The highly anticipated North American tour for KK’s Priest, featuring the formidable talents of former Judas Priest members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals), commenced last night, Thursday, September 10th, at The Magnolia in El Cajon, California. The band, rounded out by guitarist A.J. Mills (Hostile), bassist Tony Newton (Voodoo Six), and drummer Sean Elg (Deathriders, Cage), served as the "very special guest" for W.A.S.P.’s "1984 To Headless" tour, a run scheduled to span across the United States and Canada through October 31st.
The opening night’s performance in El Cajon saw KK’s Priest deliver a compelling 12-song setlist that masterfully navigated the band’s burgeoning catalog and the iconic legacy of Judas Priest. Notably, the set included renditions of "Heading Out To The Highway" and "You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’," two Judas Priest anthems that have not previously been part of KK’s Priest’s live repertoire, marking a significant expansion of their performance offerings. This strategic inclusion signals a commitment to honoring the rich history associated with their esteemed members while simultaneously showcasing their own evolving sound.
Beyond these new additions, the band ignited the crowd with a robust selection of Judas Priest classics, including the universally recognized "Breaking The Law" and the driving force of "Turbo Lover." Complementing these timeless hits were a pair of tracks from each of KK’s Priest’s studio albums: 2021’s debut, "Sermons Of The Sinner," and its 2023 follow-up, "The Sinner Rides Again." This balanced approach underscores the band’s dual mission: to celebrate the enduring power of Judas Priest’s music and to establish their own distinct identity within the heavy metal landscape.
A Setlist Forged in Metal History
The meticulous setlist curated for the El Cajon show, as documented by Setlist.fm, offers a clear insight into KK’s Priest’s live strategy. The concert opened with the thunderous declaration of "You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’," immediately drawing a strong reaction from the audience. This was swiftly followed by the anthemic "Breaking The Law," a song that has become synonymous with Judas Priest’s influence. The early part of the set continued to tap into the wellspring of Priest classics with "Living After Midnight," setting a high-energy tone.
The band then transitioned to their original material, showcasing "Strike Of The Viper," "One More Shot At Glory," and "Hellfire Thunderbolt" from their own albums, demonstrating their capacity to craft material that resonates with the spirit of their legendary predecessors. The latter half of the set saw a powerful resurgence of Judas Priest material, including the highly anticipated "Heading Out To The Highway." The performance continued with deep cuts and fan favorites such as "Beyond The Realms Of Death," "The Sentinel," "Victim Of Changes," and the energetic "Turbo Lover." The evening concluded with the powerful call to arms, "Raise Your Fists," an original track from KK’s Priest, leaving the audience with a lasting impression of both heritage and innovation.
The Genesis of KK’s Priest and the Shadow of Judas Priest
The formation of KK’s Priest is a narrative deeply intertwined with the history of Judas Priest itself. K.K. Downing, a foundational architect of Judas Priest’s iconic sound and visual identity, established KK’s Priest following an unsuccessful attempt to rejoin his former band for their 50th-anniversary tour. In a December 2024 interview with Australia’s Metal Mal, Downing elaborated on the circumstances surrounding his departure from Judas Priest in 2011, citing issues that included band conflict, what he perceived as shoddy management, and a decline in performance quality. His departure led to his replacement by Richie Faulkner, who is nearly three decades younger.
Downing’s desire to contribute to the Judas Priest legacy was evident in his outreach to the band in 2019 regarding their 50th-anniversary tour. However, he stated that the band’s response indicated they were not interested in his inclusion in those celebrations. This period of estrangement from Judas Priest was preceded by a series of significant stage appearances. In the summer of 2019, Downing made celebrated appearances with Ross The Boss, the former guitarist of Manowar. Later that same year, he performed with a notable one-off lineup that included former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and former Judas Priest drummer Les Binks, hinting at a continued drive to perform and create music.
The impetus for forming KK’s Priest became even clearer when Downing revealed in 2018 that he had submitted two resignation letters to his Judas Priest bandmates. The first was characterized as a "graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was described as "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties." Downing later suggested that this second, more impassioned letter might have been a "key reason" he was not invited to rejoin the band when guitarist Glenn Tipton made the decision to retire from touring.
Tim "Ripper" Owens: A Voice of a Different Priest Era
The inclusion of Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals is a crucial element of KK’s Priest’s identity. Owens, who joined Judas Priest in 1996, fronted the band for two studio albums, "Jugulator" (1997) and "Demolition" (2001), before Rob Halford’s triumphant return in 2003. His tenure represented a distinct chapter in Judas Priest’s discography, marked by a more aggressive and contemporary sound.
