Fan-filmed video of TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider’s solo performance on Sunday, January 16 at RokIsland Fest in Key West, Florida can be seen below.

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist was as follows:

01. I Gotta Rock (Again)
02. The Kids Are Back (TWISTED SISTER song)
03. You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll (TWISTED SISTER song)
04. Stay Hungry (TWISTED SISTER song)
05. Burn In Hell (TWISTED SISTER song)
06. The Beast (TWISTED SISTER song)
07. We’re Not Gonna Take It (TWISTED SISTER song)
08. Become The Storm
09. The Price (TWISTED SISTER song)
10. I Wanna Rock (TWISTED SISTER song)
11. Stand
12. Real Wild Child (Wild One) / Rock and Roll
13. White Christmas (Irving Berlin cover)
14. Highway To Hell (AC/DC cover)

Dee’s fifth solo album, “Leave A Scar”, was released last July via Napalm Records. Once again produced by HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta with co-production, mixing and mastering by drummer Nick Bellmore, “Leave A Scar” sees Dee continuing in the invigorated, modern direction of his previous release, “For The Love Of Metal”, infusing a dose of classic heavy metal flavor that longtime fans have rushed to embrace.

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled “Forty And Fuck It”, in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band’s “core lineup” of Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, and bassist Mark Mendoza, along with drummer Mike Portnoy. The band’s last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of drummer A.J. Pero.

TWISTED SISTER’s original run ended in the late ’80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows’ And Children’s Benefit Fund.

The surviving members of the classic lineup of TWISTED SISTER — Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza — reunited virtually on March 20, 2021 for a special episode of Mendoza’s Internet TV show “22 Now”. The hour-and-a-half-long program was a tribute to Pero, who died exactly six years earlier at the age of 55 while on tour with the band ADRENALINE MOB.

Prior to last March’s virtual reunion, the four surviving members of TWISTED SISTER reunited for two days and nights in November 2019 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the band’s classic album “Stay Hungry”.

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Swedish metallers SOILWORK have announced the addition of bassist Rasmus Ehrnborn to their ranks.

The band states: “We are pleased to finally welcome Rasmus Ehrnborn to the SOILWORK family and announce him as our official bass player and full-time member of the band.

“Rasmus has been onstage with us ever since the 2019 ‘Verkligheten’ campaign and recorded our EP ‘A Whisp Of The Atlantic’ as well as our upcoming album that is due this year. Rasmus is a world-class musician and has truly become an important member of the band, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for this new constellation”.

Ehrnborn adds: “For me, joining SOILWORK as a full-time member is a bit of a dream come true as I’ve been a big fan of the band for many years. Their musicianship and songwriting is out of this world, and after touring and recording with the guys these past few years I’ve come to consider them all dear friends. I’m humbled and proud to be a part of the next chapter of SOILWORK.”

SOILWORK is putting the finishing touches on its new studio album to be released later this year.

SOILWORK 2022 is:

Björn “Speed” Strid – vocals
David Andersson – guitars
Sven Karlsson – keyboards
Sylvain Coudret – guitars
Bastian Thusgaard – drums
Rasmus Ehrnborn – bass

SOILWORK was formed in Helsingborg in 1995. Following two highly acclaimed albums, “Steel Bath Suicide” (1998) and “The Chainheart Machine” (1999) on Listenable Records, SOILWORK joined the Nuclear Blast roster in 2001. The band’s unique blend of melodic metal developed at a staggering rate as they released a new bombshell each year, touring aggressively throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Some of the highlights included Ozzfest alongside headliners BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN and an arena tour with LAMB OF GOD and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Their latest release was the aforementioned “A Whisp Of The Atlantic” EP, featuring the 16-minute-title track.

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Finnish rock band THE RASMUS recently entered Finland’s annual Eurovision selection contest, “Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu” (UMK; The New Music Competition). The band has just released its Eurovision entry bid and new single, “Jezebel”, via Playground Music.

“Jezebel” was co-written and produced by Desmond Child, who collaborated with THE RASMUS on their seventh studio album “Black Roses”. Child is responsible for formulating some of rock’s biggest hits, with co-writer and production credits on iconic songs by KISS, BON JOVI, AEROSMITH and ALICE COOPER, to name a few.

