Glenn Tipton breaks silence over accusations from former guitarist K.K. Downing

Anyone who knows the history of Judas Priest knew that K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton had a rocky relationship. K.K. thought Glenn was a show off, arrogant, even reckless at times. Glenn comes clean about his take on those accusations.

In a recent interview with Guitar World, Glenn Tipton sets the record straight about many of the accusations about him from former Judas Priest axe slinger K.K. Downing over the last few years, ever since Downing's departure from the band in 2011.

In both the press and his 2018 memoir Heavy Duty: Nights and Days in Judas Priest, Downing aired the issues he had with Tipton in addition to management. Downing had stated that his creative role in Judas Priest was almost constantly undermined or held back due to one reason or another or that he was the one responsible for introducing the studded leather look

Tipton says "I never wanted to get into a public argument after K.K. left. I never said a word, and I stuck to my guns for over 10 years, but there comes a point when you read things that have been said that are just crazy. It's time to say something, really, because he's saying things that he really shouldn't be saying. They're aren't fair."

Glenn had stepped back from the band in 2018, due to his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. He continued. "He's insinuated that he was the driving force of the band. It just isn't true. Priest [is] made up of five guys working together. [There's] not just one person driving the band. He's said all these things that, I think, are meant to upset us and get us to say something in response and for a long time we didn't. But I've got a lot to say and enough's enough."

In the book and interview with Guitar World, Downing states that Judas Priest's performances were often hampered by Tipton's onstage drinking. Tipton fired back. "Everyone knows it's not true. Like I said, the fans aren't stupid and they've seen me for 50 years playing around the world. I may have had a couple of beers on stage, but that's all. It's never affected my the concert or my performance whatsoever and he knows that."

Tipton also said that Downing's work in the studio was not up to scratch and that he "used to piece [Downing's] leads together." "I did a lot of editing to make his breaks worthwhile." Going back to the concept of being hesitant to speak on things Downing had said, Tipton said "I would never have talked about Ken that way. It's just that his accusations have gotten sillier and sillier - and I deserve to respond. He left the band. We couldn't convince him to stay. And then he accused me of taking six years off to write two solo albums. I only did the solo albums because we were inactive at the time while Rob was doing his solo things."

Elsewhere, Richie Faulkner, former guitarist for hard rock singer Lauren Harris and now Judas Priest, says he wishes both sides could put aside their differences of the last 10 years. He replaced Downing in 2011. "To me, music aside, they should maybe pickup the phone and just talk to each other as buddies and go and have a beer and just be pals. You know, f--- music for a minute' let's just be pals. And then whatever happens, happens." said Faulkner

Glenn Tipton denies KK Downing's "crazy" Judas Priest stories

It's been forever known that, while both KK Downing and Glenn Tipton were the twin lead guitarists of Judas Priest, outside their leather-clad guitar playing time, the two weren't friendly with each other. Glenn is now coming out with his two cents on the "crazy" stories from KK

Glenn Tipton recently heard about some of the stories KK had said and he said that's "just crazy". Downing had quit Judas Priest in 2011, citing tensions with management and Tipton as being some of the reasons, according to his 2018 memoir Heavy Duty: Nights and Days in Judas Priest. The band was due to start their Epitaph tour when Downing quit. He was quoted as saying "an ongoing breakdown in working relationships between myself, elements of the band and management for some time." He also revealed in his memoir that he "never found Glenn to be particularly easy to get along with" and "If you were going to relate to him, you would do so entirely on his terms".

Downing now performs with former vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens. He had expected Judas Priest to quit after the Epitaph tour. But he said "They didn't want any part of me, even though I was one of the original members."

Tipton now gets to put his two cents in on the subject in an interview with Guitar World. "I never wanted to get into a public argument after KK left. I never said a word and I stuck to my guns for 10 years, but there comes a point when you read things that have been said that are just crazy. It's time to say something, really because he's saying things that he really shouldn't be saying. They aren't fair. He's insinuated that he's the driving force of the band. It just isn't true. Priest [are] made up of five guys working together. [There's] not just one person driving the band. He's said all these things that, I think, are meant to upset us and get us to say something in response and for a long time we didn't. But I've got a lot to say and enough's enough."

Tipton took offense to Downing's accusations that Tipton's pre-show drinking and post-show drinking was "slowing us down". "Everyone knows it's not true. Like I said, the fans aren't stupid and they've seen me for 50 years playing around the world. I may have had a couple of beers onstage, but that's all. It's never affected the concert or my performance whatsoever and he knows that."

