Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest

When reading this I found myself automatically comparing it to the excellent Bruce Dickinson autobiography, which set the bar quite high in some respects. Bruce's book is pretty much all about Bruce - everybody else is a one dimensional cameo who only serve to highlight what Bruce is doing (fencing, brewing, singing, flying) or simply doesn't exist (wife, children, friends) - Bruce doesn't slag anybody off and seemingly exists in a Bruce-World bubble of old fashioned British derring-do. The starkest difference with KK's book is that Ken has no such Ken bubble and, as such, he pulls few punches about who he largely blames for the eventual decline in his fortunes, and in his opinion the band's fortunes; namely co guitarist Glenn Tipton and latter day band manager; Jayne Andrews. Surprisingly the fact that he didn't get on with Tipton is stated from first mention he gets in the book, so it's not a dislike based on years of being together - Ken just couldn't get close to him personally. The Tipton clash is one of the recurrent themes in the book, along with the 'holes in the shoes', working class, kid who has 'done good', Ken's opinion that he was more of a professional guitar player than Glenn, lots of 'Chicks' (all LA beautiful of course),the abject fear of losing the singer and a lot of golf. He also pulls no punches on what he thought of Iron Maiden in the 80s and on Rob's efforts in Fight when he went solo (suffice to say, he wasn't impressed). With the former there is a distinct tinge of jealousy and exasperation at Maiden's enduring success and a bewilderment as to why Priest never shifted the units Maiden did (and still do). I think Ken's conclusion is that Maiden had a better and more focussed manager in Rod Smallwood, which is probably true, and that they would have been more successful if they had had Rod rather than Jayne. Thinking about it (and for the record I have been more a Priest fan than Maiden over the years) the other reasons that Maiden have been more successful is that the they have a clearer brand (Eddie), they are more accessible as real 'blokes' that you could have a pint with, Bruce is a more colourful, warm and engaging front man and can manage more on stage banter than 'let us take you to the [insert album title], this is, of course, [insert song title]' and Maiden don't write daft lyrics about Loch Ness Monsters, Redeemers of Souls, Hellions, Metallions, Spectres, Sentinels or Flamethrowers.Still, KK's book is an interesting inside run through one of the more colourful histories of a downright classic band (although, inevitably, a touch Spinal Tap in parts), with most of what is covered already pretty well known to the casual Judas Priest fan: There are the classic albums (Steel, Vengeance), the terrible albums (Ram It Down, Demolition), the suicide court case, the subliminal messages, the spat with the PMRC, the all important singer leaving, the singer returning, numerous drummers (although none exploded), a replacement singer (called, err, Tim) pulled from a Judas Priest tribute band (which then inspires a rubbish movie), the old singer comes out (although was patently never ‘in’, given that in 1974 the stage name picked for him was Rob 'The Queen' Halford), invention of the heavy metal leather image (by Ken apparently), the doctored Unleashed 'live' album (finally, this one is on record), the imprisoned drummer (who oddly Ken doesn't acknowledge as now being actually dead), the bloated double concept album based on ‘Saucy Jack’ (sorry 'Nostradamus'), the bizarre Stock, Aitken and Waterman dalliance and who could forget that Loch Ness Monster with it's eyes of onyx.......(Ken, for the love of God, admit it's rubbish!).However, it's a gentle, well written, heart felt, entertaining, honest and informative read even if some of the sketchy anecdotes feel more like Alan Partridge's than Bruce Dickinson's, due inevitably to the time lapse from the actual events occurring (along the lines of: Then I bumped into Robert Plant who recognised me as we are both rock stars. Unfortunately I had scraped his car with my rock star Rolls Royce - he said 'we'd better exchange insurance details, Ken';. 'Yes, Rob mate, we should'; I said and drove off).I suspect the release of the book will make a reunion less likely due to it's frankness and obvious finger pointing, although the feeling you get is that Ken does actually want some sort of a reunion. The book feels a bit cathartic and is a touch tinged with sadness and regret in that respect - he had to tell someone, so he chose the fans who he genuinely seems to appreciate. Unfortunately, rather than a reunion, the response from his erstwhile band members may also come in the form of books of their own. I hear Rob is already threatening a book where he tells us not about Olympic fencing, beer brewing or flying 747s but the absolutely 100% believable (and no doubt 'fascinating') story of when he met the Virgin Mary (not 'a' virgin called Mary, obviously).....can't wait for that one....Unfortunately Ken's pride and joy home and golf course, Astbury Hall, went into administration in 2017 along with the royalty rights to 129 Judas Priest songs (interestingly worth £250-£300k pa). Oddly this event doesn’t make it into the book, even though later events do. I guess KK wants the reader to be left feeling that even though he walked away from Priest he still landed on his feet. Maybe though, these unrecorded recent events, Glenn's illness and the impending 50th Anniversary of the band having started in 1969, will allow them all to settle their differences and unite for one last time - who knows. If not, KK can probably be found propping up the bar in his new Heavy Metal venue in Wolverhampton..although I suspect he won’t be drinking Trooper ale..However, as Ken now ponders on Iron Maiden's enduring commercial success he should entertain the following thought - Iron Maiden aren't the total, 100% embodiment of Heavy Metal - Judas Priest are and they always will be, period. And that's the legacy that will never be taken away from him. So cheers to you Ken!