Singer Lauri Ylönen comments: “It was awesome to work with Desmond again. He really knows how to put a hit song together.

“‘Jezebel’ is about a girl who takes what she wants, without asking. A free spirit.”

Speaking about the collaboration, Child says: “Lauri gives me a call and says ‘Hey, I need to write the biggest, greatest song in the entire world ever. Will you do it [with me]?’ and I said ‘Yeah, but I am in Folegandros (Greece)’ and he says, ‘I’ll be right there.’

“‘Jezebel’ is an homage, a tribute, to the strong women of today, who own their bodies, who are in charge of their sensuality, their sexuality, and who are determined to be an equal.”

The UMK winner and Finland’s next Eurovision Song Contest participant will be chosen at the UMK22 event in Turku Logomo on February 26, 2022. The final will be shown live on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle’s radio channels from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EET. The winner will be chosen by TV viewers and the international UMK jury. Those outside of Finland can watch the show at areena.yle.fi/tv.

Earlier in the month, THE RASMUS announced that founding guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi has left the band. Pauli commented: “I have decided to make my departure from the band and seek for new adventures and challenges in life.

“I want to thank everybody that has made this journey possible, especially all you amazing fans, for the best moments and memories. I love you.

“I’m eternally thankful to my band brothers for everything and wish the best from the bottom of my heart. Lauri, Aki and Eero, I love you.

“Music lives forever!

“This is not the end. It’s just time to turn the page.”

The remaining band members emphasize that it is an amicable split.

“We have always been like a family, more like brothers than a band,” says Lauri. “We are still very good friends, and we wish Pauli all the best.”

The torch is passed to Finnish guitarist and singer Emilia “Emppu” Suhonen. Speaking of her invitation to join the band, Emppu said: “I got a very surprising call in the fall and answered ‘yes.’ Although I was a bit nervous to go to the rehearsal room with the guys for the first time for a test drive, I still had a strong feeling that this would be a good thing. That feeling turned out to be right and playing together felt totally natural right from the first riff. I am THE RASMUS’s new guitarist, and it’s pretty insane to be on this ride.”

Emppu began playing the guitar when she was five years old and at 13, she made her album debut with the band TIKTAK, who went on to become one of Finland’s biggest rock bands in the early 2000s. Since then, she has played in several bands including DAME, ALAVALA and MIRA LUOTI, among other projects.

“At the moment, I’m getting ready for the UMK and the upcoming gigs with this awesome band I’m now in, THE RASMUS,” says Emppu. “Being part of this group is a dream come true on so many levels.”

Armed with a new arsenal of songs and a revitalized lineup, THE RASMUS will embark on a world tour in the fall of 2022.

THE RASMUS is:

Lauri Ylönen – vocals
Eero Heinonen – bass
Emppu Suhonen – guitars
Aki Hakala – drums

Photo credit: Venla Shalin

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HEART’s Ann Wilson has released a music video for her cover version of the ALICE IN CHAINS classic “Rooster”. You can now watch it below.

Wilson performed her version of “Rooster” when ALICE IN CHAINS was presented with the Museum Of Pop Culture (MoPOP) Founders Award in December 2020. “Rooster” is also the B-side on Ann’s limited-edition 45rpm single, available for purchase at AnnWilson.com.

In a December 2020 interview with the Seattle Times, Ann stated about her version of “Rooster”: “I wanted to remain true to the song as much as possible, but I wanted to make it my own. But really, honoring the original spirit of the song, which is cockroaches and flies and all this kind of stuff. [Laughs]. Before I knew what form the MoPOP thing was gonna take with the live performances, I made a video for ‘Rooster’ that was really dark. They decided not to use it because they wanted it to be a bunch of live performances. But sometime I’ll put that video out because it’s really cool. It’s just maggots and war stuff and darkness and insanity.”

