Ian Hill has retired from Judas Priest, ending a run that began in 1970 and leaves the band without a founding member on stage for the first time in its history. In a statement shared by the band, the bassist says advanced arthritis in his left shoulder and right hand, arthritis in his right shoulder and both knees, and a tendon that snapped before the encores in Brussels last month have made a full show impossible. ‘I hate to say it, but that time has come,’ he writes. Uriah Heep’s Dave Rimmer, who already covered the London date, takes over.
Hill’s statement, released by Judas Priest with the words ‘It is with heavy hearts that we are sending out this personal message from our Ian’, lays out the decision in plain terms: his body, not his will, has ended it.
For years, Hill says, his answer to how long he’d keep going was ‘until my performances suffer’. He describes the arthritis as advanced in his left shoulder and right hand, established in his right shoulder, and present in both knees, and says he’s been managing it with painkillers, gels and more recently cortisone injections. He was still able to put bass lines to the band’s new material.
Then, two days before the London show at the Eventim Apollo on September 21, he snapped a tendon in his left shoulder just before the encores in Brussels and couldn’t lift his arm high enough to reach the neck of the bass. Specialists have suggested he may be able to avoid surgery, but there’s no guarantee he’d regain the strength for a full set. The other reason is simpler. He says he has ‘neglected my family life for fifty seven years’, and he wants that time back.
The sign-off is the line fans will keep: ‘I love you all, and thank you for the life you’ve let me live.’
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Who Dave Rimmer Is
Dave ‘Davey’ Rimmer has been Uriah Heep’s bassist since 2013, plays alongside Richie Faulkner in Elegant Weapons, and stood in for Hill at the London show after learning the set as a precaution.
That Elegant Weapons connection is the whole story of why it’s him. Faulkner formed the band in 2023 with Rimmer, Ronnie Romero of Rainbow and MSG on vocals, and Accept’s Christopher Williams on drums, so Priest’s guitarist has already spent two years on stage with the new bassist. Hill calls Rimmer ‘a great bassist, and a genuinely nice bloke’, and the ‘obvious choice’ to replace him. The band hasn’t used the word permanent; Hill’s statement treats it as settled.
Rimmer joined Heep after the death of Trevor Bolder and has been part of that band’s late-career run ever since, so he arrives used to standing in a legend’s spot. He’ll need to be. Hill’s parts aren’t flashy, but they’re the floor under fifty years of twin-guitar riffs, and any list of the great metal bassists that leaves him off has misunderstood the job.
What Judas Priest Look Like Now
With Hill gone, the touring Judas Priest lineup is Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Scott Travis and Dave Rimmer; Glenn Tipton remains a member but hasn’t toured since his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018, which means nobody on stage was in the band before 1973.
Halford joined in 1973 and Tipton in 1974. Hill and K.K. Downing were there from the start, and when Downing left in 2011, Hill became the only thread back to the band that formed in Birmingham in 1969 and helped define the sound the NWOBHM would build on. That thread is cut. It’s a different thing from a band folding, and the band isn’t folding, but it’s the end of something real.
The timing is cruel in one respect. Invincible Shield, the nineteenth album, gave Priest their best UK chart position ever at number two and went to number one in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. The band has been touring it hard, and Hill says he’d already laid down bass on new songs. Whether that’s the next record or something else, the statement doesn’t say.
The Take: The Right Way To Leave
Hill has done this the way a 56-year career deserves: before the shows got bad, with the replacement already rehearsed, and with no drama.
Compare it to the way most farewells in this genre go. Ian Hill told fans for years that he’d stop when the playing suffered, and when a tendon went in Brussels, he stopped, two days later, with a bassist who already knew the set. David Coverdale retired when the voice told him to. Hill retired when the shoulder told him to. That’s not a sad story; it’s the version where the musician is in charge.
It also tells you something about Priest. Halford, who has his own long history of walking away and coming back, has said the band carries on as long as it can do so with honour. A founding member leaving quietly on his own terms, handing the bass to a man his guitarist already trusts, is what that looks like. The Priest catalogue was built on Hill’s floor; the facts most fans don’t know about him start with how little credit he ever asked for. He didn’t ask for any on the way out either.
TL;DR
Ian Hill has retired from Judas Priest after 56 years, citing advanced arthritis in his left shoulder and right hand, arthritis in his right shoulder and both knees, and a tendon snapped before the encores in Brussels last month.
‘I hate to say it, but that time has come,’ he says, adding he has ‘neglected my family life for fifty seven years’.
Uriah Heep’s Dave Rimmer, who already covered the September 21 London show and plays with Richie Faulkner in Elegant Weapons, takes over.
