KK's Priest

Downing left Judas Priest in 2011, citing "an on-going breakdown in working relationships between myself, elements of the band and management for some time."{{cite web |title=K.K. Downing |url=http://www.guitarhoo.com/interviews/kk-downing-93 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023230535/http://www.guitarhoo.com/interviews/kk-downing-93 |archive-date=23 October 2017 |access-date=4 December 2012 |publisher=guitarhoo.com}} He did not perform live again until 2019, when he played at Bloodstock Open Air festival with former Manowar guitarist Ross the Boss.{{cite web |date=6 July 2019 |title=Ex-Judas Priest Guitarist K.K. Downing To Perform With Ross the Boss At U.K.'s Bloodstock Open Air |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ex-judas-priest-guitarist-k-k-downing-to-perform-with-ross-the-boss-at-u-k-s-bloodstock-open-air/ |access-date=6 July 2019 |work=Blabbermouth.net}}{{cite web |title=K.K. Downing & Ross The Boss Band will be Playing 3-4 Judas Priest songs at Bloodstock 2019 |url=https://www.themetalvoice.com/single-post/2019/07/21/KK-Downing-Ross-The-Boss-Band-will-be-Playing-3-4-Judas-Priest-songs-at-Bloodstock-2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726053857/https://www.themetalvoice.com/single-post/2019/07/21/KK-Downing-Ross-The-Boss-Band-will-be-Playing-3-4-Judas-Priest-songs-at-Bloodstock-2019 |archive-date=26 July 2019 |access-date=21 July 2019 |work=The Metal Voice}} He also played a one off show in Wolverhampton on 3 November 2019, along with former Judas Priest members Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals) and Les Binks (drums), then-current Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and Hostile guitarist A.J. Mills.{{cite web |date=17 September 2019 |title=Former Judas Priest Members K.K. Downing, Les Binks And Tim 'Ripper' Owens To Perform Band's Classic Songs At One-Off Concert |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-judas-priest-members-k-k-downing-les-binks-and-tim-ripper-owens-to-perform-bands-classic-songs-at-one-off-concert/ |access-date=17 September 2019 |website=Blabbermouth.net}}{{cite web |date=10 November 2019 |title=K.K. Downing Details How Recent Show With David Ellefson, 'Ripper' Owens And Les Binks Came Together |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/k-k-downing-details-how-recent-show-with-david-ellefson-ripper-owens-and-les-binks-came-together/ |access-date=10 November 2019 |website=Blabbermouth.net}}

In January 2020, Downing signed with Explorer1 Music Group, which would pair him with veteran manager Andy Gould, and announced that he would work on brand-new music.{{cite web |author=Childers, Chad |date=30 January 2020 |title=Ex-Judas Priest Guitarist K.K. Downing Working on New Music |url=https://loudwire.com/ex-judas-priest-k-k-downing-working-new-music/ |access-date=30 January 2020 |website=Loudwire}} The following month, it was announced that Downing had formed a new band, KK's Priest, with Mills, Owens and Binks and bassist Tony Newton.{{cite web |author=Grow, Kory |date=18 February 2020 |title=Ex-Judas Priest Guitarist K.K. Downing Forms Band With Other Former Priest Members |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/judas-priest-kk-downings-new-band-951612/ |access-date=18 February 2020 |website=Rolling Stone}}{{cite web |date=19 February 2020 |title=Tim 'Ripper' Owens Is 'Really Excited' About His New Band With K.K. DOWNING |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/tim-ripper-owens-is-really-excited-about-his-new-band-with-k-k-downing/ |access-date=19 February 2020 |website=Blabbermouth.net}}{{cite web |author=Kielty, Martin |date=13 March 2020 |title=K.K. Downing Comeback Album Is 'Classic-Sounding Metal' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/k-k-downing-comeback-album/ |access-date=13 March 2020 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}{{cite web |date=22 March 2020 |title=K.K. Downing Says KK'S Priest's Debut Album Is 'Sounding Incredible' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/k-k-downing-says-kks-priests-debut-album-is-sounding-incredible/ |access-date=22 March 2020 |website=Blabbermouth.net}}

The band's debut album Sermons of the Sinner was originally scheduled to be released on 20 August 2021, but was postponed until 1 October.{{cite web |date=22 July 2021 |title=KK's Priest's Sermons of the Sinner Pushed Back To October |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/kks-priests-sermons-of-the-sinner-pushed-back-to-october/ |accessdate=22 July 2021 |website=Blabbermouth.net}} A music video for the album's lead single, "Hellfire Thunderbolt", was released on 12 May 2021. However, Binks did not appear on the album as a result of a wrist injury and was replaced by Cage drummer Sean Elg. Later, Binks would occasionally perform live with KK's Priest.{{cite web |author=Enis, Eli |date=10 May 2021 |title=K.K.'s Priest Announce Debut Album Sermons of the Sinner |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/kks-priest-announce-debut-album-sermons-sinner |accessdate=10 May 2021 |website=Revolver}}{{cite web |author=Price, Jason |date=12 May 2021 |title=KK's Priest To Unleash Sermons of the Sinner Album On August 20th! |url=https://www.iconvsicon.com/2021/05/12/kks-priest-to-unleash-sermons-of-the-sinner-album-on-august-20th/ |accessdate=12 May 2021 |website=iconvsicon.com}}

