Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images Guitarist K.K. Downing may have officially retired from Judas Priest in 2011, but the rocker apparently isn’t one to stray too far from the stage. After spending time in the last few years pursuing various business opportunities , Downing is returning to the music scene as a promoter. The guitarist tells the Shropshire Star that he’s interested in finding new, young talent and providing them with a showcase to get their music heard. As such, he’s announced a pair of shows in Wolverhampton and Birmingham where he’ll highlight some rising stars. Downing’s promotion firm will operate under the moniker The Future of Heavy Metal, and it finds him collaborating with industry veteran Dave Coleman to discover the talent. The guitarist says, “The Black Country and Birmingham are known as the home of heavy metal. Back in the ’70s and ’80s the area produced so many good bands from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin to Judas Priest and even Slade. In some ways it’s been difficult for other bands to fill the void. Now it’s time for the next generation to step up to the plate.” Among the bands he’s currently promoting are local acts such as Hostile, Left Unscarred and Under Blackened Skies, as well as French outfit Moray Firth. The first show will take place May 15 at the Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton, with the second show scheduled for May 17 at the Asylum in Birmingham. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-judas-priest-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Judas Priest Songs” align=”center”]
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Former Judas Priest Guitarist K.K. Downing Returns to Music as a Promoter
January 8th, 2013 
Metalkult 
Posted in News 
Tags: among-the-bands, bands, birmingham, black, black-country, black-sabbath, french, judas-priest, k.k. downing, metal, well-as-french, with-the-second 
No Comments »Stone Sour Talk ‘House of Gold & Bones,’ Reveal Touring Bassist
September 25th, 2012 Metalkult Roadrunner Records Stone Sour ‘s ‘ House of Gold & Bones Part 1 ? is set to be released Oct. 23 as the first of a two part concept album, with the second part expected in May of 2013. In a new interview, singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Josh Rand spoke with Metal Shrine about a number of topics, including the band’s new touring bassist. Taylor explains the genesis of the album, saying, “I’ve had the idea for the concept for a few years actually, but I’ve never given myself the time to really flesh it out and see it clearly. It was right about the time when we did the Sonisphere shows that for some reason “Boom!”, it f—ing hit me! I saw it as clear as day, beginning, middle and end. I knew the characters, I knew the world that I wanted to create, I knew what I wanted to do.” After the exit of Stone Sour bassist Shawn Economaki earlier this year, the band recruited Rachel Bolan from Skid Row to play bass on ‘House of Gold & Bones.’ Rand says it was a great experience: “He’s a phenomenal writer on top of being a phenomenal bass player and he brought this style into it that we felt had been lacking. Instead of following the guitars, he actually plays bass and it elevated all of the songs to a whole new level.” Rand adds, “He came in, a super cool guy and did all 24 songs in five days. It was insane! I don’t think people realize how great of a player he is. It was just insane to watch him knock these songs out. With him coming in and doing that, it just added another level of energy to the whole project and he took a lot of the songs to a different level.” Bolan’s schedule with Skid Row won’t allow him to play live shows with Stone Sour, and Rand revealed the touring bassist will be Johny Chow. Chow has played with Cavalera Conspiracy, Soulfly and Fireball Ministry. Stone Sour will embark on a European tour at the end of October that will last for the rest of the year. They”ll also play Australia in early 2013. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/stone-sour-lyric-video-double-single-gone-sovereign-absolute-zero/” title=”Watch Stone Sour’s Lyric Video for ‘Gone Sovereign / Absolute Zero'” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: a-new-interview, absolute-zero, corey taylor, european, metal-shrine, myself-the-time, SONISPHERE, Stone Sour, style, with-the-second No Comments »
