End of a Metal Era: Judas Priest Bass Icon Ian Hill Retires After 57 Years and Reveals His Replacement!
Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill has officially announced his retirement, stepping down from the British metal stalwarts after an extraordinary 57 years of service.
Described as «the backbone of Judas Priest» in an official statement, the 74-year-old musician has made the tough decision to leave the group.
Ian Hill, who became the band's third bass player following a series of early lineup shifts, joined back in 1970 and has played on every single one of Judas Priest's 19 studio albums, ranging from 1974's landmark «Rocka Rolla» all the way to 2024's acclaimed «Invincible Shield».
«For a long time now, when asked 'how long can you continue,' I've always answered, 'until my performances suffer,'» he says in his official statement. «I hate to say it, but that time has come.
«For some years now, I've been struggling with the onset of the evil arthritis, which is now in an advanced state in my left shoulder and right hand, established in my right shoulder, and present in both knees. I've been fighting this with painkillers, gels, and recently with cortisone injections in my shoulder and hand.»
Those medical treatments, he explains, made it possible for him to lay down his signature punching basslines on the band's latest studio record. Since then, however, he severely doubted his physical ability to take that music out on the road.
«We asked our good friend Davey Rimmer from Uriah Heep and Elegant Weapons to learn the set list to stand in for me if I had to pull out, which I did for the London show,» he reveals regarding their recent European tour.
«This was due to me snapping a tendon in my left shoulder, as if I didn't have enough problems with it, just before the encore during the Brussels show two days before [September 18, 2026].»
Reluctantly stepping aside as the band flattened the English capital's famous Eventim Apollo served as a major wake-up call for Ian Hill, who notes: «I've neglected my family life for 57 years.»
«I've decided to retire and spend the remaining years making up for it,» he adds. «There's not a day goes by where I don't give thanks for the incredible journey I've lived through, and it just remains for me to say that I love you all, and thank you for the life you've let me live.»
Along with the announcement, Ian Hill confirms that Davey Rimmer will officially take his spot in one of Britain's most important metal institutions.
Meanwhile, longstanding guitarist Glenn Tipton has already retired from full-scale touring as age and health caught up with him, though he continues to prove himself a formidable riff machine in the studio alongside Richie Faulkner. This leaves legendary vocalist Rob Halford as the sole remaining touring member from the classic lineup that recorded «Rocka Rolla».