THE BEAST

Former   JUDAS PRIEST   guitarist   K.K. Downing   says that he never meant to insinuate that producer   Andy Sneap   played   Glenn Tipton 's guitar parts during the making of the band's new album,   "Firepower" .

Two weeks after   Tipton   announced that he was retiring from the road due to his battle with Parkinson's disease,   Downing   released a statement   in which he said that he was "shocked and stunned" that he wasn't approached to rejoin the band and suggested that   Sneap 's "contribution to the new   JUDAS PRIEST   album was much more than just as a producer." His comments appeared to get a rise out of   JUDAS PRIEST   singer   Rob Halford , who fired back that "a lot" of   K.K. 's statement was "completely superfluous" and dismissed as "a thousand percent false" the idea that   Tipton   didn't personally lay down all of his guitar work on   "Firepower" .

Earlier today,   Downing   released a follow-up statement in which he said he wanted to "clarify" his original comments as he felt that "parts" of them were "regretfully misinterpreted."

Downing   said: "Just to clarify that my complimenting   Andy Sneap   as I did was no more than I would have said about any other guitar-playing producers that have also contributed much more than expected to our past albums. Great talent such as   Chris Tsangarides   (R.I.P) and   Roy Z both not only produced, but also contributed song ideas, riffs and licks, lyric ideas etc. Consequently, albums like   'Painkiller'   and   'Angel Of Retribution'   would not have been the same without them. Even   George Martin , I believe, provided much more for   THE BEATLES than just the role of a normal producer. An extra musician in the studio, like the aforementioned talented producers, really does bring a great benefit."

Tipton , who is now 70 and has performed on every   PRIEST   album since the group's 1974's debut set,   "Rocka Rolla" , is not quitting the outfit, but simply cannot handle to rigorous challenges of performing live. Joining   PRIEST   for its upcoming dates will be   Sneap , who has previously played with   HELL   and   SABBAT .

Downing   announced his retirement from   PRIEST   in April 2011. He has since been replaced by   Richie Faulkner , who was once the guitarist in the backing group for   Lauren Harris , daughter of   IRON MAIDEN   bassist   Steve Harris .

In his statement on Tuesday,   Downing   said that he knows "now more clearly than ever" that he did the right thing by leaving the band when he did "as it seems that my time spent in the band, and my value in terms of crafting its huge legacy, was and is unappreciated by more than one member."

"Firepower"   will be released on March 9 via   Epic .

The North American leg of the   "Firepower"   tour will kick off on March 13 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas. via Blabbermouth