Ein Paukenschlag aus dem Hause JUDAS PRIEST ist zu vermelden: Gitarrist K.K. Downing hat überraschend seinen Dienst bei den britischen Heavy-Metal-Urgesteinen quittiert und wird somit auch nicht an der kommenden Abschiedstour im Rahmen der "Epitaph-Weltour" teilnehmen.

Als Ersatz für Gründungsmitglied Downing haben die Priester schnell reagiert und Richie Faulkner (u.a. LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS) als neuen Gitarristen mit ins Boot geholt.
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Das offizielle Statement liest sich so:



"It is with regret that JUDAS PRIEST announce that K.K. Downing has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming Epitaph Tour. The remaining members of the group respect his decision and naturally all wish him well.

Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, singer Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis unanimously agreed that they should go ahead with the tour. Fate also stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement - 31 year-old guitar player Richie Faulkner.

The Epitaph Tour will include songs from every PRIEST studio album and also tracks that they have never before performed on stage plus all the old favorites.

With a new album due to be released next year, the Metal Gods are preparing to tour the planet once more. Heavy metal at its best complete with lasers, lights, bikes and hellfire!"