Tipton also claimed that he "used to piece [Downing's] leads together" in the studio and "did a lot of editing to make his lead breaks worthwhile." Tipton had all but retired full time from touring in 2015 after receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. He remains "actively involved" with the band and will still join them onstage. The band recently announced they would tour as a four-piece unit with one guitarist when they resumed their 50 Heavy Metal Years tour in March, but they decided against it and would return to the five-man band with guitarists Andy Sneap and Richie Faulkner

Glenn Tipton will be part of next Judas Priest album

Producer Andy Sneap says that former Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton will be part of the next Judas Priest album.

Despite stepping away from the band after his initial diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, Tipton is still very much part of the band's songwriting process. During a podcast called No F---in Way with Robb Flynn, Andy Sneap had this to say

"[He is] still very much part of Judas Priest.". Sneap added that "he's still involved with the songwriting."

"Even if have to bit pieces together, he's still gonna be a major part of it. It's just the physical aspect of him going up there and doing it. And especially with what's happening now in the world, it's just not something you can consider at the moment."

He opened up about Tipton's health, stating "It's tough, because Glenn's a good friend now, after working with him for a few years...but seeing what the guy is going through, and he's so determined. I'll see him at the studio, and he'll be struggling, if I'm honest, but he's so determined. And it must be frustrating for him, someone who's lived his whole life in Judas Priest - 50 years. It's a rotten thing to actually happen to anyone, but to happen to a guitarist of his caliber..."

Singer Rob Halford, currently supporting the release of his memoir Confess, told Full Metal Jackie what they were going to do for the band's next album. "It's very important to look back at your past experiences. That is what we do in bands. We look at where we've gone and what we've said. We're always kind of reevaluating where are and what we're working on now and I think the world already knows that Priest has started to follow up to Firepower and it's starting to come together and sounding incredible. So this whole focus of living in the moment but also getting ready for what's coming next is what drives us and so that's where we are with Priest right now."

October birthdays

 Since it's October, time to say Happy Birthday

KK Downing

-Birth name: Kenneth Kevin Downing

-DOB: 10/27/1951

-Where: West Bromwich, England

-He left Judas Priest in 2011, citing reasons such as disagreements between him, management and elements of the band

Tommy Lee

-Birth name: Thomas Lee Bass

-DOB: 10/3/1962

-Where: Athens, Greece

-The only member of Motley Crue not born in the US

Hugh Jackman

-Birth name: Hugh Michael Jackman

-DOB: 10/12/1968

-Where: Sydney, Australia

-Met his wife Deborrah-Lee Furness on the set of an Australian prison drama called Corelli

Brian Johnson

-Birth name: Brian Francis Johnson

-DOB: 10/5/1947

-Where: Dunston, United Kingdom

-Became the singer for AC/DC in 1980, shortly after the death of original front man Bon Scott

Kate Winslet

-Birth name: Kate Elizabeth Winslet

-DOB: 10/5/1975

-Where: Reading, United Kingdom

-Known for playing headstrong, outgoing characters

Sting

-Birth name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

-DOB: 10/2/1951

-Where: Wallsend, Newcastle, England

-Earned his nickname "Sting" from his habit of wearing a black and yellow striped sweater during his days with the Phoenix Jazzmen

Chris Slade

-Birth name: Christopher Slade Rees

-DOB: 10/30/1946

-Where: Pontypridd, United Kingdom

-He started drumming with AC/DC from 1989-1994, on their album The Razors Edge

Glenn Tipton

-Birth name: Glenn Raymond Tipton

-DOB: 10/25/1947

-Where: Blackheath, United Kingdom

-Was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2015 and his last official tour with the band was 2015's Redeemer of Souls. He still wrote music for the band's next album, Firepower, and the songs are credited to him, but producer Andy Sneap played guitar in his place on tour

Mikkey Dee

-Birth name: Micael Kiriakos Delaglou

-DOB: 10/31/1963

-Where: Gothenburg, Sweden

-Drummed for Motorhead from 1991-2015, when the band disbanded after frontman/bassist Lemmy Kilmister's death. He now drums for German rock band The Scorpions

"Fast" Eddie Clarke

-Birth name: Edward Allan Clarke

-DOB: 10/5/1950

-Where: Twickenham, United Kingdom

-DOD: 1/10/2018

-Where: London, United Kingdom

-Played guitar in Motorhead and side band Fastway with former UFO member Pete Way

John Lennon

-Birth name: John Winston Ono Lennon

-DOB: 10/9/1940

-Where: Liverpool, England

-DOD: 12/8/1980

-Where: New York (murder)

-Changed his name to John Winston Ono Lennon after falling in love with artist Yoko Ono

