Ian Hill has outlined his plans to remain involved with Judas Priest following his retirement from the band, during a conversation with Metal Pilgrim.
Hill was discussing what role he might play with the band after stepping away due to health issues. He confirmed that he would contribute to the upcoming album and suggested ways he could participate in future performances.
“I’ve managed to put bass down to the new album coming out next year,” Hill said. “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.”
The bassist explained that he would still attend shows, though from a different vantage point. “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.”
Hill added that he remains open to special appearances with the band. “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]”
Hill made these comments as part of a broader discussion about his transition away from touring with Judas Priest. His involvement with the band will continue in limited capacities as his health allows.
Hill is the founding bassist of Judas Priest and has been with the band since 1970. Along with guitarist Glenn Tipton, he is one of only two members who have appeared on all of the band’s studio albums, making him the longest-serving musician in the group’s history. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Hill’s decision to step back from touring came after he suffered a tendon injury in his left shoulder during a Brussels concert on September 18, 2026. The injury forced him to miss a show in London three days later, marking the first time in his career that Hill had missed a Judas Priest performance. Davey Rimmer, a bassist who plays with both Uriah Heep and Elegant Weapons, stepped in as his replacement.
Hill’s situation follows a precedent set by guitarist Glenn Tipton, who retired from touring with Judas Priest in 2018 after revealing he had Parkinson’s disease. Tipton has continued to contribute to the band’s studio work and occasionally appears on stage for special performances, with Andy Sneap handling touring duties as his replacement. Hill’s approach mirrors Tipton’s model of remaining creatively connected while stepping away from the demands of full-time touring.
The upcoming album, which followed the band’s 2024 release Invincible Shield, is expected to arrive around March or April 2027, subject to the record label’s schedule. Hill described the new material as “a little bit more traditional” and “a lot more direct” than the previous record, suggesting it marks a shift in the band’s musical direction while maintaining his bass contributions to the project.
