K.K. Downing Selling Rights to Over 130 Judas Priest Songs After Golf Resort Fails
Following the failure of his luxury golf resort, legendary Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing is selling off the rights to more than 130 Priest songs, including classics like "Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" and "Painkiller."
This collection of songs is said to generate between $340,000 to $400,000 per year as reported by Billboard. The report also states that it is believed that Downing invested millions of dollars into Astbury Hall, the 18-hole, 71-par and 320-acre championship golf course in Shropshire, England, which he was hoping would lure in the Open Championship, also known as the "British Open" or simply "The Open."
"Tougher economic times within the wider corporate hospitality market" placed "unsustainable pressure" on the golf course per administrators. In the fall, Astbury Hall's financial problems led the business to enter administration, which is similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The course has since been put up for sale for $13.5 million
Downing stepped down as Judas Priest's guitarist in 2011 and was replaced by Richie Faulkner, who remains with the band today. When the other half of Priest's iconic guitar duo, Glenn Tipton, was forced off the road due to complications from Parkinson's Disease, producer Andy Sneap was welcomed to the fold to the chagrin of Downing who felt slighted he was never asked to rejoin considering the circumstances.
Heavy Duty: Days and Nights in Judas Priest, Downing's memoir recollecting his time with the band, is set for release on Sept. 18. Meanwhile, Priest are moving forward with a co-headlining summer tour with Deep Purple kicking off on Aug. 21.
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