Judas Priest Legend Ian Hill Retires, Battles 'Evil Arthritis'

Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill announced his immediate retirement from the iconic British heavy metal group on Friday morning, October 9. In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, the band expressed their deep sorrow at the departure of their longest-serving member, acknowledging Hill as the "backbone of Judas Priest for so long" and stating he would be "greatly missed by us all."

Hill, 75, provided a lengthy personal statement, addressing the common question of how long he would continue with the band he co-founded with childhood friend K.K. Downing in 1970, a year after original vocalist Al Atkins established the group in Birmingham, England. Hill revealed, "I’ve always answered, ‘until my performances suffer.’ I hate to say it, but that time has come." He disclosed a long-standing battle with advanced arthritis in his left shoulder, right hand, right shoulder, and both knees. Despite fighting the condition with various treatments including painkillers, gels, and cortisone injections, the physical toll became too great.

The health issues had already impacted his ability to perform. Hill explained that while he managed to record his basslines for Priest’s upcoming album, uncertainty loomed over his ability to complete the band’s most recent European tour. This concern led the group to enlist Uriah Heep bassist Davey Rimmer to learn their set list for the Faithkeepers tour as a standby. Rimmer indeed had to step in on September 21 during a show at London’s Eventim Apollo after Hill snapped a tendon in his left shoulder just before the encores at a gig in Brussels on September 18. This injury rendered him unable to lift his arm sufficiently to reach his bass neck, necessitating Rimmer’s "incredible performance at such short notice."

Specialists suggested Hill might avoid surgery, but even without it, there was "no guarantee either way that I’ll have enough strength in my shoulder/arm to complete a whole stage show." Considering his health struggles and acknowledging that he had "neglected my family life for fifty-seven years," Hill made the difficult decision to retire. He expressed a desire to spend his remaining years "making up for it, and doing things with them before it involves one of ’em pushing me around in a wheelchair." Hill extended praise to Rimmer, describing him as a "great" bassist and "genuinely nice bloke," wishing him success in his new role with the band, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Uriah Heep, Rimmer's primary band, offered their blessings for the lineup change via Facebook, wishing Davey "our very best in this very coveted position in one of the giants of heavy metal and hard rock." They clarified that Rimmer would continue to perform with Uriah Heep in 2026 and for all shows in 2027 where schedules permit, with a replacement to be announced for conflicting dates. Ian Hill holds a unique distinction as the only Judas Priest member to appear on all 19 of the band’s albums, from their 1974 debut, Rocka Rolla, through the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2024’s Invincible Shield. Following their summer tour in Europe, Judas Priest has a significant hiatus before their next scheduled gigs in June 2027 at festivals in Norway and Denmark.