JUDAS PRIEST Drummer: The Fans Want Us To Go On (Video)

TheArtisan News Serviceconducted a short interview withJUDAS PRIESTdrummerScott Travisat the third annualRevolver Golden Gods Awards, […]

By Steinmetal

• April 22, 2011

TheArtisan News Serviceconducted a short interview withJUDAS PRIESTdrummerScott Travisat the third annualRevolver Golden Gods Awards, which took place last night (Wednesday, April 20) at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. When asked for an update on the just-announced departure of the band's original guitarist,K.K. Downing,Travisreplied, "The update is in the press release [which came out Wednesday morning], so you know as much as I do. But you have to have the burning desire in your heart, in my opinion, to play heavy metal music."

He added, "We all start at a young age and it's not because of money, fame or girls - you start because you love the music. So if he's not feeling that anymore, then I give him props for taking himself out of the game, basically."

When asked about the remainingJUDAS PRESTmembers' decision to go ahead with their previously announced tour plans with a replacement guitarist - 31 year-old British guitar playerRichie Faulkner(LAUREN HARRIS,DIRTY DEEDS) -Travissaid, "It's never an easy decision to replace any longtime bandmember, butPRIESTis almost like its own machine, and the fans wantPRIESTto continue, we want it to continue, and we have to go on.K.K.! I can't speak for him, but we have to go on; that's all."

Downingreleased a statement earlier today blaming his departure fromJUDAS PRIESTon "an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time." He added that he "decided to step down rather than to tour with negative sentiments as I feel that this would be a deception to . . . our cherished fans."

JUDAS PRIESTmembers had previously stated that their"Epitaph"tour would be their last, but that they would continue recording, with a new album due for release next year.

The tour begins in Holland on June 7 with a series of dates scheduled throughout Europe this summer. They will then hit Brazil and Mexico in the fall. There has been no word on a U.S. leg of the tour.