Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner recently spoke with Metal Blast about replacing K.K. Downing, touring, and the band's plans for a new album. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

MB: For better or worse, with bands like Judas Priest or Iron Maiden fans tend to be quite possessive or protective. Considering that you were replacing someone with a trajectory like that of K.K. Downing; were you nervous? Were you concerned about how people were going to react?

Richie: "It wasn’t really a concern, no. You can’t let that get in your way; you’ve been given an opportunity. There will always be people out there who don’t like you and who’ll prefer someone else. That’s the beauty of music, we’ve all got our own opinion.

There was some skepticism, of course; after 40 years there’s a new guy showing up, so people feared the worst. I think that’s healthy, since it showed the passion that the fans had for the band. They cared so much that they are skeptical; it was the same when Rob Halford left. If they didn’t care they wouldn’t have an opinion. I understand; I was the same when Richie Blackmore left Deep Purple or Michael Schenker left UFO. But I was given an opportunity for which I had worked really hard, and which I was ready to grab by the horns.

I knew the band, I knew what they stand for, and I know what KK stands for. They’ve always stood up for what they believe in, even in the face of adversity. If there was ever going to be any adversity, they were the guys I’d be learning from. KK was one of the teachers of that philosophy; people might not like you, but you go out there and do what you do. If I had doubted things in any way, being nervous or doubtful, I don’t think I would have been honoring that tradition of heavy metal and Judas Priest. I knew that I could do the job, so I didn’t want to let nerves or doubt get in the way. I just took the opportunity and it seems like it was the right approach to take."

MB: Do you think there will be a new Judas Priest album?

Richie: "I would say so. I think that they’re both right on what they say. It’s kind of up in the air until we get in the room and start putting ideas down, so Ian is right on that; at the same time though, it’s in the back of our minds. I’ve had conversations with Rob and Glenn about what we could do, what the schedule will be, etc. Until we sit in that room, it’s still up in the air though. If we put ideas on the table and they aren’t very good, if they don’t at least match the quality of Redeemer Of Souls, there might not be a case for doing a new record. You and I know that the band won’t release something that they think is below standards. If the ideas we put down are not good, then there may not be a new record; but if there are some sparks in the room, then we’re going to push forward and a new record might take a shape. I think it will! I’m confident that it will. I’ve always got tons of ideas, and I know the other guys do as well." 

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing recently posted video of himself breaking down the solo of the mellow classic “Before The Dawn” (from the band’s 1978 album Killing Machine; Hell Bent for Leather in North America).