In a press release issued via JUDAS PRIEST's official website, Grammy Award winning guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the British heavy metal band, K.K. Downing has retired from the group.
The Press Release 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.

Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, Rob [Halford], Glenn [Tipton], Ian [Hill] and Scott [Travis] unanimously agreed that they should go ahead with the tour and not let the fans down all around the world.

Fate also stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement - 31 year old British guitar player Richie Faulkner - he has blended into the band perfectly and is a great talent who is going to help set the stage on fire!

The Epitaph Tour will include songs from every PRIEST studio album and also tracks they have never before performed on stage plus all the old favourites.

With a new album due to be released next year, the Metal Gods are preparing to tour the planet once more - heavy metal at its best, complete with lasers, lights, bikes and hellfire! It's a show not to be missed!!"

Source: JudasPriest.com :: The Official Judas Priest Website