Despite leaving in 2011, Judas Priest's longtime guitarist K.K. Downing has nothing but love for his former bandmates. More recently, many fans are rallying for the group and its previous members to gather together and perform the show of a lifetime; could this be possible?
According to Billboard, the band is set to receive their Musical Excellence Award at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on November 5 in Los Angeles, California.
In an email sent to the outlet from England where he's creating future projects, Downing said if they're eligible to play, it would be a "great night all around."
"It would be especially great to allow everyone the opportunity to experience and see and hear the sound and music of the classic Judas Priest one more time," he added.
The guitarist has since launched his own band called KK's Priest in 2020.
In a previous interview, frontman Rob Halford said he's delighted for their past members as there's no "bitterness" and "angst."
"You have to push it to the side and just understand and accept and respect this wonderful opportunity and what it represents in terms of recognition and a celebration," he added.
Aside from Downing, the special Rock Hall award will also be presented to former members Les Binks and the late Dave Holland, together with current members Scott Travis, Glenn Tipton, and Ian Hill.
Tipton has been battling Parkinson's disease but remains a writer and singer for the band; he also plays with them occasionally.
The former guitarist has contributed to every Judas Priest album, from their debut "Rocka Rolla" in 1974 to "A Touch of Evil: Live" in 2009.
He left the band in 2011 due to an ongoing breakdown in working connections between himself and elements of the band.
Downing got disappointed when the group didn't reach out to him when Tipton retired from regular touring in 2018.
He later expressed his dismay in his memoir "Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest."
The musician's latest comments come a few days after he mentioned that he was delighted with the honor but is still unsure if he will attend the ceremony later this year.
He also compared getting the honor to a Grammy nomination that they always get but rarely win.
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