October Birthdays

Since it's October, time to say Happy Birthday!! I do apologize for not doing this in October. I had a lot going on at work and was working 12 hour, almost 13 hour days since November 11

Sting

-Birth name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

-DOB: 10/2/1951

-Where: Wallsend, Newcastle, England

-Earned the nickname "Sting" from his habit of wearing a yellow and black striped sweater in the early days of him being a musician, which led some to say he looked like a wasp or hornet

Tommy Lee

-Birth name: Thomas Lee Bass

-DOB: 10/3/1962

-Where: Athens, Greece

-He is the only non-American born member of Motley Crue

Kate Winslet

-Birth name: Kate Elizabeth Winslet

-DOB: 10/5/1975

-Where: Reading, Berkshire, England

-She is known for performing in tragedies and period dramas, such as those of novels by Jane Austen

Brian Johnson

-Birth name: Brian Francis Johnson

-DOB: 10/5/1947

-Where: Dunston, England

-He was so afraid of being fired from AC/DC he actually asked for his vocals to be wiped at the end of 1980's Back in Black because he thought he wasn't a good singer

Glenn Tipton

-Birth name: Glenn Raymond Tipton

-DOB: 10/25/1947

-Where: Blackheath, England

-Because of his playing style, he sometimes clashed with fellow Judas Priest axe slinger KK Downing

K.K. Downing

-Birth name: Kenneth Kevin Downing

-DOB: 10/27/1951

-Where: West Bromwich, England

-His father was a severe gambling addict and whenever money would come into the house, it would automatically go to feed his father's gambling addiction

John Lennon

-Birth name: John Winston Ono Lennon

-DOB: 10/9/1940

-Where: Liverpool, England

-DOD: 12/8/1980

-Where: New York City, New York (murder)

-He was often known as the "sarcastic Beatle"

Hugh Jackman

-Birth name: Hugh Michael Jackman

-DOB: 10/12/1968

-Where: Sydney, Australia

-In addition to acting, he can also sing and dance

Chris Slade

-Birth name: Christopher Slade

-DOB: 10/30/1946

-Where: Pontypridd, United Kingdom

-Joined AC/DC as the drummer in 1990

Hiroyuki Sanada

-DOB: 10/12/1960

-Where: Shinagawa,  Tokyo, Japan

-Almost always plays a samurai-type role in films

October Birthdays

Since it's October, time to say Happy Birthday!!!

Julie Andrews

-Birth name: Julia Elizabeth Andrews

-DOB: 10/1/1935

-Where: Walton-on-Thames, United Kingdom

-Her Broadway debut was in The Boy Friend

Sting

-Birth name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

-DOB: 10/2/1951

-Where: Wallsend, Newcastle, United Kingdom

-Got his nickname "Sting" from his days in the Phoenix Jazzmen, when one of the band members noticed his black and yellow striped shirt and remarked that he looked like a hornet

Tommy Lee

-Birth name: Thomas Lee Bass

-DOB: 10/3/1962

-Where: Athens, Greece

-Has a rap-metal band on the side called Methods of Mayhem

Kate Winslet

-Birth name: Kate Elizabeth Winslet

-DOB: 10/5/1975

-Where: Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom

-She is best known for working in tragedies and dramas

Parminder Nagra

-Birth name: Parminder Kaur Nagra

-DOB: 10/5/1975

-Where: Leicester, United Kingdom

-She is best known for her role in the film Bend It Like Beckham

Brian Johnson

-Birth name: Brian Francis Johnson

-DOB: 10/5/1947

-Where: Dunston, United Kingdom

-His first album with AC/DC was 1980's Back in Black

Glenn Tipton

-Birth name: Glenn Raymond Tipton

-DOB: 10/25/1947

-Where: Blackheath, United Kingdom

-He is one of the longest-serving members of heavy metal band Judas Priest

KK Downing

-Birth name: Kenneth Kevin Downing

-DOB: 10/27/1951

-Where: West Bromwich, United Kingdom

-Earned his nickname "KK" from the fact that in the early days, he met a girl who couldn't pronounce his first name, so she just nicknamed him "KK"

Hugh Jackman

-Birth name: Hugh Michael Jackman

-DOB: 10/12/1968

-Where: Sydney, Australia

-Known for his wide variety of roles, from period drama, to action, to musical, in which he can sing exceptionally well

Chris Slade

-DOB: 10/30/1946

-Where: Pontypridd, United Kingdom

-Played drums for AC/DC between 1989-1994

Hiroyuki Sanada

-DOB: 10/12/1968

-Where: Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan

-Some of the movies he's been in involve him using some sort of creative swordplay

Day 12-Something random-Handsome guys

How I see beauty

Simply put, I think the guys listed below are handsome for their age. For each guy, I mention the reasons they are on here. Whether it be personality, talents, etc.

