Heavy metal stalwart Kenneth “K.K.” Downing, formerly of Judas Priest and now leading KK’s Priest, has offered fans a fresh take on a deep cut from his past: a newly recorded version of Judas Priest‘s “Never Satisfied.” The track features his KK’s Priest bandmate and former Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens on vocals, breathing new life into a piece of heavy metal history.
“Never Satisfied” originally appeared on Judas Priest’s 1974 debut album, Rocka Rolla. Co-written by Downing and the band’s original lead vocalist Al Atkins, the song holds a special place in the guitarist’s memory. Reflecting on its early days, Downing once told Ultimate Classic Rock: “We just had fun in a spare bedroom, trying to create something different.” He also recalled its consistent presence in Judas Priest‘s live set during their formative years, even after Rob Halford joined.
The inspiration for revisiting this vintage track arose from the recent 50th-anniversary reissue of Rocka Rolla. Downing explained his spontaneous decision to re-record it: “I thought, ‘I’m just going to plug the guitar in and have a go at jamming along to a couple of these songs.’ I just had fun doing it and I thought I would put the track down and ask Ripper if he’d do the courtesy of throwing a vocal on there. It came about really quickly and it was fun.”
Downing expressed his enthusiasm for the updated version, emphasizing the vocal prowess of Owens on the track. In a statement, he shared: “It’s a real treat and great fun to revisit and record this version of ‘Never Satisfied‘, a song I co-wrote over 50 years ago. I really didn’t overthink it — I just plugged in my guitar drifting back to a time when metal was an embryo of an idea. I knew the song already sounded great with Rob Halford, but I was especially keen on hearing the mighty Ripper Owens on the vocals.”
The re-recording is intended as an extension of the Rocka Rolla 50th-anniversary celebrations, and Downing anticipates its reception among the KK’s Priest faithful. “The response to the 50th anniversary of Rocka Rolla has been so well received, I wanted to do a little something to add to the celebration — and I can see ‘Never Satisfied‘ becoming a fan favorite at a future KK’S PRIEST show!” he added.
The new version of “Never Satisfied” is now available for streaming and downloading, released via Exciter Records in partnership with K.K.‘s own label, Hellfire Thunderbolt Records.