Hill was the last founding member; with Glenn Tipton off the road since 2018, nobody on the Priest stage now predates 1973.
Hill had already recorded bass on new material before the injury.
FAQ
Why did Ian Hill retire from Judas Priest?
Advanced arthritis in his left shoulder and right hand, arthritis in his right shoulder and both knees, and a tendon in his left shoulder that snapped before the encores at the Brussels show in September 2026, leaving him unable to reach the bass neck. Specialists say he may avoid surgery but can’t guarantee the strength for a full show. He also wants time with his family after what he calls 57 years of neglecting it.
Who is replacing Ian Hill in Judas Priest?
Dave ‘Davey’ Rimmer, Uriah Heep’s bassist since 2013 and a member of Elegant Weapons with Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner. Rimmer stood in for Hill at the London Eventim Apollo show on September 21, 2026, and Hill calls him the ‘obvious choice’.
Was Ian Hill the last original member of Judas Priest?
Yes. Hill and K.K. Downing were in the band from 1970; Downing left in 2011. Rob Halford joined in 1973 and Glenn Tipton in 1974. With Hill retired, no founding member remains, and Tipton, still a member, has not toured since his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018.
Is Judas Priest breaking up?
No. The band confirmed Hill’s retirement and his replacement in the same statement and has been touring behind Invincible Shield, its 19th album. Hill says he had already recorded bass lines for new material before his injury.
How long was Ian Hill in Judas Priest?
Fifty-six years, from 1970 until his retirement in October 2026, playing on every Judas Priest studio album from Rocka Rolla (1974) to Invincible Shield (2024).
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….
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.
Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill has announced his retirement from live performance after revealing the extent of the arthritis and injury problems that have affected his ability to play. Davey Rimmer, known for his work with Uriah Heep and Elegant Weapons, will take his place in the band.
In a personal statement issued on 9 October 2026, Hill explained that he had long believed he would continue performing until his playing began to suffer. He now feels that point has arrived. “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.”
Hill said he has been dealing with arthritis for several years, describing the condition as advanced in his left shoulder and right hand, established in his 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,” Hill said.
Judas Priest – Eventim Apollo, London – 21 September 2026. Photo: Eric Duvet/MetalTalk
Although he was able to record bass lines for the band’s new album, there were concerns about whether he could complete the recent European tour. Rimmer learned the setlist as a precaution and stepped in for the London concert after Hill snapped a tendon in his left shoulder during the Brussels show, two days earlier.
Hill explained that the injury left him unable to lift his arm far enough to reach the neck of his bass. He praised Rimmer for delivering an incredible performance at short notice.
Specialists have told Hill that surgery may not be necessary, but he said there is no guarantee that his shoulder and arm will regain enough strength to complete a full 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.
After 57 years devoted to music, Hill said he now wants to spend more time with his family.
Hill gave his full support to his successor, describing Davey Rimmer as a great bassist and a genuinely nice person who will fit the job perfectly.
“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. X”
In the announcement accompanying Hill’s statement, Judas Priest said he had been the band’s backbone for many years, wished him well in retirement and welcomed Rimmer into the Priest family.
Judas Priest Bassist Ian Hill Announces Retirement As Davey Rimmer Steps In
Opening up an inimitable world for heavy music, multi-cultural alternative metal quintet ANKOR — vocalist Jessie Williams (Bristol, UK), drummer Eleni Nota (Athens, Greece), guitarists David Romeu and Fito Martinez, and bassist Julio López (Catalonia, Spain) — proudly present their new album, I SEE RED, out November 20 via UNFD. Pre-order the album here.
To herald its release, they just unleashed a brand new single and music video entitled “ITACHI · blood moon.”
“ITACHI · blood moon” hints at the scope of ANKOR’s immersive vision. Ominous guitar brings dimension to a hypnotic rhythm. Meannwhile, haunting vocal transmissions echo over a pounding beat, giving way to a corrosively catchy chorus, “Drown me in poison, I’ll stay where it hurts.” It concludes with a chilling invitation, “Make me your nightmare, let me haunt your sleep.” The accompanying visual projects this image on screen through striking vignettes and arresting storytelling.
Fall into ANKOR’s dark embrace and see RED with them…
About their forthcoming album, Jessie Williams said, “I See Red is a journey through pain, power, sacrifice, betrayal, loss and obsession. Each song tells the story of someone who was shaped by the world around them and by the choices they made when everything they believed in began to fall apart. Some sought peace. Some sought power. Some sacrificed everything for the people they loved. Others let hatred consume what was left of them. But none of them were born monsters. The world made them. And sometimes, when pain becomes the only thing you know, becoming the monster is easier than becoming the victim. Six names. Six paths. One color. I See Red.”
