Judas Priest Announce Retirement of Bassist Ian Hill, Reveal Replacement

Judas Priest have announced the retirement of their longtime bassist Ian Hill, who is exiting the band due to various physical setbacks.

The 74-year-old Hill joined Judas Priest in 1970, and has played on all of their studio albums. He is being replaced by Davey Rimmer, a member of both Uriah Heep and Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner’s band Elegant Weapons.

The band introduced a message from Ian by stating, “It is with heavy hearts that we are sending out this personal message from our Ian….he has been the backbone of Judas Priest for so long and will be greatly missed by us all….we wish him well in his retirement and welcome Davey into the Priest Family.”

The personal message from Ian reads as follows:

“Hello everyone, for a long time now, when asked “how long can you continue” – I’ve always answered “until my performances suffer”… 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 painkilling pills, gels, and recently with cortisone injections in my shoulder and hand.

Although, I was able to put bass lines to the songs for the new album, there were questions whether I’d be able to complete the recent European tour without incident, so we asked our good friend Davey Rimmer from Uriah Heep, and of course 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. 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 encores during the Brussels show two days before. This led to me not being able to lift my arm enough to reach the neck of my bass. So we had to call Davey to stand in for me, who put in an incredible performance at such short notice!

I’ve seen specialists, who suggest I might get away without surgery, but even if I don’t there’s no guarantee either way that I’ll have enough strength in my shoulder/arm to complete a whole stage show.

In view of all this, and the fact that I’ve neglected my family life for fifty seven years, I’ve decided to retire and spend the remaining years making up for it, and doing things with them before it involves one of ‘em pushing me around in a wheelchair.

The obvious choice for my replacement is Davey. He’s a great bassist, and a genuinely nice bloke who’ll fit the job perfectly, and I wish him the very best of luck!

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.

Ian Hill”

Judas Priest’s current lineup consists of Rimmer, singer Rob Halford, guitarist Richie Faulkner, drummer Scott Travis, guitarist Andy Sneap. Longtime guitarist Glenn Tipton is still technically a member of the band, but no longer tours with them due to his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s.

The band has no remaining 2026 shows, but has already booked a handful of European festivals for Summer 2027.

See Judas Priest’s newest touring lineup in the official promo photo below.