When asked by Rock Cellar how she came to choose “Rooster” for her performance at the Museum Of Pop Culture event, Ann said: “Talking with [ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist] Jerry [Cantrell], who’s a friend, about which song I should do, I said, ‘How would you feel if I did ‘Rooster’?’ Because I’d sung with them on the record of ‘Rooster’ years ago. And he thought that was a really good idea, so that’s what we did.”

Back in 2006, ALICE IN CHAINS drummer Sean Kinney told The Aquarian Weekly about HEART: “Ann and Nancy are the most talented musicians and beautiful women I’ve ever met. They’re just so cool and genuine and not weird diva-ed out shitheads. The talent they have is overwhelming, and the music they’ve made over the years is flawless.

Cantrell concurred, saying: “I’m from Seattle, man. We didn’t have too many heroes coming out of our town. We had [Jimi] Hendrix and HEART, QUEENSRŸCHE and that was pretty much it. We didn’t have a lot of nationally respected acts, and those were the people we had and they were real fucking quality bands. Quality music and quality people as well. I’ve known the girls for many years now. Seattle’s not that big a town, so everybody pretty much knows everybody and we’ve spent many years hanging.”

Kinney added: “They’re really good friends, and we’re from the same town. I grew up holding their foldout albums in one hand, holed up in my room at night… Nah I’m just kidding. They just became really good friends and they’re such talented women with such amazing tunes. My sister turned me on to them when I was just a little kid, and I’ve been a fan ever since then. It’s been really weird to be able to become friends with them and have opportunities to play with them… They’ve got to be the best female rock stars of all time in my book.”

“The most powerful voice I’ve ever heard is Ann Wilson,” Cantrell said. “Hands down. And the guitar work and the singing that Nancy does is incredible too. It’s an amazing thing. They’re legends in my mind.

“It’s not like when Cher shows up and does ‘do you beLIEEEVE’ with a vocoder,” laughed Kinney. “Ann’ll just blow your brains out when she sings. I’ve been lucky enough to play with her and other singers are powerful, but if they don’t change the mix in your monitor, she gets up and it knocks you off your drum throne. It’s like, ‘Wow, that’s the shit right there.'”

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Nearly seven years after announcing that he would embark on a special tour during which he would perform ACCEPT songs one last time under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner before closing that chapter for good, former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider is continuing to play ACCEPT material at select shows, including at the September 18, 2020 U.D.O. concert in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which was released on DVD and Blu-ray in March 2021. Speaking to El Lado Oscuro about why the ACCEPT tracks are still finding their way into the U.D.O. setlist, Udo said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I was doing DIRKSCHNEIDER for nearly three years and played only ACCEPT songs for three years — I think nearly three hundred shows or whatever. And that was also not planned. It was normally planned to do maybe 10, 15 special shows, but then it was exploding. And after these three years, I really [wanted] to say, ‘Come on. I don’t wanna play now ACCEPT anymore.’ I mean, I have, at this time, 16 albums out with U.D.O., and I said, ‘Come on. We have enough own stuff.’ But then we did this Bulgarian show, and, of course, the promoter was, like, ‘It’s a special evening. Maybe you can play some ACCEPT songs.’ And I said, ‘Okay. Come on. It’s the only show this year. We put some ACCEPT songs into the setlist.’ And [in 2021] we had two shows — in Belgium [at the] Alcatraz festival and a festival in the Czech Republic, but this was under [the name] DIRKSCHNEIDER. So that was already normally planned also for 2020 for the ‘Metal Heart’ anniversary show. And then they said, ‘Okay, we wanna do these shows now.’ And then they said, ‘Okay, but you have to do it under DIRKSCHNEIDER.’ And then, let’s say in the end, for us, it doesn’t matter which name — DIRKSCHNEIDER, U.D.O. or whatever. And in the end, it also doesn’t matter what kind of songs we are playing except U.D.O.; for us, it was the most important thing to go on stage and play in front of people. And of course, the audience appreciated it. I mean, still they wanna hear these songs. Okay, I don’t have to make the whole evening ACCEPT songs.”