You know how everyone sees beauty differently? How some things about certain men or women appeal to certain men or women? Or how certain things, like physical features, personality, or something as simple as where a person is from might seem attractive? I always have to wonder if people think I'm odd because I happen to think accents on guys are attractive. I also happen to think that guys sometimes stay handsome as they age or they look good for their ages. Seems like my weakness is English accents on guys. I'm not sure why, but I just find that accent to be particularly handsome. Along with Australian accents on guys

With each guy I think is handsome, there are reasons for that, definitely not shallow reasons like "He's cute", or something

Dave Murray

-Iron Maiden, guitar

-I find him handsome for his age because he has a very sweet, kind, loving personality. He's more or less the kind of guy to simply go with the flow and not ask a lot of questions. He's also a private guy, not one to give a lot of himself away. I think it's nice to see a rockstar completely devoid of ego, which is an incredible rarity nowadays. Something that also amazes me is that in the chapter of Run to the Hills: Iron Maiden, the Authorized Biography, about Dave Murray, is that he said that when he made some money with Maiden, the first thing he did was buy his parents a nice house so they wouldn't have to move anymore. So that if this music thing didn't work out, he could at least say he did something nice

Glenn Hughes

-Deep Purple/solo, bass, vocals

-I love his solo stuff. I never knew he was with Deep Purple until I read that book about him, just out curiosity. His solo stuff is amazing and I bought his new Resonate album. Definitely worth checking out. I love his personality. He's a kind, sweet, loving guy. He's never cheated on people while in relationships, that anyone knows of, at least. He just seems like a really loving guy

Glenn Tipton

-Judas Priest, guitar

-I never knew he wrote the bulk of lyrics for Judas Priest. How awesome is that. I think he's handsome and incredibly intelligent. He has an English accent, definitely one of my biggest weaknesses, lol. But then again, I'm sure a lot of people are under the impression that American women fall head over heels for English accents on guys, lol. I definitely like Glenn because he's a smart guy, a good guitar player and a just all around nice guy. I honestly never knew he was married and had two kids named Ricky and Corinna

Hugh Jackman

-Actor

-He's a very good actor. He can do comedy one minute and drama the next

Bruce Dickinson

-Iron Maiden, vocals

-After reading a book about him called Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Maiden and Flying Solo, I know a little more about the "Air Raid Siren". He has a personality that does not allow him to knuckle under from people putting him down. His grandfather taught him to never let anyone grind you down. He's not only a good singer, but in interviews, he just seems like a very calm, laid back guy who doesn't like to give too much of himself away. Besides, when he was diagnosed with cancer, it shocked everyone, because they probably thought he wasn't going to make it, but he managed to beat cancer and is still going strong, even into his late fifties. Also, there is a biography about him that is due to come out in April of next year, titled Bruce Dickinson: Maiden Voyage. I can't wait for it to show up. It's listed as the first biography of Bruce Dickinson

Steve Harris

-Iron Maiden/British Lion, bass, vocals

-People often peg this guy as being arrogant, demanding or just egotistical. If he wasn't demanding, Iron Maiden would not be where it was today. It was because of him that Iron Maiden exists in the first place. Obviously the first two bands he was with, Gypsy's Kiss and Smiler, didn't go far. So he wanted a band that he could control the music direction of. To be honest, I've seen interviews he's done. He does not peg me as arrogant. Demanding, yes, but arrogant no. He just wants what's best for the band he created. He's an amazing bass player, a good dad, a good husband and just an all around nice guy. He's definitely dedicated to his football team, West Ham United, so much so that he got the logo for the team tattooed on his arm and is present on his Fender Precision bass guitar. Besides, he's a pretty smart guy. You essentially have to have some kind of intelligence to be a musician, to write songs that are going to chart

Sylvester Stallone

-Actor

-I like the fact he's a good actor. He can do drama one minute, comedy the next. He can do almost any role. People make fun of him because of the way he talks. If you knew why he talks the way he does, then you would understand. When his mother was giving birth to him, doctors used a pair of forceps on him to pull him out, severing a nerve in his cheek. This resulted in partial facial paralysis of the lower right side of his face, resulting in slurred speech

Jet Li

-Actor

-Not shockingly, he's very hesitant to do interviews. Mostly because people might peg him as a foreigner due to his English skills not being so good. He's an amazing actor. He moves so fast and when he's not acting, he's doing good things for others with his The One Foundation, which helps in times of need

