Ian Hill reveals more about parting ways with Judas Priest

A recent interview provided an occasion for Ian Hill, a foundational member of Judas Priest, to articulate the rationale behind his impending retirement. His forthcoming departure was formally communicated to the public on October 9th through an extensive declaration. This announcement attributed the decision primarily to the onset of severe arthritic conditions and other related physical ailments. In the aforementioned interview with Vladyslav Stadnyk, professionally known as Metal Pilgrim, Hill further elaborated on the specific factors influencing the timing of his decision to relinquish his role within the band.

It is funny, because the last couple of tours have been a bit of a struggle, because this trouble is basically my shoulder and my thumb — [I’ve got a] great big lump on my thumb, which is all arthritis. I’ve been struggling with that for the past couple of tours or so. And it doesn’t go away, unfortunately, and it’s one of those things that just gets worse as time goes by. And I almost retired at the end of the last tour.

It’s funny the way it came about. Iron Maiden said, ‘Do you fancy doing a four-week tour of America this year?’ And I said, ‘Well, yeah, that sounds okay, a four-week tour of America, quick four weeks.’ Then they pulled out. In the meantime, we’d put in Bloodstock in Britain, which is the festival in Britain. So you can’t tool up to do one show. So the next thing, ‘Oh, we’ll do one or two dates in Europe around Bloodstock.’ And nine weeks later… And that’s what did it. We did six shows in eight days. That was running up to Brussels, so that’s when the tendon snapped.

Because we were averaging maybe a day on, a day off, day on, day off, so the crew could get to the next gig and what have you. And, of course, it was recovering on the days off. Obviously, I wasn’t doing anything, so it recovered. And then, of course, you go on stage and you aggravate it all over again. But then it was sort of, like I say, six shows in eight days, and I’d never had time to recover. And right before the encores on the Brussels show, I just felt a snap and a real sharp, searing pain, and I thought, ‘That’s it. That’s the end of it.’

And for the encores, I had to actually get my elbow and rest it on my stomach and pull the bass back so I could get down to the bottom of the neck. And it’s easing off a lot now. I can sort of lift it and do things that I couldn’t do immediately after that. I mean, I couldn’t move it at all. From the elbow down, everything was fine. It worked a treat, but I just could not move my shoulder. And that’s why I had to miss the London show. I physically could not play the bass.’

Hill, at 74 years of age, indicated that while he successfully contributed bass tracks to Judas Priest’s forthcoming album, uncertainties arose regarding his capacity to engage in the subsequent European tour. Consequently, Davey Rimmer of Uriah Heep was engaged as a provisional replacement. Rimmer subsequently assumed Hill’s performance duties at the September 21st concert held at the Eventim Apollo in London, United Kingdom. This substitution was necessitated by Hill sustaining a severe tendon injury in his left arm.

There were some questions of whether I’d be able to make it through because of the troubles I’d had in the past. So we did ask Davey to come, and he came over to Andy’s place in Derbyshire. And he learnt the set and went through it with the rest of the guys. I just sat out in the kitchen listening to him. And he did a fucking unbelievable job, really. So short, two days’ notice. You’re on stage. Wow. So, he’s flying. He had to use all my equipment and everything. He just brought his basses with him, and he pulled off an incredible, incredible performance.

I was really, really gutted that I couldn’t make that last show [in London]. I mean, it would’ve been the last one. But no. And then I’ve seen specialists since. In fact, I’m there tomorrow. He’s got some kind of plan for me, whatever that entails. He doesn’t wanna send me for surgery, which is good news all around. If I go for surgery, he said there’s no guarantee it’s, it’s gonna work. So he’s gonna try and avoid that if he can.

So I had no choice, really, than to knock it on the head. I couldn’t put the rest of the guys in jeopardy and go out on another tour, and it happen all over again in the middle of a tour. It’s not fair on anybody — the fans, the rest of the guys, the people have put money into us to get us out to these places, and suddenly you’re having to cancel shows and things. It’s not fair. So I decided to call it a day, and I have. I’ve neglected family life. It’s cost me two marriages over the years. So I decided to spend a bit of time with the folks.

Hill gave this response in response to Metal Pilgrim’s question about whether it is accurate to state that, even if Ian hadn’t snapped his tendon during the Brussels engagement, the London performance would have been his final one with Priest.

I think I’d have retired anyway because, like I say, we had to get Davey in at the start of this last tour, just in case something happened. And he did. A good job he did. And like I say, it ain’t getting better. Arthritis doesn’t get better. You either have to go and have your joints replaced and stuff like that. But it’s just one of those old fart things that happen to you when you get of a certain age.

When asked if he believed Priest singer Rob Halford would have told the crowd that the London show would be Hill’s last with the band, Ian responded as follows.

I don’t think so, no. I think it would’ve been… I don’t know. I just didn’t think it felt right doing that, saying, ‘This is Ian’s last show. This is the last chance to see Ian.’ Then you’ve gotta go everywhere else and get the last chance to see Ian. That obviously wasn’t on the cards. I couldn’t do that.

Even though “he’s gonna get flack” from some of the band’s fans, Hill continued, he is sure Rimmer will do a fantastic job with Priest going forward.

I mean, the other [members of Priest who replaced other musicians] did. Richie got it when he took over from Ken [K.K. Downing]. And Andy got it when he took over from Glenn. He’s gonna get flack for the first year or so, until he’s settled down and he builds up that confidence, if you know what I mean, which is what it’s all about. It’s always nerve-wracking when you’re doing something totally different, which he will be doing, from Uriah Heep. And, of course, we’ve known him for ages. And Richie knows him really well. I mean, he’s known him for decades. So, we know what kind of character he is, and he’s not bringing any baggage with him from a purely human point of view. He’s a wonderful bloke. He really is. And a great bass player, so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to get on with it. And I wish him all the best of luck.

Ian made this statement on his future participation with Priest.

I’ve managed to put bass down to the new album coming out next year. There’s a bit more work to do. [But if] I hold the bass in the right position. I’ll be able to complete it. So, at least I’ll be on the record, if nothing else.

Additionally, Hill did not rule out making a few future appearances at Priest gigs.

I’m not gonna be a stranger. Every now and again, I’ll show up and just go stand on the sound desk and really see what it sounds like. I’ll probably be knocked out, because everything’s happening behind you. You can’t see a thing. You’re concentrating what you’re playing and the audience, and then every now and then you turn around and see what’s going on.

So will we see him again on stage with Judas Priest?

Yeah, I’ve told the guys I’m wide open to stuff like that. If they need me for a special occasion or what have you, I’m more than happy to come up and do what I can. I won’t be able to do more than I can now, for instance — not that I’m gonna push Davey out again — but I’ll get up there and I’ll do what Glenn did. Go and play an encore or two or whatever at one of the landmark shows. That’s if the guys want me to do that. And whether Davey’s gonna be happy for me to do that. He might claim his spot, and, ‘This is mine now.’ [Laughs]