Dirkschneider went on to say that requests for him to keep playing ACCEPT material also came from promoters in America. “The promoter, they came up and said, ‘Yeah, a tour, blah blah blah.’ It’s also now moved to [2022]. And then they said, ‘Yeah, but we heard Udo doesn’t wanna play any ACCEPT songs,'” he said. “And then my management said, ‘Yeah.’ [And the promoter said] ‘Yeah, but he cannot do America without ‘Balls To The Wall’. It’s not possible.’ They were really asking, this has to be in the setlist. Then I said, ‘Okay. Come on.’ I know ‘Balls To The Wall’ in America is huge — a huge song. So I said, ‘Yeah. Come on. It doesn’t matter.’ And now, all the people, they come and [say], ‘Yeah, when you go on tour, maybe you can put three or four songs of ACCEPT in there.’ Of course, they’re always asking for ‘Balls To The Wall’, ‘Metal Heart’, ‘Fast As A Shark’ and, let’s say, ‘Restless And Wild’ or stuff like that. So we will see. Maybe on the next tour we put it in the end as an encore.

“In the end, [it’s about giving] people what they want,” Dirkschneider reasoned. “Somebody also was saying, ‘Can you imagine [a] DEEP PURPLE [concert] without [them playing] ‘Smoke On The Water’?’ I said, ‘Not really.’ So he said, ‘Okay. You’re in the same situation. They wanna hear some classic stuff.’ So that will be definitely happening.”

Last March, Udo confirmed to Canada’s The Metal Voice that U.D.O. will “definitely” play some ACCEPT songs if the band’s North American tour materializes in 2022.

When he first announced the DIRKSCHNEIDER tour in 2015, Udo said that had “to make a clear break for myself — close the book and this is it. And I have the problem that people come to me and ask me to play more ACCEPT songs,” he explained. “Other people ask me why I play ACCEPT songs at all, because there are [more than] fifteen U.D.O. records. I want to avoid such things and avoid the repeating questions concerning ACCEPT. I just can’t stand that anymore. There is nothing more to be said. U.D.O. exists longer than ACCEPT. We have more records than ACCEPT.”

While acknowledging that some ACCEPT fans wanted to hear the band’s classic songs performed by the group’s original singer, Dirkschneider explained at the time that “you always have these comparisons [between how these songs are played by ACCEPT and U.D.O.]. I don’t want this anymore either. [The current lineup of ACCEPT] also play ‘Metal Heart’, they play ‘Balls To The Wall’ and ‘Princess Of The Dawn’. And then some people tell me, ‘Oh, [current ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo] is doing it better than you.’ And I go, ‘That’s fine. Enjoy yourself.’ But I don’t want this anymore. And to avoid all of this in the future, I said, ‘We are doing this one more time.'”

Dirkschneider said in 2016 that his vow to never play ACCEPT material again came with one caveat. “If the band ACCEPT dissolves one day in the near future and I am still around with U.D.O., then there is a chance that I put ACCEPT songs back in the setlist,” he said. “But currently there is ACCEPT, so go see them [if you want to see those songs performed live]. They are playing these songs.”

Udo previously said the original plan was for DIRKSCHNEIDER to only “a few shows,” and “then [the tour] got bigger and bigger [due to demand].” But, he added, “I don’t want to complain about that.”

Back in 2018, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann declined to comment on Dirkschneider’s decision to embark on one final tour during which the singer would perform nothing but ACCEPT songs. “I have lots of thoughts about that, but I’m not gonna share ’em with you,” he told SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”. “I’d rather not comment on that, because that seems so much ‘back and forth,’ and I think I should stay away from it… You can draw your own conclusions all day long, but I’m not gonna get into it; it’s just not worth it.

“I get asked [about Udo] so many times, and, man, it’s been so many years — it’s such an old story by now,” Wolf continued. “We’ve moved on way past that, and we’ve had 10 brilliant years [with Mark Tornillo], we’re making cool albums; I think we’re doing fine. So I don’t spend any time thinking about it.

“I’m very proud of the history we have together and all that, but I’m just not gonna get into the current ‘he said, she said’ whatever — it’s not worth it,” Hoffmann concluded.

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Ted Nugent says that he doesn’t take his exclusion from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame personally.

