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Glenn Tipton says that Kenneth “Ok.Ok.” Downing by no means approached any the members of JUDAS PRIEST about rejoining the band earlier than the launch of the “Firepower” world tour.
Ok.Ok. left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band battle, shoddy administration and declining high quality of efficiency.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he despatched two resignation letters to his bandmates when he determined to give up JUDAS PRIEST. The primary was described as “a sleek exit word, implying a clean retirement from music,” whereas the second was “angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with particular events.”
Downing later stated that he believed the second letter was “a key purpose” he wasn’t invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton‘s determination to retire from touring.
In a current problem of Guitar World, Tipton mirrored on Downing‘s determination to go away PRIEST greater than a decade in the past, saying: “We spoke about what was in all probability going to be our farewell tour, after which Ken give up. Nothing may have been worse as a result of after you play for all these years, you propose your farewell tour to log out in a great way. Impulsively, Ken give up and we did not know what to do. It was a nightmare. It was solely after we discovered Richie [Faulkner] that we realized we may go on and play the tour after which extra.”
Tipton went on to say that he discovered a few of Downing‘s accusations stunning.
“He left the band,” Glenn stated. “We could not persuade him to remain. After which he accused me of taking six years off to jot down two solo albums. I solely did the solo albums as a result of we have been inactive on the time whereas Rob [Halford, vocals] was doing his solo issues.”
When the interviewer introduced up Downing‘s declare that he was damage that he wasn’t requested to rejoin when Tipton introduced his retirement from touring, Glenn stated: “He by no means approached any of the band and requested to rejoin, so for all we knew, he did not need to rejoin. He stated he wished to go away the band after which go away the music trade. He informed us he was determined for a brand new type of life.
“Proper earlier than we acquired Richie, Ian [Hill, PRIEST bassist] stated, ‘Should you actually need to come again, you’d higher come again now’ as a result of we have been transferring on. However he did not do something. He did not ask to return again. After which after he was out, he stated all kinds of ridiculous issues. He tried to take credit score for almost every thing — the stage garments, the picture, the songwriting. He refers to them as his songs.
“He is acquired to be joking,” Tipton added. “All people is aware of who wrote the songs, and that is being variety. However regardless of the case was, we have at all times made it clear that the entire choices we made have been made by the band as an entire, with out exception. If anybody would not agree with one thing, it is not used. That is the best way we have at all times labored.”
The 70-year-old Downing, who wrote about his departure from PRIEST in his 2018 autobiography, “Heavy Responsibility: Days And Nights In Judas Priest”, stated final 12 months that he was sad with the band’s stay performances towards the tip as a result of Glenn “used to have too many beers earlier than and through the concert events on the time. And I do not know what was happening. We had phrases about it. However musically, we weren’t as footsure as I felt I wished to be. I wasn’t actually pleased with that. It was rock and roll. It is a kind of issues — it is rock and roll, otherwise you’re a band that basically desires to lock it in tight. And that is what I used to get off on musically — was being actually strong and locked in with these kick drums. You are both Keith Richards, and he is acquired a beer in a single hand and a cigarette within the different however you are still taking part in the guitar, otherwise you’re actually digging deep.”
Within the Guitar World interview, Tipton dismissed Downing‘s claims as “foolish”. “Everybody is aware of it isn’t true,” he stated. “Like I stated, the followers aren’t silly they usually’ve seen me for 50 years taking part in world wide. I’ll have had a few beers onstage, however that is all. It is by no means affected the live performance or my efficiency in anyway and he is aware of that.”
Tipton went on to say that he “used to piece [Downing‘s] leads collectively” within the studio. “I did numerous enhancing to make his lead breaks worthwhile,” he stated.
“I might by no means have talked about Ken that method,” he continued. “It is simply that his accusations have gotten sillier and sillier — and I deserve to reply. He left the band. We could not persuade him to remain. After which he accused me of taking six years off to jot down two solo albums. I solely did the solo albums as a result of we have been inactive on the time whereas Rob [Halford, vocals] was doing his solo issues.”
4 years in the past, Downing spoke in additional element about why he thinks Glenn‘s taking part in throughout JUDAS PRIEST‘s stay concert events had deteriorated towards the tip of his tenure with the band.
“Glenn, bless him, clearly. Not as if individuals would significantly discover, however there have been occasions when it was noticeable. I do say within the guide, I feel there have been occasions within the ’80s Glenn would — I do not know — get together too exhausting,” Ok.Ok. stated. “However that is his selection. It is rock and roll, and I am not one to really condone how individuals do it, how they do their present. I imply, it is rock and roll — numerous individuals go on the market with a bottle of Jack Daniel’s of their arms, or no matter they do. However there have been occasions earlier than — many occasions — and it made us all really feel nervous, that Glenn was simply extra of a rock and roll get together man the place the remainder of us have been… I might get nervous about my efficiency capability. I might wanna play completely each single evening, and that was me — that was how I do it. Clearly, afterward, Glenn [would enjoy his] beers, and that is innocent sufficient, however, after a degree, it begins to have an effect on the present a little bit bit. And I used to be getting nervous, the opposite guys have been nervous. When Ripper [singer Tim Owens] was within the band, he was nervous. It is no completely different… I imply, for those who’re in a automotive with a few mates, and the motive force is the one one which’s been consuming, and he is nonetheless having a couple of swigs within the automotive, do you like it to not be taking place if he is acquired your life in his arms? Nicely, if somebody’s acquired the gig of their arms, that is type of the way it feels — [it made us] a bit insecure; that is all. And it simply wasn’t for me. That was the primary factor. And it simply did not assist me benefit from the exhibits. If I am nervous, it would not assist me benefit from the present. I wanna hearken to the music being completely precision — all people locked into these kick drums and snare — and that is how I appreciated it… All people makes errors and all people generally is a bit sloppy at occasions if they are a bit drained they usually’re not feeling nice. But when it is self-induced, then that is not proper — it is what I feel. It is a little bit bit egocentric and thoughtless, and I’ll say that now. Nevertheless it’s to not say that rock and roll will not be rock and roll; it is a troublesome one for me. However that, with numerous different issues that have been happening, tipped me over the sting. If I had rode by that storm, I might in all probability nonetheless be on stage now. However who is aware of? It’s what it’s. Should you fall out along with your girlfriend, or if she falls out with you, if it isn’t reconciled pretty rapidly, any person may discover a completely different companion they usually get used to that completely different companion, and that is what occurred. So, [it’s] unhappy, actually, in a method. I used to be the one man… I might by no means achieved a solo profession — I by no means wished do. I by no means wished to have my very own site; by no means wished to promote my very own merchandise on the again of PRIEST. I used to be completely devoted.”
In “Heavy Responsibility: Days And Nights In Judas Priest”, Downing wrote that he informed Tipton and PRIEST co-manager Jayne Andrews that he had “hated” them each “since 1985.” Final 12 months, he defined his outburst to Traditional Rock journal: “I used to be offended. Glenn had fashioned a relationship with Jayne from day one, and it felt a bit like a John-and-Yoko state of affairs. I did not like that.”
Downing has referred to as Faulkner his “clone” and revealed that he “by no means discovered” Tipton “to be significantly straightforward to get together with. Very early on, I used to be absolutely conscious of the restricted circumstances below which he operated,” Ok.Ok. wrote in his guide. “Should you have been going to narrate to him, you’d achieve this totally on his phrases.”
