K.K. Downing has confirmed he’ll be performing with Judas Priest at the upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.
In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Downing said “I think we’ve probably got eight or nine minutes. I’m not even going to be able to break a sweat.”
He added, “The main thing is to represent the attitude and hopefully the legend of what Judas Priest is and has become and what it means to everybody who’s been on that very long journey through the decades with the band. And hopefully, it will just kind of remind people and bring back some cherished memories of the heavy metal parking lots all around the world.”
Downing left Priest in 2011 after being in the band for over 40 years. Despite not taking the stage with Priest in over a decade, the guitarist doesn’t seem phased about that.
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“It’s what I’ve done so many times. It’s almost like cracking a beer, let alone riding a bike,” said Downing.
He continued, “It’s embedded in me. It’s what I do. So, it’ll be quite something to look forward to, just to get up there and crank the amps up and just do it once again, for that short moment in time.”
The 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is taking place on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with an edited version of the ceremony set to air/stream on HBO and HBO Max at a later date. Along with Priest, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are also receiving the Rock Hall’s Musical Excellence Award. According to the Rock Hall, the award is, “Given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.”
Seven artists will be inducted into the “Performer Category” this year. They include Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon. The Early Influence Award will be given to Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten. The Ahmet Ertegun Award for industry professionals is going to Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine and Sylvia Robinson.