Some autobiographies cross all boundaries because they are simply superb. I'm thinking 'The Moon's A Balloon,' by David Niven is the perfect example. A book so funny, interesting or genuinely well written its hard to put down. Bruce Dickenson's 'What Does this Button Do,' is another example. Even if you are not a fan of heavy metal or indeed even music, its still a genuinely interesting book to read.This isn't it.It is firmly a book for the fans of Judas Priest and if like me you have followed the band for what seems like a million years, you will want to read it. What is isn't is a book that takes you on a winding path with fun or interesting anecdotes along the way. It's a simple linear thread of KK Downing's life which despite being a rock star is relatively bland. Or at least it is in this book.Okay, the start delves a bit and clearly KK had a tough upbringing - which I assume fed into his drive into heavy metal music. However, once last that this is a fairly lightweight superficial book. The only real interesting nugget being that KK was clearly not particularly happy in the band mainly down to his relationship with Glen Tipton. Certainly it was not a warm one and there are a few digs along the way.After Priest we don't get to find out anything really. Nothing about KK Downings foray into Astbury Golf - which I believe has ended for instance. Nothing about his time looking after other bands.Most of all its hard to say that having read this I understand KK Downing much at all still. He does seem to be genuine and I get the impression a decent geezer.If anything comes from this is that I can see that Judas Priest was more of a business entity than a band with members who were not friends but instead partners in to be fair one of the greatest creative forces in rock music.Overall though, I'd have to say that as a Priest fan I found it interesting but its not the classic autobiography that will appeal to anyone outside of the fraternity.

I've read a lot of rock/pop biographies, and most of the artists I've been genuinely interested to read about, I've sought out the biography and read it by now, but occasionally one pops up on a kindle deal that piques my interest, and I'll snap it up to read later. Sometimes you get lucky and it turns out to be a good read, but more often than not it's just more of the same stuff you've read a zillion times before. Rarely do you get a real insight into what makes the person tick or where their inspiration comes from.This was one of those kindle deals, and to be fair I almost didn't pick it up, because KK seems to have been ever present in the media whining about one thing or another after having resigned from Judas Priest and subsequently regretted what had probably been a hasty decision on his behalf. That's my take on it anyway, but I haven't been following too closely.For background I wouldn't quite call myself a fan of Judas Priest, but I do like some of their stuff, have a couple of albums in my collection and have seen them in concert a couple of times albeit decades ago now (1979 headlining at Manchester, and 1980 as 2nd on the bill at the inaugural Monsters Of Rock, Donington)The book starts pretty well, and KK, who refers to himself as Ken, quite naturally I suppose since that's his name but which never seems to quite fit a metal god to me, gives a fair amount of detail about his former years and the formation of Judas Priest. But as the book progresses, it deteriorates and he spends too much time sniping at Glenn Tipton for my taste. I've no idea if KK's version of events is true, but there are usually two sides to every story.KK claims to be the one responsible for Judas Priest leather-outfit idea and perhaps he is. I would say as rock biographies go, it's certainly not one of the worst I've read, but it's not one of the best either. KK does come across as trying to give an honest account, and doesn't try to cover up some of his mistakes, which I do like. I was dithering between 3 and 4 stars, but I think 3 is where I'd pitch it in relation to others in the same genre. It's worth a read especially if you are a fan of the band.

As a long time fan of Priest I decided to read this after Rob Halford's Confess. I have to say I enjoyed this more than Confess as I guess it is more about the band than personal lives although obviously there has to be considerable personal background to "get" what KK is all about. Overall he seems a quite grounded bloke (as they all do) with a certain amount of insecurity, as again, they all seem to. What comes across very clearly is his love for the music and the band. The old bunch of lads together slowly turning to resentment between certain members rears its ugly head and the constant niggle of Glenn Tipton getting his own way eating away at KK is a recurring theme. It's a good read and the reference to Michael Schenker walking out on UFO and KK wondering if he should have done the same is interesting. I don't feel he would have managed to move on as Schenker did as he seems to want to be a band player. I agree about Nostradamus being performed with an orchestra, it would have been special and seems an opportunity missed. I wish him well and hope the future holds good things for all involved past and present in Priest. P.S. KKs Steel Mill is a great venue and hope it survives he pandemic so we can all ROCK there again. Peace and love.

I have worshipped at the Priest catalogue for many decades but I NEVER expected the revelations that are presented here, primarily of division in the ranks. Did not realise either just how much of KKs baby the band actually was. The Management did a grand job of keeping a lid on all this for so long.Full marks to KK for not letting all this out when he quit. Only now have the things been (reported to have been) said been said.Yes time moves on and sometimes its too late. Would we rather have never known about this, or do we in fact need to know of this.Unfortunately, its best to know the truth. And this is KKs side of it. And it sound totally genuine and heartfelt.Gripes? Could be longer with more detail, such as Les Binks' departure (see his interview on KK's Steel Mill).Makes me want to read Glenn Tipton's story now. Come on Glenn!!