Paul Stanley

-KISS, guitar, vocals

-Besides being a good singer/guitar player, he's just a nice guy. After reading that book of his, Face the Music: A Life Exposed, you really know more about him. Like when he was born, he was born with a rare facial deformity called microtia, which results in underdevelopment of the ear. Depending on the level of severity, it can affect you just a little or a whole lot. In his case, it was grade III, meaning his right ear was nothing more than a fleshy lump, which also meant he was completely deaf on that side. Because of that, he developed a high temper as a child. He was bullied for his deformity and later on, in KISS, people pegged him as standoffish, hard to get to know, but maybe it's just because he's a private person. He's also an incredibly intelligent guy, IQ definitely up near or right at genius

Tommy Lee

-Drums, Motley Crue

-I love his laid back, surfer-type personality. He seems to be THE ONLY ONE in Motley Crue who doesn't have an ego and think that he's God's gift to metal

Phil Collen

-Def Leppard, guitar

-He's handsome, smart, a good singer, a nice guy, what more could one person ask for? He's also a loving dad to his son Rory, daughter Savannah and his other kids. He managed to beat alcoholism and turn his life around. He currently is in great shape. Just Google pics of Phil Collen and you're going to see an endless supply of half naked pics showing off his ripped abs. But the reasons listed above are why I like him. He's a good guitarist, a smart guy, a good singer, an all around good musician

Duff McKagan

-Guns N'Roses/Velvet Revolver/Loaded, guitar, vocals

-Despite having problems with alcoholism, he wised up and got himself clean. Normally, I don't care about what happens to people who do drugs or alcohol. But, if they have the smarts to stop while there's still time and get themselves clean, they deserve a second chance. Plus, Duff is the kind of guy who never seems to speak bad about others, hardly any ego at all. I like rockstars without egos!

Tommy Flanagan

-Actor

-He has a handsome Scottish accent. You never hear anything bad about him. He seems to try and stay out of the spotlight as much as possible

October Birthdays

Since it's October, time to say Happy Birthday to the following people

Glenn Tipton

-Birth name: Glenn Raymond Tipton

-DOB: 10/25/1947

-Where: Blackheath, England

-Like a lot of soon-to-be legendary musicians, as a young kid he enjoyed football (soccer), but also enjoyed art and wildlife

Still handsome!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K.K. Downing

-Birth name: Kenneth Kevin Downing

-DOB: 10/27/1951

-Where: West Bromwich, England

-Founding member of legendary heavy metal band Judas Priest

Julie Andrews

-Birth name: Julia Elizabeth Wells

-DOB: 10/1/1935 (she shares my birthday, just different year!)

-Where: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England

-Her amazing singing earned her a career in singing

Sting

-Birth name: Gordon Sumner

-DOB: 10/2/1951

-Where: Wallsend, Tyne-and-Wear, England

-While performing with his band Last Exit, he was discovered by Curved Air drummer Stuart Copeland

Brian Johnson

-Birth name: Brian Francis Johnson

-DOB: 10/5/1947

-Where: Dunston, Gateshead, England

-Prior to joining AC/DC, he sang with a band called Geordie. Bon Scott of AC/DC went and seen them and was impressed with Johnson's vocals

Kate Winslet

-Birth name: Kate Elizabeth Winslet

-DOB: 10/5/1978

-Where: Reading, Berkshire, England

-She turned down the role in Shakespeare in Love, which went to Gwyneth Paltrow

Sharon Osbourne

-Birth name: Sharon Rachel Arden-Osbourne

-DOB: 10/9/1952

-Where: Brixton, London, England

-Her father is Don Arden, who previously managed Black Sabbath, which is how she came to meet Ozzy Osbourne

Hugh Jackman

-Birth name: Hugh Michael Jackman

-DOB: 10/12/1968

-Where: Syndey, Australia

-His best known role is mutant Wolverine in the X-Men series

WOW IS HE CUTE!

Hiroyuki Sanada

-Birth name: Hiroyuki Shimosawa

-DOB: 10/12/1960

-Where: Tokyo, Japan

-His first role was when he was 5, appearing in a movie called Game of Chance

Tommy Lee

-Birth name: Thomas Lee Bass

-DOB: 10/3/1962

-Where: Athens, Greece

-He is one of the founding members of Motley Crue

He was always cute and I love his laid-back, surfer-type personality

Chris Slade

-DOB: 10/30/1946

-Where: Pontypridd, Wales

-He played drums in Tom Jones' backing band, The Squires