Guitarist KK Downing has left Judas Priest just before their final tour.

An official statement from the band reads:

It is with regret that Judas Priest announce that K.K. Downing has formally retired from the band and will therefore not be joining them on their forthcoming Epitaph Tour.

The band respect his decision and naturally all wish him well.

Judas Priest was one of the most influential heavy metal bands of the '70s, spearheading the New Wave of British Heavy Metal late in the decade. Decked out in leather and chains, the band fused the gothic doom of Black Sabbath with the riffs and speed of Led Zeppelin, as well as adding a vicious two-lead guitar attack; in doing so, they set the pace for much popular heavy metal from 1975 until 1985, as well as laying the groundwork for the speed and death metal of the '80s.

This Sunday, August 8th at 9am EST: Only on A&E's Private Sessions: Metal gods Judas Priest take over your Sunday morning! Lead singer Rob Halford joins host Lynn Hoffman to share stories from the road, explain the concept of metal therapy, and talk about the release of Judas Priest's British Steel 30th Anniversary Editions! One of the greatest metal albums of all time just got bigger!

The lights go on, and the curtain comes up - on Legacy Recordings' brand-new Setlist series of live collections from an A-list of core artists on the Columbia, Epic, and RCA labels. Hand-picked and sequenced by aficionados and (in some cases) the artists themselves, the first 11 volumes in the Setlist series - by Alabama, Blue Öyster Cult, Johnny Cash, Cheap Trick, Jefferson Airplane, Judas Priest, Kansas, Willie Nelson, Ted Nugent, Quiet Riot, and REO Speedwagon - will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting July 13th.

While in New York last week, Rob Halford sat down with MLB.com to talk about the 30th Anniversary of British Steel release. See the video at MLB.com

Get the Deluxe of Standard 30th Anniversary Edition of British Steel at http://judaspriest.com

Last night some lucky contest winners, courtest of Clear Channel's Q104, were able to attend a screening of the Concert DVD from the 30th Anniversary Edition of British Steel as well as a Q&A between Rob Halford and Jonathan Clarke. Those who weren't lucky enough to be there in person, don't feel left out, you can view the photos and video interview online.

View the Photo Gallery
http://www.q1043.com/cc-common/gallery/display.html?album_id=230323

AOL's Noisecreep is excited to premiere the second video from the 30th Anniversary Edition of British Steel today, "Living After Midnight (Live)". To check it out, view the video below or go to http://www.NoiseCreep.com

Listen to the Judas Priest British Steel - 30th Anniversary Podcast.

Judas Priest is one of the true classic heavy metal bands. Known worldwide for their spectacular stage shows, they have been making seminal metal for over 30 years, influenced generations and sold in excess of 30 million albums.

Textbook heavy metal, fronted by the dueling twin lead guitars of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton and the glorious shrieks of lead vocalist Rob Halford. Judas Priest encapsulated the ‘70s U.K. metal movement and did it better than just about anybody with their solid musicianship and in-your-face studs ‘n’ leather theatricality. “Breaking The Law” comes from their 1980 collection, British Steel, a major moment in Britain’s new wave of metal and the first Priest album to crack the Top 40 LP charts in America.

Judas Priest's classic British Steel truly defined heavy metal. 30 years after its original release, British Steel is still revered as one of the greatest metal records of all time. Celebrating three decades of the metal landmark is the BRITISH STEEL 30TH ANNIVERSARY, available in two visceral editions.

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