Adding another layer to the project, each song on I SEE RED evokes the lore of prominent villains in the Naruto manga and anime series.
The album will also include their 2026 single, “DANZO · lying ghost” featuring MAH of Japanese rock powerhouse SiM. Since releasing in March, the track continues to gain traction with over 498.4k Spotify streams while the music video has tallied 255.7k views. It also received plugs from Distorted Sound Magazine, That Eric Alper, and Louder who named it among “The 12 Best New Metal Songs You Need To Hear This Week,” going on to rave “it’s a vibrant showcase of how unique the band are.” The latter praised, “Heavy guitars and modern metalcore production collide with the band’s fascination with Asian pop culture, while the song’s central character gives its aggression a clear narrative target.”
In other news, ANKOR will be supporting Amaranthe on their forthcoming Nordic tour. Rolling through cities across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Latvia, the trek kicks off on October 15 before ending on November 7. Shortly after, ANKOR will venture to Europe for a co-headline tour alongside Self Deception and Lauren Babic. The run begins on November 27 in Cologne, Germany followed by performances across France, the UK, Austria, Denmark, and more. The tour concludes on December 19 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Check out the full list of tour dates below.
Stay tuned for more music and news from ANKOR coming soon.
Welcome to their world.
I SEE RED TRACK LISTING: “The world shall know pain” “MADARA · endless dream” “ITACHI · blood moon” “KAGUYA · paper halo” “NAGATO · purples eyes” “OBITO · dead letter” “DANZO · lying ghost (ft. MAH from SiM)”
NORDIC TOUR – SUPPORTING AMARANTHE: 10/15 — Huskvarna, SE 10/16 — Lund, SE 10/17 — Göteborg, SE 10/18 — Örebro, SE 10/20 — Karlstad, SE 10/22 — Stavanger, NO 10/23 — Bergen, NO 10/24 — Trondheim, NO 10/25 — Oslo, NO 10/27 — Falun, SE 10/28 — Umeå, SE 10/30 — Seinäjoki, FI 10/31 — Tampere, FI 11/1 — Jyväskylä, FI 11/3 — Rīga, LV 11/4 — Vilnius, LT 11/6 — Turku, FI 11/7 — Lahti, FI
EU/UK CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH SELF DECEPTION & LAUREN BABIC: 11/27 — Cologne, DE 11/28 — Hamburg, DE 11/29 — Utrecht, NL 12/1 — Kortrijk, BE 12/2 — Paris, FR 12/4 — Manchester, UK 12/5 — London, UK 12/6 — Birmingham, UK 12/8 — Aschaffenburg, DE 12/9 — Aarau, CH 12/11 — Karlsruhe, DE 12/12 — Vienna, AT 12/13 — Munich, DE 12/15 — Hannover, DE 12/16 — Berlin, DE 12/17 — Aarhus, DK 12/18 — Copenhagen, DK 12/19 — Stockholm, SE
Calva Louise have once again defied expectations and crafted something wholly unique with their new track ‘La Promesa’.
Part flamenco classic, part period piece, part deathcore crusher, it is bonkers, brilliant and boundless as it comes. A forward-thinking, chaotic, stunningly crafted piece of modern heaviness that refuses to be labelled and thrives within the ambiguity.
Vocalist Jess Allanic explains the meaning behind the song, centred around the feeling of invisible forces pushing you forwards:
“Although some of those forces can be positive, others can become empty promises rooted in obsessions and delusions. Eventually blurring the lines between doing the right thing, accepting a more challenging path or choosing to ignore the consequences of your own actions because it’s the easy way out.”
And she further builds on why the song is sung in Spanish, and why that was so vital:
“As Spanish is my native language, it feels more natural for me to accurately convey the abstract emotions that we are experiencing. Also as the song is heavily inspired by Venezuelan Joropo (also known as Música Llanera) Spanish was subconsciously the only way for me to sing this melody, letting the natural flow of the writing process take total control. That being said, some French lines are sung by our bass player Alizon, as a nod to our multicultural background, and also adding another perspective to the character’s point of view.”
And those characters are portrayed in a video pulled from another time, which was written, directed, and SFX’d by Jess.
The band had this to say about it:
“The video for La Promesa was like our previous videos made by ourselves and our friends and it expands on the story of one of the characters of Edge Of The Abyss. Although the video is a diy endeavour, we feel we keep continuing to progress in our abilities, always trying to increase the production value.”
Enough chat, let’s get stuck in:
Calva Louise are currently out on the road with Creeper, and here are the dates you can catch them at:
OCTOBER
9 – LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town 10 – MANCHESTER Academy 11 – GLASGOW SWG3 Galvanisers
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