K. K. Downing

Kenneth Downing Jr. ( born October 27, 1951 in West Bromwich, England) was a guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Judas Priest. He left the band on April 20, 2011.

Together with bassist Ian Hill, with whom he had previously worked together musically in a band called Freight, he is the founder of the band, which until today has the world's great success. Glenn Tipton and Rob Halford, Judas Priest are also known for, came only in 1972 and 1974 respectively to the belt. As Tipton and Halford, he was also one of the main songwriters of Judas Priest.

Biography

His early musical influences include Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Eric Clapton.

Of all the band members of Judas Priest, he was probably the hardest childhood. At 15, he was removed from his school, and he grew up in a working class family, he had poor prospects for the future. His dedication to music led ultimately to the fact that referenced his parents out of the house. Despite the great success with his music, his parents have never accepted his decision and rumored he should not have talked to them until today.

Downing lived from 1985 to 1990 in Spain, and then mainly in England. His main residence there is a £ 2 million expensive country house called Astbury Hall in Shropshire. This house was the subject of a multi-year legal dispute with his then-girlfriend Sarah Lissimore, which he but ultimately won.

His sudden exit with Judas Priest he not published his health but with differences between him, the management and the band.

Other musical activities

In addition to Judas Priest Downing has also in Violent Storm on the album Storm Warning (2006) worked as a guest musician.

In 2012 he played on The Who All Star Tribute album the song ( Opener) Eminence Front with John Wetton and Derek Sherinian one. The album was released by Cleopatra Records.

Name

After Downing had made a joke about the second K in his name during an interview on a radio show, many believed, his second first name is Kevin. 1984 but he then gave the real reason known:

" Kenneth Downing Jr. is my real name. A girl from Denmark could not pronounce it properly and called me ' KK '. Real shit. "

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