Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill recently announced his retirement due to health issues that prevent him to be able to play the bass live with the band. He explained that advanced arthritis in his left shoulder, right hand and knees are the main reason why he had to decide to stop. He had already missed the band’s show in London last month, being replaced by Uriah Heep’s Dave Rimmer, who now was announced as his replacement in the band.
K.K. Downing, the band’s former guitarist, retired in the previous decade but decided to return a few years later and wasn’t accepted back. He talked about Hill’s retirement in an interview with Eddie Trunk. After not being accepted in Judas again, KK formed in 2019 his own band KK’s Priest with Tim “Ripper” Owns on vocals.
K.K. Downing talks about Ian Hill’s retirement from Judas Priest
“Well, it has been a very, very long time for everyone, and obviously if you do have some certain issues with your health, then you have to succumb when you get the call, I suppose. But, like I say, Ian had — it was a long, good career, and very successful career. Yeah, obviously, it’s a bit awkward for me because it’s a pity that Ian didn’t accept me (back) in the band a few years ago (When Glenn Tipton stepped out due to Parkinson’s disease. I would be there now, even though he isn’t. But I wish him well, and all the best for the future.”
“Yes, it was. I had a three-piece band with my cousin Brian Badhams, who now plays with the Elkie Brooks band. And he left because we didn’t have a singer, so I invited Ian in. And I changed drummers at the same time as well. And we were just a three-piece; that was all. And then Al Atkins knocked on the rehearsal room and said, ‘Do you guys need a singer?’ So, Al joined my band, but we went to the pub and, and said, ‘Can we call it Judas Priest?'”
“Because (Al had a different band called Judas Priest and) they had been going for a year, but they had disbanded. And that’s kind of how it worked. And myself and Ian had been there — well, ever since, until Ian has just retired and what happened to me did. But [I have] no regrets. It’s been fantastic. [We made some] great music, and we couldn’t have done it without the fans, so a big shout-out to them,” K.K. Downing said (Transcribed by Blabbermouth).
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