The conservative rocker, who been eligible for the honor as a solo artist since 2000, has enjoyed a remarkably successful and eventful musical career over the past five decades, but his music is increasingly overshadowed by his political outbursts.

Asked in a recent interview with The Real Music Observer about the validity of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame considering that a number of rappers and non-rock artists have been inducted while other deserving acts have been overlooked, Nugent said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “When I criticize the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame… Let’s take me out of the equation. Let’s say I don’t qualify — which is ridiculous — but let’s pretend I don’t qualify. But why ABBA before STYX? Why Patti Smith before TRIUMPH? Why Grandmaster Flash or Jay-Z at all? I mean, to think that they would qualify before the artists I just mentioned, and myself included, it’s just dishonest and it’s literally disrespectful to the gods of this music — Chuck [Berry] and Bo [Diddley] and all the gods that created this incredible soundtrack. But I don’t take it personally because I don’t need it. And quite honestly, the authenticity of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has been so tainted by the inclusion of not just non-rockers but anti-rockers. Madonna? Really? So I find it offensive on that level.

“I go back to the people thinking I hated Grandmaster Flash,” he continued. “I don’t hate anybody… I don’t take this stuff personally but I find it offensive to real rockers, to real rock artists and to real rock and roll fans. Because Grandmaster Flash in the Rock And Roll… And I hope he’s happy, I hope he’s healthy and successful. But Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? Why don’t we just go down to Chuck Berry’s grave and take a shit on it? That’s what that represents to me. And it’s unforgivable.”

Ted has railed against the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame a number of times in the past, including in a 2017 interview with the Q103 radio station in Albany. At the time, he stated about his exclusion from the institution: “Jan Wenner, the founder of Rolling Stone [magazine] and the boss hog at Rock And Roll Of Fame, he hates freedom, he hates the Second Amendment, he hates me, because I’m on the board of directors — quite proudly — of the National Rifle Association for, like, twenty-six years with some of the highest votes except for Charlton Heston [NRA’s president]. And I couldn’t be more proud of that, ’cause the NRA is the ultimate family, grassroots organization that fights for the right to defend ourselves. What kind of numbnut would be against that? And so I’m on the board of directors of the NRA, Jan Wenner hates the Second Amendment, so that’s the only reason I’m not in the Rock And Roll Of Fame. And until they get their heads out of their ass, I’m more than happy to do what I do and do it with all the vim and vigor that I do it every night.”

Nugent added: “Hey, write this down. My name is Ted Nugent. I am the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Eat me!”

Asked if he would show up for his Rock Hall induction if he eventually got the nod, Nugent said: “Oh, hell yes! And you know what I would do? I would lead… I’ve seen a lot of the ceremonies, and they’re so moving. All of us that love music, how do you not just shed a tear of joy when you see Bob Seger and certainly ZZ TOP and Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley and James Brown… Are you kidding me? These are the gods of the soundtrack of our quality of life. But you know what I will do? And I will do it. I will lead the most important moment in the history of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, because I will get on bended knee and I will say a prayer for Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley and Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis and THE VENTURES and James Brown and Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding and the Motown Funk Brothers and THE BEATLES and THE [ROLLING] STONES and THE KINKS and Howlin’ Wolf and Buddy Guy and B.B. King and Freddie King and Albert King… you know what I’m saying? Because Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is paying tribute and homage to geniuses who gave us the ultimate soundtrack for our American Dream. I’m all in, man, I’m genuinely moved, and I’m glad there is a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”

Last July, Nugent resigned from the board of the NRA after 26 years, saying he was stepping down “due to constant scheduling conflicts.”

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Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim “Ripper” Owens has once again defended Kenneth “K.K.” Downing over the comments the ex-PRIEST guitarist made about his former bandmates in his 2018 autobiography, explaining that Downing is just telling the truth.

K.K. departed the iconic band 11 years ago but looked back on his time with the British metal titans in “Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest”, which came out in September 2018. The book, which was written with collaborator Mark Eglinton, covers all of the behind-the-scenes turbulence that led to Downing’s exit from PRIEST, including his strained relationship with guitarist Glenn Tipton and his gripes with certain managerial decisions.

