![Watch K.K. Downing Return to Stage After 10 Years](https://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2018/09/downing1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Watch K.K. Downing Return to Stage After 10 Years
Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing made his first large-scale live appearance in 10 years when he performed four songs with Ross the Boss at the U.K.’s Bloodstock festival this past weekend.
Downing joined the band to perform “Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown),” “Heading Out to the Highway,” “Breaking the Law” and “Running Wild.” The last time he played on a large stage was Oct. 17, 2009, as Priest completed a world tour. He left the band two years later.
You can watch clips from the new performance below.
“It was a bit of a whirlwind,” Downing told the Unchained Rock Show (via Blabbermouth) after the set. “I don’t know whether I dropped from a helicopter as a bungee jumper. Once I landed, after 20 seconds and realized where I was, I was good after that point.”
He noted that he didn't have much opportunity to rehearse with Ross’ band beforehand. “It was a jam, really," he said. "There was quite a bit of improvisation in there.”
The previously announced guest spot came about after Downing was invited to Bloodstock for a different reason.
“I was just meant to pick up an award,” he said. “The guys said, ‘Well, you’re gonna get onstage. You think you wanna put a guitar on?’ And I said … ‘What about jumping on with Ross?’ First and foremost, I didn't want it to be disruptive to their set. … I think it’s not a bad thing to try and do things like that. Maybe this could be first of many things.”
Judas Priest Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide
More From Ultimate Classic Rock
![Judas Priest Announce Fall 2024 North American Tour Dates With Sabaton](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2076590018.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Judas Priest 1984 to 2024 Set List Comparison: 40 Years of Steel](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2024/04/attachment-Priest8424.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How Judas Priest Made Their New Album With No Agendas: Interview](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2024/03/attachment-Judas-Priest.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Watch Judas Priest Perform ’80s Gem for First Time in 15 Years](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2024/03/attachment-judas_priest_richie_faulkner_rob_halford_2022.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Judas Priest Kicks Off Invincible Shield Tour: Videos, Set List](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2024/03/attachment-GettyImages-2076590018.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Judas Priest, ‘Invincible Shield': Album Review](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2024/01/attachment-Epic-Records.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How Judas Priest’s Power Trip Performance Almost Didn’t Happen](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2023/10/attachment-judas_priest_power_trip-3.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Hear Judas Priest’s New Single ‘Crown of Horns’](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2024/01/attachment-Judas-Priest.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![40 Years Ago: Judas Priest’s Underrated ‘Defenders of the Faith’](http://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2015/01/PriestDefenders.jpg?w=980&q=75)