In a new interview with Japanese music critic and radio personality Masa Ito, former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth “K.K.” Downing spoke about his current band KK’S PRIEST in which he is joined by another ex-JUDAS PRIEST member, singer Tim “Ripper” Owens. Regarding whether his approach to writing music and performing with KK’S PRIEST is the same as it was during his long tenure with JUDAS PRIEST, K.K. said: “Yes, it’s the same. I’m the same — the same, the same ears, the same mind, the same desire for the music and the passion for heavy metal. And I’m proud of all of the fans and everything that we’ve created on this massive lifetime journey. Masses have been there with us — all of the fans, in Japan and the rest of the world, have been on that journey. They’ve seen it all evolve from nothing into something fantastic. I have the same amplifiers, the same guitars, the same equipment. I produce the same sound. I am the same person. I can’t change. Nothing can change that. And my writing style, everything I do, it’s no different. It’s just a variation of everything else. The songs, they’re different songs, but everything is the same. To me, it’s the same. I think, yeah, a lot of what I do now could be on ‘Stained Class’ or ‘British Steel’ or ‘Painkiller’ — it all has that synergy. It’s got to, because I am the entity from beginning and I’m never gonna change. The only difference is now I’m playing with different guys. And I’m really, really happy.”

He continued: “I do believe that Ripper Owens is the best metal singer. He has the best, best voice on the planet today. He’s even better now than he even ever was. He’s great, and he needs to be acknowledged as that. And that’s why with this band, we all have the platform to continue something, hopefully, that will continue and be well respected and certainly something I think the fans will really enjoy the genuineness and the legitimacy of what we do.”

As for whether KK’S PRIEST will continue to play JUDAS PRIEST songs in its set, K.K. said: “Yes, I’m gonna play songs that I wrote on stage because I like them, I’m proud of them, and I think the fans like to hear them. I think they like to hear me play the original version of ‘Victim Of Changes’ or ‘Breaking The Law’. I think they like to hear a guitar player with the guitar sound, with the fingers that created those songs. I think that’s a nice part of it. Maybe one day we’ll play all KK’S PRIEST songs. I don’t know. I just think we shouldn’t think too deeply about anything. We’ve just gotta put a setlist together. We’ll go out there and play songs and enjoy it. And the fans will be with us. And I’m very much looking forward to playing many, many more shows for everyone around the world.”

Watch “Hymn 66” below.