Rob Halford on K.K. Downing being inducted into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with Judas Priest: ‘I don’t think it’ll be awkward at all’

Judas Priest‘s Ian Hill and Rob Halford have told Billboard that they would be happy to stand alongside founding guitarist K.K. Downing at a hypothetical Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction later this year.

It’s not a problem to us, no. Ken was an integral part of this band for a very, very long time. He deserves to be there along with the rest of us.

Ian Hill

It won’t be as awkward as Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss with Kiss‘s Rock Hall induction]. I don’t think it’ll be awkward at all. I think you have to let all of that go because it’s the night that matters. It’s the moment that matters — but, again, the proverbial saying, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Rob Halford

Judas Priest was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction in 2020, but failed to receive enough votes to make that year’s class.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, Priest was also on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

On Wednesday (February 2), it was announced that Judas Priest is among the nominees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s class of 2022. Inductees will be announced in May. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2022 induction ceremony will take place this fall. The date, venue, and on-sale information will be announced later.

Once again, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has named the individual bandmembers that will enter should their group get inducted.

For Judas Priest, they picked current members Halford (vocals), Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with former members Downing (guitar), Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.