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K.K. Downing press release

Dear friends,

It is with much regret that I will not be with you this summer. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your concerns about my health. Please rest assured that I am O.K.

There has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time.

Therefore I have decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to you, our cherished fans.

However I would urge you to please support the Priest as I have no doubt that it will be a show not to be missed.

All my love and respect,

KK

Judas Priest have announced that original guitarist K.K. Downing has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming Epitaph Tour. The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well. Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, singer Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis unanimously agreed that they should go ahead with the tour and not let fans around the world down.

Fate also stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement - 31 year-old British guitar player Richie Faulkner - he has blended into the band perfectly and is a great talent who is going to set the stage on fire, according to a press release.

The Epitaph Tour will include songs from every Priest studio album and also tracks that they have never before performed on stage plus all the old favourites.

With a new album due to be released next year, the 'metal gods' are preparing to tour the planet once more. Heavy metal at it's best complete with lasers, lights, bikes and hellfire! It's a show not too be missed!

Judas Priest Epitaph tour dates:

• 6/7 - Eindhaar - Tilburg, Holland
• 6/9 - Sweden Rock - Solvesborg, Sweden
• 6/11 - Sauna Festival - Tampere, Finland
• 6/14 - Spektrum - Oslo, Norway
• 6/15 - Edward Greig Plass - Bergen, Norway
• 6/17 - Copenhell Festival - Copenhagen, Denmark
• 6/19 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
• 6/20 - Le Zenith - Paris, France
• 6/22 - Gods of Metal Festival - Milan, Italy
• 6/23 - Sonisphere Festival - Switzerland
• 6/25 - Graspop Festival - Dessel, Belgium
• 6/27 - Zenith - Munich, Germany
• 6/28 - O2 Arena - Prague, Czech Republic
• 6/29 - Stadthalle - Vienna, Austria
• 7/1 - Belgrade Arena - Belgrade, Serbia
• 7/3 - Romexpo - Bucharest, Romania
• 7/5 - Water Park, P Faliro - Athens, Greece
• 7/8 - Akademik Stadium - Sofia, Bulgaria
• 7/10 - Kazlicesme Festival Site - Istanbul, Turkey
• 7/6 - Kautatzogleio Stadium - Thessaloniki, Greece
• 7/15 - Newport Centre - Newport, UK
• 7/16 - O2 Apollo - Manchester, UK
• 7/17 - The Dome - Doncaster, UK
• 7/19 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
• 7/20 - Metro Arena - Newcastle, UK
• 7/21 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, UK
• 7/23 - High Voltage Festival - London, UK
• 7/24 - BIC - Bournemouth, UK
• 7/27 - Atlantico Pavillion - Lisbon, Portugal
• 7/29 - Coliseum - La Coruna, Spain
• 7/30 - La Cubierta - Madrid, Spain
• 7/31 - Bec - Bilbao, Spain
• 8/2 - Badalona - Barcelona, Spain
• 8/5 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
• 8/7 - Colmar Wine Festival - Colmar, France
• 8/9 - O2 World - Berlin, Germany
• 8/10 - Metal Hammer Festival/Spodek - Katowice, Poland
• 8/11 - Sziget Festival - Budapest, Hungary
• 9/10 - Portuguesa Stadium - Sao Paulo, Brazil
• 9/11 - Citibank Hall - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• 9/13 - Chevrolet Hall - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• 9/15 - Nilson Nelson - Brasilia, Brazil
• 9/30 - Mexico City Sports Palace - Mexico City, Mexico
• 10/1 - Telmex Theater - Quadalajara, Mexico
• 10/3 - Banamex Theater - Monterrey, Mexico