size L ONLY) HERE: https://frontiersrecords.pmstores.co/ These are limited to 100 each and this is the only retailer in North America carrying these items. European fan can get the same items HERE: https://bit.ly/2RXvA0Q
The SPIRITS OF FIRE music can best be described as “classic Priest meets Savatage”.
“Spirits Of Fire” Tracklisting:
1. Light Speed Marching
2. Temple of the Soul
3. All Comes Together
4. Spirits of Fire
5. It’s Everywhere
6. A Game
7. Dispensable
8. Meet Your End
9. Never to Return
10. The Path
11. Alone in the Darkness
Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions as well as session bassist for tours. For further information, please contact via email: alexalphaomega@gmail.com – robertoalphaomega@gmail.com.
The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.
Watch Steve Di Giorgio LowDown: Bass Playthrough | Terra Odium – Crawling:
The LA Based outfit, A NEW REVENGE, featuring an all star line up will release their debut album, Enemies & Lovers on March 29th, 2019 via Golden Robot Records.
Supergroup is a term that has been diluted over time. Throwing a bunch of people from other bands into a new project doesn’t automatically make them Super, but their bio’s will tell you otherwise. It’s time to seek revenge and reclaim that word!
A NEW REVENGE is the very definition of a supergroup. One who’s members have more than earned their legendary statuses but also remain humble enough to let the music do the talking and not actually rely on the term. So who is out for A New Revenge?
Featuring one of the finest voices in metal of all time, Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (who’s voice is all over albums from Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Yngwie Malmsteen), one of the most versatile and name checked guitarists in rock Keri Kelli (Slash’s Snake Pit, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil Band and a hundred more) the most iconic bass player in heavy metal history, Rudy Sarzo (who’s work with Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Whitesnake and many more has earned him an almost revered status in heavy music) and long time Scorpions drummer James Kottak (also from Montrose, Warrant, Kingdom Come & more).
Keri Kelli, the bands guitarist says of A New Revenge coming together; “Beginning the songwriting process we said ‘Let’s get together and come up with three or four original songs.’ Without any pressure, just creating as we went. Finally we got to the eleven songs we were all happy with. ‘Here’s To Us’ was the first song we wrote for this record. It came very fast and was pretty simple to write. Its basically an ode to hard rock fans the planet over”
To further, Kelli comments on the album Enemies & Lovers “It’s been a long time coming but it’s completely finished mixed, mastered and all ready to go. We all really, really excited to finally unleash this on the hard rock community.”
A video for the first single from the albums release ‘The Way’ can be viewed here:
Due to scheduling conflicts, Sarzo was unable to attend the filming of A NEW REVENGE’s videos. The band’s good friend and renowned player Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, LAST IN LINE) stepped in at the last minute to take his place.
A NEW REVENGE is greater than the sum of its parts, although its parts are pretty damn mind blowing!
A NEW REVENGE will hit the road across the U.S. in support “Enemies & Lovers” throughout 2019 and is looking at locking in a European tour later in the year. The foursome is an explosive combination with every band member’s skillset and battle tested charisma breaking through the bleak wasteland of current day modern heavy metal.
Razor sharp riffs, thunderous drums and those soaring vocals that come charging in from on high to lay waste to the landscape. A New Revenge are forged from the very heart of heavy metal.
Confirmed track listing for Enemies & Lovers
The Distance Between
The Way
Never Let You Go
Glorious
The Eyes
Fallen
Only The Pretty Ones
Enemies & Lovers
Here’s To Us
Scars
Enemies & Lovers will be released on Friday, March 29th, 2019.
In Summer 2017, TESTAMENT’s Steve Di Giorgio teamed up with Tim “Ripper” Owens, Chris Caffery and Mark Zonder, for a new musical project, SPIRITS OF FIRE! This outstanding supergroup will release their self-titled debut album, on February 22, 2019, via Frontiers Music Srl. Today SPIRITS OF FIRE have unleashed a new single, “Stand and Fight”, check it out here:
Also watch the first single and video “Light Speed Marching”, here:
North American fans can get LIMITED EDITION, exclusive red color vinyl & collector’s box (feat. CD + T-Shirt – Size L ONLY) HERE: https://frontiersrecords.pmstores.co/ These are limited to 100 each and this is the only retailer in North America carrying these items.
The SPIRITS OF FIRE music can best be described as “classic Priest meets Savatage”.
Guitarist Chris Caffery on his influences for the record and working with Roy Z: “My influences for writing on this record were the bands that we were and are still in! I wanted to write songs that [Judas] Priest, Savatage, Testament, and Fates Warning fans would like. But, I wanted them to have a personality of their own as well. To give it a vibe that was SPIRITS OF FIRE! I grew up listening to Judas Priest and spent 30 plus years working with Jon Oliva and Paul O’Neill with Savatage and TSO. Many years playing Criss’ music. These influences for me came naturally! Especially because I’m a fan of all of our bands!
This was the first time that I ever worked with Roy and it was so much fun. I have been a huge fan of his work for a long time. He’s written music, played on, and produced some of my favorite metal albums ever. He had a difficult job bringing this all together and I can’t think of anyone that would have been a better producer and co-worker for this album!”
“I always just sing to the song, whatever I feel it should be. It’s like a character thing! I like layers! This music is really perfect for me and in my natural wheel house. I like to sing all over the place and change it up and this all happens on this album. This is just the start of an amazing band, I mean sky is the limit and I actually can’t wait to record the next album, because this one is so great and perfect,” says vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens.
Drummer Mark Zonder adds about his playing and writing process, “I am the kind of player that plays what I think fits best with the music. With SPIRITS OF FIRE, the music was more aggressive and hard hitting which I really liked. Again, I tried to be very mindful of the song and the vocals, but tried to add parts that were interesting and creative for the listener.”
Tracklisting:
1. Light Speed Marching
2. Temple of the Soul
3. All Comes Together
4. Spirits of Fire
5. It’s Everywhere
6. A Game
7. Dispensable
8. Meet Your End
9. Never to Return
10. The Path
11. Alone in the Darkness
Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions. For further information, please contact via email: alexalphaomega@gmail.com – robertoalphaomega@gmail.com.
The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 20 years of touring the world.
Watch Steve Di Giorgio LowDown: Bass Playthrough | Terra Odium – Crawling:
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 