Owens’ perspective on the band’s setlist and the audience’s reception of Judas Priest songs is particularly insightful. In the aforementioned Metal Mal interview, he addressed the band’s approach to performing songs that Judas Priest itself may not frequently play or has never performed live. "Oh, we did do, yeah," Owens stated, referencing their performances of tracks like "Before The Dawn," a song he asserted Judas Priest never performed live. He also noted that K.K. Downing was "100 percent [sure] they never played it live ever."
The dynamic of their setlist evolution was further detailed by Owens. "Yeah, we did some changes [to KK’s Priest’s setlist]," he explained. "Earlier in the year, we did ‘Beyond Realm Of Death’ and ‘Victim Of Changes,’ and this time we did ‘Diamonds And Rust,’ the version that I did with the band, that version with the high notes at the end, ‘Before The Dawn’ and ‘Sinner.’ So we did it a little bit different."
However, Owens also highlighted the challenges and audience feedback regarding their setlist. "I would like to [play more songs Priest has never performed live]," he admitted. "The problem is we kind of split it half and half. The biggest complaint we actually get is that we don’t do more [songs] of my era [of Priest]. We do one song, ‘Burn In Hell.’ So that’s actually what we get the most, is how come we’re not doing more of [the material I recorded with Priest]. But it’s a hard thing. The problem is we’re not an old, established band. We get together and we learn these songs. We have the screens that go to it in the background. You just can’t change your setlist and learn new songs while you’re on the road and doing it. Other bands can…" Despite these logistical hurdles, Owens concluded that it is "a good setlist we have."
The Musical Foundation: Albums and Influences
KK’s Priest’s sonic identity is built upon the foundation of their two studio albums. "Sermons Of The Sinner," released in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records, marked Downing’s full-scale return to recording and performing. Downing was deeply involved in the creation of this album, spending four months writing and recording. The album not only presented new musical ideas but also saw him revive archived riffs dating back to the 1980s, weaving a tapestry of his creative past and present.
The band’s sophomore effort, "The Sinner Rides Again," arrived in September 2023 through the Austrian label Napalm Records. This album further solidified KK’s Priest’s musical direction, building upon the themes and sounds established in their debut. The band made its live debut on July 6, 2023, at Downing’s own KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, a venue that bears his name and serves as a testament to his enduring commitment to the metal community.
Broader Context and Future Implications
The tour with W.A.S.P. places KK’s Priest in a prominent supporting role, exposing them to a wide audience of established metal fans. W.A.S.P., led by the enigmatic Blackie Lawless, has carved out a significant niche in heavy metal history with their theatrical performances and hard-hitting music. This pairing is a natural fit, as both bands carry a legacy of aggressive, no-holds-barred metal rooted in the 1980s. The "1984 To Headless" tour itself is a nod to W.A.S.P.’s seminal album and their ongoing exploration of darker, more confrontational themes.
The success of KK’s Priest on this tour could have significant implications for the future of the band and the careers of its members. For K.K. Downing, it represents a powerful continuation of his musical journey, allowing him to perform the music he helped define and to forge new ground with his own material. For Tim "Ripper" Owens, it offers another platform to showcase his formidable vocal prowess and his unique connection to the Judas Priest legacy, addressing the fan demand for more material from his era.
The band’s strategy of blending classic Judas Priest tracks with their original songs appears to be a calculated approach to honor their heritage while establishing their own artistic merit. The audience’s reception to the new Judas Priest songs performed live by KK’s Priest, such as "Heading Out To The Highway" and "You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’," will be a key indicator of their ability to connect with fans on a deeper level, beyond the established catalog.
Furthermore, K.K. Downing’s reunion with Judas Priest for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, though a single event, highlights the complex and often intertwined relationships within iconic bands. While this reunion demonstrated a potential for reconciliation, the subsequent formation of KK’s Priest underscores Downing’s ongoing desire to actively shape his musical destiny.
The strategic use of original songs alongside beloved Judas Priest classics is a delicate balance. The feedback Owens mentioned regarding the desire for more songs from his Judas Priest era suggests a passionate fanbase that embraces all facets of the band’s history. KK’s Priest’s ability to navigate these expectations, while also pushing their own creative boundaries, will be crucial to their long-term success. The tour with W.A.S.P. provides an essential proving ground for this endeavor, offering them the opportunity to solidify their place in the contemporary metal scene. The road ahead for KK’s Priest, much like the anthems they perform, promises to be one filled with power, passion, and the enduring spirit of heavy metal.