During a new appearance on “The Jasta Show”, the podcast hosted by HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta, Owens said that Downing had every right to tell his story, including insider details on band collaborations and machinations. “Listen, he just told truths in the book,” Owens said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “He told truths, and you get crap for it. Unfortunately, that’s what happens. Should he have said all the things? He was hurt. Things happened. It didn’t go right. He talked about it in his book. If he didn’t tell those things and he made a book that was just about other stuff, people would have said, ‘Why didn’t he talk about the other stuff?’ And then you do the interviews, and people said, ‘K.K. needs to stop bringing these points up.’ And I’m, like, ‘Well, no. He’s being asked about these points. And then he’s answering the questions.’ And then it’s on the front of Blabbermouth that whatever…”

According to Owens, tensions between Downing and Tipton had been brewing for quite some time before K.K.’s exit from the group.

“I saw it during [the] ‘Demolition’ [album cycle],” he said. “We weren’t even together hardly at [the time we made] ‘Demolition’; it was never Glenn and Ken together ever. I would go to Ken’s house on the weekends and we would hang out and have a pint, play some snooker. And it was brewing then. And, obviously, money helps out, so you get [former singer] Rob [Halford] back and you get your millions back and you’re not playing [smaller venues] anymore.”

Tim, who recently launched a new band with K.K. called KK’S PRIEST, went on to say that Downing doesn’t ever bring up any grievances with his former bandmates during their interactions. “He still doesn’t say bad things about those guys when we’re together; he never talks bad about ’em — ever,” he said. “You know why? Because I don’t ask any questions about it. I’m not the guy interviewing him going, ‘So, what did….?’ I don’t really wanna know — I don’t wanna know about it. I read the book. I know what’s going on. All that stuff that he talked about, I knew half of it, that went on. But people ask him, so it sounds like he’s whining. He doesn’t walk into an interview going, ‘All right. Let me tell you about the dirty laundry. Let’s talk about this.'”

K.K., who is a founding member of the British heavy metal legends and was part of the group since 1969, announced his retirement from PRIEST in April 2011.

In 2018, Downing told Rolling Stone that he tried talking things out with Tipton to let his bandmate know what was bothering him about their working relationship before Downing exited PRIEST. “I did when it came to his drinking before and during the gig,” K.K. said. “That didn’t get me anywhere. It just made me nervous, because I’m a beer drinker and I know I couldn’t do that. It seemed to be slowing the show down as well.”

Downing confirmed that PRIEST’s roadies tried to limit Glenn’s alcohol intake by watering down his beer during live performances. “I just hated going on every night and wondering, ‘Are we together here?'” K.K. said. “It made me so fucking nervous. It wasn’t funny. Ripper [who was singing for PRIEST at the time] used to come over and tug at my stage clothes and say, ‘Do something.’ I’d go, ‘I’m playing the guitar, mate. I can’t do anything.’ Not that anybody probably noticed. I stopped enjoying playing. It got to me.”

Downing also said that he thought Tipton was controlling band decisions, such as when PRIEST toured. Asked if he ever discussed that with Glenn, Downing said: “The thing was, so much of it went on [behind the scenes], and we knew, but there was never any kind of proof. You can’t make an issue out of something you can’t back up. For the most part, it was done in a certain way. You knew it was done, but you couldn’t make an issue out of it. Sadly.”

Downing claimed that the other members of JUDAS PRIEST felt pretty much the same way as he did about Glenn’s control issues, which is why K.K. thought it was odd that he wasn’t approached to rejoin the band following Tipton’s decision to retire from the road due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease. “Yeah, because they all knew my problem was with Glenn with the beer drinking and the decision-making with him and [management],” Downing said. “I was just tired of it. I felt like I was working a nine-to-five job and the other guys felt the same. There’s no doubt in my mind their preference would have been to have me in the band, because why wouldn’t you?”

PRIEST recruited Owens in 1996 and released two studio albums, 1997’s “Jugulator” and 2001’s “Demolition”, before reuniting with Halford in 2003.

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