K.K. Downing to perform at Bloodstock Open Air 2019

The legendary axeman will play guitar with Ross the Boss on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Bloodstock on Sunday 11th August.

The Ross the Boss Band centres on titular guitarist and lynchpin Ross "The Boss" Friedman, who was a founding member of both Manowar and The Dictators.

Friedman wrote on Facebook on Saturday (6th July): “We The RTB Band are SO F***ING EXCITED and honoured to have KK Downing, an immortal Metal legend, joining us onstage in front of some of the greatest metal fans in the world at BLOODSTOCK UK”

The Sunday line-up at Bloodstock Open Air also features Dee Snider, Queensrÿche and headliners Scorpions in what is their only UK show of 2019.

Bloodstock Open Air takes place at Catton Park in Derbyshire from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th August 2019. Weekend and day tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.

After 42 years with Judas Priest, K.K. Downing quit the band in April 2011 citing "an on-going breakdown in working relationships between myself, elements of the band and management.”

In February 2018 he released a statement on Facebook saying he was “shocked and stunned” that he wasn’t invited to rejoin Judas Priest when Glenn Tipton announced his retirement from touring due to the progression of Parkinson’s Disease.

This prompted a backlash from Rob Halford, who called the comments “completely superfluous.”

Promoting his autobiography ‘Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest’ this year, K.K. has slammed his former Judas Priest band mates numerous times in interviews.

He told Issue 10 of Planet Rock Magazine: “The whole thing is unfortunate, because whatever I say sounds like sour grapes… But I’m afraid it’s got to be said.”

Downing recently put his name to the Wolverhampton music venue KK’s Steel Mill, which features upcoming performances from Ugly Kid Joe, Killing Joke, The Wildhearts, Black Star Riders, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Uriah Heep and many more.