KK’S PRIEST, featuring former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing and Tim “Ripper” Owens, recently performed at the EPIC Event Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Their setlist, according to Setlist.fm, highlighted a blend of their own material and classic PRIEST tracks. Here’s a breakdown of their performance and the current status of the band:
Concert Setlist Highlights
- Hellfire Thunderbolt
- Strike Of The Viper
- One More Shot At Glory
- The Ripper (JUDAS PRIEST song)
- Reap The Whirlwind
- Night Crawler (JUDAS PRIEST song)
- Sermons Of The Sinner
- Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST song)
- Diamonds & Rust (Joan Baez cover)
- Hell Patrol (JUDAS PRIEST song)
- The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
- Before The Dawn (JUDAS PRIEST song)
- Breaking The Law (JUDAS PRIEST song)
- Sinner (JUDAS PRIEST song)
Encore: 15. Raise Your Fists
Tour and Recent Activities
- North American Tour: KK’S PRIEST is currently on a North American tour with ACCEPT. The tour started on August 31, 2024, and includes major cities in the USA and Canada, concluding on October 7, 2024, in San Francisco, California.
- First U.S. Headlining Tour: Their first-ever U.S. headlining tour took place earlier this year from March 7 to March 24, featuring L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES as support acts.
- New Album: KK’S PRIEST released their second album, The Sinner Rides Again, in September 2023 via Napalm Records. This follows their debut album, Sermons Of The Sinner, which came out in October 2021.
- Live Debut: The band made its live debut on July 6, 2023, at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, UK.
Background and Formation
- Formation: KK’S PRIEST was formed after K.K. Downing’s offer to rejoin JUDAS PRIEST for their 50th-anniversary tour was declined. Downing had previously performed with Ross The Boss and a one-off lineup that included David Ellefson and Les Binks.
- Previous JUDAS PRIEST Involvement: Downing left PRIEST in 2011, citing internal conflicts and dissatisfaction with management. He later revealed that his second resignation letter, which expressed his frustrations, might have been a factor in not being invited back.
- Owens’ Tenure with PRIEST: Tim “Ripper” Owens joined JUDAS PRIEST in 1996, recording two albums with them before the reunion with Rob Halford in 2003.
Recent Developments
- Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: In November 2022, K.K. Downing reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction, where PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award.
KK’S PRIEST’s blend of classic PRIEST hits and new material, coupled with their current tour and recent album release, highlights their ongoing commitment to heavy metal and their dedication to keeping the spirit of their music alive.
