K.K. Downing – Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest

DaCapo

https://www.dacapopress.com/titles/k-k-downing/heavy-duty/9780306903298/

Rating: B

Ken K.K. Downing walked away from one of the biggest heavy metal bands of all time…and Priest fans wish he had stayed a member of the iconic group. He was very beloved by fans and his image, in his heyday, oozed everything Metal.

Onstage he is larger than life and he is, without a doubt, a true Metal God. Offstage, however, Ken is a quiet man. Unassuming and non-confrontational by nature, Downing seems an unlikely candidate to pen an autobiography, but he did just that and Priest fans are lining up to buy it.

This book is not so much a history of Judas Priest but rather a story of Ken's life in, and out, of Judas Priest.

Ken is open...as much as a British man can me! He stops short of throwing anyone under the bus. He is, however, as honest as he feels he can be. At times this is eye opening, never more so than when revealing his love-hate relationship with fellow Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton. He also sheds light on the Priest/Iron Maiden feud. When he talks openly about this type of stuff this book is kick ass. Too often, however, he remains reserved.

Fans want a ‘tell all’ and this a more of a 'tell my side' which is commendable. When it comes to sales, it probably slows them down a bit. I admire Ken for his honesty…and the story is all here. He discusses Halford's gay life, the famous court battle, the seemingly jealousy of Tipton's ability to powerhouse his way into the spotlight and why he was fed up with the band and left.

At the end of the day, this is a good read. I would have preferred Ken to be more open about his feelings throughout the book than he was, but he is a reserved man.

Rumor has it he has been experiencing some financial trouble with bad investments so maybe the book was done as a way to raise funds. I like to think that is only part of the reason. Downing seems too genuine to do this to just make a buck...so this comes across as his genuine thoughts and feelings. It is just too bad there is not MORE to the story as most Priest's fans already know most of what is in these pages.

When he delves into what fans do not know, however, is when this book really pops.  All of that stuff comes at the very end…, which makes for a power packed ending!  Yep…the end of this book leaves no doubt why Downing left the band, and why he believes he will never be asked back into the band. As entertaining as the book is…the ending is the money shot. Downing finally opens up and lets it all out…and I think he feels better now that he did it.

At the end of the day, Judas Priest has always been a band that may not realize how huge they are. Ken may not understand that he was not just a rock star...he was, and is a Metal God. This book shows some of the story...and he tells his tale well...Priest fans like me just always want more.

If you love the Mighty Priest then snap this one up.

Ken seems mostly satisfied with all that went down...but it is when he is clearly not satisfied that this read is at its best.

By Jeb “Living After Midnight' Wright