When speaking to KNAC in June 2021 about Sermons of the Sinner, Downing said that he was already at work on material for the next album, which would be more of a collaboration effort than the first album.{{cite web |date=13 June 2021 |title=K.K. Downing Says Second KK's Priest Album Will Be More Collaborative Effort |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/k-k-downing-says-second-kks-priest-album-will-be-more-collaborative-effort/ |accessdate=13 June 2021 |website=Blabbermouth.net}} In 2023, KK's Priest released their second album The Sinner Rides Again.{{Cite web |last=Chantlerpublished |first=Chris |date=2023-09-26 |title=New KK's Priest album The Sinner Rides Again isn't reinventing any wheels, but when you have K.K. Downing and Tim 'Ripper' Owens together on this kind of form, who cares? |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/kks-priest-the-sinner-rides-again-review |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=louder |language=en}}

The band’s debut concert took place on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at KK Downing’s own concert venue, KK’s Steelmill in Wolverhampton, with supporting acts Paul Di’Anno and Tail Gunner.

File:KK Downing.png|Downing

File:Tim Ripper Owens.png|Owens

AJ.Mills

File:AJ Mills.png|Mills

File:Tony Newton.png|Newton

File:Sean Elg.png|Elg

• K. K. Downing – guitars (2019–present)
• Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals (2019–present)
• A.J. Mills – guitars, backing vocals (2019–present){{cite web |title=KK'S PRIEST - MEET THE BAND - FORMER JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST K.K. DOWNING INTRODUCES GUITARIST A.J. MILLS |url=https://bravewords.com/news/kk-s-priest-meet-the-band-former-judas-priest-guitarist-k-k-downing-introduces-guitarist-a-j-mills |website=bravewords.com |access-date=25 June 2024}}
• Tony Newton – bass, backing vocals (2020–present)
• Sean Elg – drums (2021–present)

• Les Binks – drums (2019–2021; occasional live performances from band inception to his death in early 2025)
• David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals (2019–2020){{Cite web |title=KK's Steel Mill |url=https://www.kkssteelmill.co.uk/event-more-live-with-deth.php |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=www.kkssteelmill.co.uk}}

Studio albums

• Sermons of the Sinner (2021)
• The Sinner Rides Again (2023)

Singles

• "Hellfire Thunderbolt" (2021){{Cite web |last=Neilstein |first=Vince |date=2021-05-12 |title=KK's Priest Unveil First Song, "Hellfire Thunderbolt" |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/05/12/kks-priest-unveil-first-song-hellfire-thunderbolt/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}
• "Sermons of the Sinner" (2021){{Cite web |last= |date=2021-06-16 |title=KK’S PRIEST: New Single - "Sermons of the Sinner" |url=http://devilsgatemusic.co.uk/kks-priest-new-single-sermons-of-the-sinner/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Devil's Gate Music |language=en-US}}
• "Brothers of the Road" (2021){{Cite web |last=Neilstein |first=Vince |date=2021-07-21 |title=Here's a New KK's Priest Song, "Brothers of the Road" |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/07/21/heres-a-new-kks-priest-song-brothers-of-the-road/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}
• "Raise Your Fists" (2021){{Cite web |last=Olivier |date=2021-08-25 |title=KK’s Priest featuring ex-Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing release video for single “Raise Your Fists” - Sleaze Roxx |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/kks-priest-featuring-ex-judas-priest-guitarist-k-k-downing-release-video-for-single-raise-your-fists/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=sleazeroxx.com |language=en-CA}}
• “One More Shot at Glory” (2023){{Cite web |date=30 June 2023 |title=KK DOWNING AND KK’S PRIEST ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, VIDEO & SINGLE, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH NAPALM RECORDS! |url=https://kkdowningofficial.com/news-article-3/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |language=en-US}}
• "Reap the Whirlwind" (2023){{Cite web |date=28 July 2023 |title=KK’S PRIEST REVEALS ELECTRIFYING NEW VIDEO & SINGLE “REAP THE WHIRLWIND”! |url=https://kkdowningofficial.com/news-article-4/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |language=en-US}}
• “Strike of the Viper” (2023){{Cite web |date=25 August 2023 |title=KK’S PRIEST UNLEASHES VENOMOUS NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “STRIKE OF THE VIPER”! |url=https://kkdowningofficial.com/news-article-7/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Judas Priest}}

Category:2020 establishments in England

Category:English musical quintets

Category:Heavy metal musical groups

Category:Judas Priest

Category:Musical groups established in 2020