Heavy Duty

'A must for fans and rock buffs' The Sun 'Fascinating read' Powerplay Judas Priest formed in Birmingham in 1969. With its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs-and-leather image, and international sales of over 50 million records, Judas Priest became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s. Iconic tracks like 'Breaking the Law', 'Living after Midnight', and 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' helped the band achieve extraordinary success, but no one from the band has stepped out to tell their or the band's story until now. As the band approaches its golden anniversary, fans will at last be able to delve backstage into the decades of shocking, hilarious, and haunting stories that surround the heavy metal institution. In Heavy Duty , guitarist K.K. Downing discusses the complex personality conflicts, the business screw-ups, the acrimonious relationship with fellow heavy metal band Iron Maiden, as well as how Judas Priest found itself at the epicentre of a storm of parental outrage that targeted heavy metal in the '80s. He also describes his role in cementing the band's trademark black leather and studs image that would not only become synonymous with the entire genre, but would also give singer Rob Halford a viable outlet by which to express his sexuality. Lastly, he recounts the life-changing moment when he looked at his bandmates on stage during a 2009 concert and thought, 'This is the last show'. Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, K.K. doesn't hold back. From the band at the very beginning until his retirement in 2011 (and even still as a member of the band's board of directors), Downing has seen it all and is now finally at a place in his life where he can also let it all go. Even if you're a lifelong fan, if you think you know the full story of Judas Priest, well, you've got another thing coming.

'A must for fans and rock buffs' The Sun 'Fascinating read' Powerplay Judas Priest formed in Birmingham in 1969. With its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs-and-leather image, and international sales of over 50 million records, Judas Priest became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s. Iconic tracks like 'Breaking the Law', 'Living after Midnight', and 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' helped the band achieve extraordinary success, but no one from the band has stepped out to tell their or the band's story until now. As the band approaches its golden anniversary, fans will at last be able to delve backstage into the decades of shocking, hilarious, and haunting stories that surround the heavy metal institution. In Heavy Duty , guitarist K.K. Downing discusses the complex personality conflicts, the business screw-ups, the acrimonious relationship with fellow heavy metal band Iron Maiden, as well as how Judas Priest found itself at the epicentre of a storm of parental outrage that targeted heavy metal in the '80s. He also describes his role in cementing the band's trademark black leather and studs image that would not only become synonymous with the entire genre, but would also give singer Rob Halford a viable outlet by which to express his sexuality. Lastly, he recounts the life-changing moment when he looked at his bandmates on stage during a 2009 concert and thought, 'This is the last show'. Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, K.K. doesn't hold back. From the band at the very beginning until his retirement in 2011 (and even still as a member of the band's board of directors), Downing has seen it all and is now finally at a place in his life where he can also let it all go. Even if you're a lifelong fan, if you think you know the full story of Judas Priest, well, you've got another thing coming.

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, Judas Priest, with its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs and leather image, became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s with international sales of over 50 million records. Iconic tracks like 'Breaking the Law', 'Living after Midnight' and 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' helped the band achieve extraordinary success in America but, as popular as they've been over the past five decades, no one from the band has stepped out of the stage lights to tell their or the band's story. Well, founding member K.K. Downing has had enough of that. As the band approaches its golden anniversary, fans will at last be able to delve backstage into the decades of shocking, hilarious, and haunting stories that surround the heavy metal institution. Downing discusses frontman Rob Halford's hidden sexuality, the personality conflicts (particularly with Glen Tipton), the business screw-ups, the acrimonious relationship with fellow heavy metal band Iron Maiden, and how Judas Priest was at ground zero for the parental outrage against heavy metal in the '80s, blaming it for the rampant drug abuse and suicides among teenagers. He reveals the life-changing moment when he looked at his bandmates on stage during a 2010 concert and thought, 'This is the last show'. Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, K.K. doesn't hold back. From the band at its beginning to his retirement in 2010 (and even still as a member of the band's board of directors), Downing has seen it all and is now finally at a place in his life where he can also let it all go. Even if you're a lifelong fan, if you think you know the full story of Judas Priest, well, you've got another thing coming.

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, Judas Priest, with its distinctive twin-guitar sound, studs and leather image, became the archetypal heavy metal band in the 1980s with international sales of over 50 million records. Iconic tracks like 'Breaking the Law', 'Living after Midnight' and 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' helped the band achieve extraordinary success in America but, as popular as they've been over the past five decades, no one from the band has stepped out of the stage lights to tell their or the band's story. Well, founding member K.K. Downing has had enough of that. As the band approaches its golden anniversary, fans will at last be able to delve backstage into the decades of shocking, hilarious, and haunting stories that surround the heavy metal institution. Downing discusses frontman Rob Halford's hidden sexuality, the personality conflicts (particularly with Glen Tipton), the business screw-ups, the acrimonious relationship with fellow heavy metal band Iron Maiden, and how Judas Priest was at ground zero for the parental outrage against heavy metal in the '80s, blaming it for the rampant drug abuse and suicides among teenagers. He reveals the life-changing moment when he looked at his bandmates on stage during a 2010 concert and thought, 'This is the last show'. Whatever the topic, whoever's involved, K.K. doesn't hold back. From the band at its beginning to his retirement in 2010 (and even still as a member of the band's board of directors), Downing has seen it all and is now finally at a place in his life where he can also let it all go. Even if you're a lifelong fan, if you think you know the full story of Judas Priest, well, you've got another thing coming.