K.K. Downing pays respects to ex-Judas Priest drummer Les Binks

Former Judas Priest guitarist Kenneth “K.K.” Downing has left a heartfelt Instagram post in tribute to the band’s ex-drummer Les Binks. Binks recently passed at the age of 73, with no cause of death revealed, but a funeral notice included that he passed “peacefully at a hospital in London.” Downing’s post included a photo of the two of them, the caption stating:

In Memory of Les Binks
from K.K. Downing:

Sometime around 1977, we were getting ready to work on our 3rd album, Sin After Sin, and we found ourselves in the studio with top London session drummer Simon Phillips. We soon realised how special Simon was and quickly offered for him to be a part of the band. Disappointingly, Simon preferred to continue his work doing sessions. This became a problem, so we asked the question, who is the man that could possibly be able to compare to Simon? The response was: There is only one other man, and that man is Les Binks!

We did not hesitate to track Les down, and after we heard him play, we knew we had to secure him at all costs. Fortunately, and with much relief, Les agreed to come on the road with us.

The rest is in the history books. We had many great tours with Les, and he recorded with us throughout a very critical part of the band’s career. 

I feel very fortunate now to have played with Les more recently. First, in 2019 at The Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, which was also my first live performance in some years. It was quickly referred to as the “MegaPriest” gig, as it featured my good friend and great bass player David Ellefson, also Ripper Owens on vocals and AJ Mills from KK’s Priest on guitar. Les was his usual immaculate self on the drums, just as I had always remembered. I am so happy that the show was recorded and will live on forever.

Then, as luck would have it, Judas Priest were to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, so, myself and Les flew out to Los Angeles and were able to spend quite a lot of time together talking about the old days over a few beers. We played the gig and it was pretty sensational, but I have to say that the time and days we spent together turning back the clock to when we were just young men aspiring and hoping to one day achieve success, was far more valuable to me than any award or prestigious accolade.

RIP Les Binks

—K.K. Downing