In April 2021, Exodus’ Tom Hunting announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer two months before. The musician received several treatments in the following months, including total gastrectomy and chemotherapy. By July, the drummer gave the good news and said he was cancer-free. In a conversation with Backstage TV, Hunting reflected on his diagnosis and another fellow musician’s health condition.
“An incredible body of work,” the musician said when asked about the first thing that comes to his mind when somebody says ‘Judas Priest.’ “A to Z, everything’s amazing. A lot of things come to mind.” He later talked about Glenn Tipton’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, saying, “I think about what Glenn’s going through, and I think about how they talk about that and how they treat Glenn.”
The Exodus drummer then stressed how the members supported their bandmates during his struggle. Hunting noted, “It’s very human sh*t that we’re all going to go through. I have my own battle. Glenn’s having his battle.” He later stated that Judas Priest’s and Tipton’s attitudes towards the disease are inspiring, sharing, “But they don’t freak out about it; they just kind of deal with it. And he deals with it. It’s inspiring.”
Judas Priest guitarist announced he would step down from touring with the band after revealing his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in February 2018. Regardless of his disease, Glenn Tipton remained a band member, and Andy Sneap replaced him. A month after his announcement, Tipton joined the band during their show in Newark, New Jersey. He performed many songs, including ‘Metal God,’ which was overwhelming and emotional as he described it.
During his diagnosis process and after, all Judas Priest members expressed their support to their bandmates. Tipton said during his return to the stage, “It’s just amazing to get, first of all, support from the band. The texts and emails from all over the world, and to hear the audience was very emotional. You don’t like to see a grown man cry, but we did.”
Tipton’s future plans with Judas Priest are still unknown; whether he’ll be able to record and tour with them. Nevertheless, there’s one thing for sure: the guitarist will have his bandmates’ full support and his fans’ love for the rest of his life.
