In a recent chat with JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing, BW&BK; learned about the legendary axe man’s property development, which is said to be a bit more than your average bachelor suite.

With the recent report that K.K.’s former lover, Sarah Lissimore, who once lived with the rocker at Astbury Hall, in Astbury, near Bridgnorth, UK, had declared bankruptcy, you can’t help but wonder how she would have enjoyed being the “lady of the house” at this new estate.

Lissimore had made a claim for around £200,000 compensation after splitting up with the star because she claimed she had quit a promising career in pharmacy to look after his £2 million country home near Bridgnorth. She claimed she had run the estate while K.K. was touring with Priest and was therefore entitled to part of his fortune for investing time and skill in Astbury Hall instead of her career.

Meanwhile, K.K. comments on the new development, “Yeah, well, to be honest, I've got a development going on. I've constructed a golf course facility and a leisure facility, just something

outside of music I have an interest in doing, really. And it's a beautiful estate that I have. I've got a kind of an interest. I like to see things manicured, everything neat and tidy, and maybe I can create something else for people to enjoy other than records (laughs)."

So is the golf course actually on the property?

"Yeah, well it is, really; it's all part and parcel of it. Because it's a large house, and obviously I don't have a family, a direct family, wife and children. So basically I thought, well I've got something here that I'd like people to enjoy, you know? Have a nice bar and swimming pools and

stuff like that. I suppose eventually I'll move to somewhere else on the estate, but yes, I'd like to see myself become quite successful at doing that hopefully.

It's always been kind of like a project, you know, rather than me doing some stupid solo album or something, you know what I mean (laughs)? I've just concentrated on Judas Priest, which has been my life, so it's basically been a bit of a side-project, something I've been able to do.

Is it a sanctuary for you? Does it slow down the world?

"It does, really, you know. It's a beautiful estate; it's just over 300 acres, in a ring fence. There are beautiful water features and valleys and stuff like that. It's just something for me to be able to develop slowly in the years and years to come, maybe when I hang up the axe (laughs); just enjoy that, you know? I actually started out life in hotel and catering, so I'm quite at home in that situation. Also I've got a studio there and I'm making lots of noise, so maybe that will keep people away, who knows (laughs)?"