IAN HILL Opens Up About His Decision To Retire From JUDAS PRIEST: 'I Had No Choice, Really'

In a new interview with Ukrainian metalhead Vladyslav Stadnyk, who goes by the name Metal Pilgrim, Ian Hill, the longest-serving member of JUDAS PRIEST, discussed his decision to retire from the band. Hill revealed his departure to fans in a lengthy statement on October 9, citing the "evil arthritis" and other injuries as the reason for his exit.

Regarding why now was the right time for him to leave PRIEST, Hill told Metal Pilgrim (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "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," he continued. "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.'

The 74-year-old Hill said that while he was able to contribute bass lines to JUDAS PRIEST's upcoming album, there was concern whether he would be able to participate in the band's recent European tour, so the band enlisted URIAH HEEP's Davey Rimmer as an understudy. Rimmer stepped in for Hill during JUDAS PRIEST's September 21 concert at the Eventim Apollo in London, United Kingdom after Ian sustained what was described at the time as "a badly damaged tendon 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," Ian explained. "So we did ask Davey to come, and he came over to Andy's [Sneap, PRIEST producer and touring guitarist] 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."

Ian went on to say that he "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," Hill explained. "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."

After Metal Pilgrim asked if it is correct to say that the London gig would have been Ian's last one with PRIEST either way, even if he hadn't suffered a snapped tendon at the Brussels show, Hill responded: "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."

Asked if he thinks PRIEST singer Rob Halford would have announced to the audience that the London gig was going to Hill's final performance with the band, Ian said: "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."

Hill added that he is confident Rimmer will do a great job with PRIEST going forward, even though "he's gonna get flack" from some of the band's fans. "I mean, the other [members of PRIEST who replaced other musicians] did. Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist] got it when he took over from Ken [K.K. Downing]. And Andy got it when he took over from Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist]. 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."

As for Ian's involvement with PRIEST in the future, he said: "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."

Hill also didn't rule out select appearances at PRIEST concerts in the future.

"I'm not gonna be a stranger," he explained. "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."

Asked if there is a chance that he will show up for a song or two at the occasional PRIEST gig, Ian said: "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]"

Hill was the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Original guitarist Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Faulkner.

Born in Liverpool, Davey Rimmer began playing bass at the age of 11, immersing himself in the music of bands such as QUEEN, URIAH HEEP, LED ZEPPELIN and DEEP PURPLE. He developed his skills by playing along with vinyl records. Rimmer relocated to London in the 1990s, where he became active in the local rock scene. During this period, he toured and recorded two albums with ZODIAC MINDWARP & THE LOVE REACTION, "Rock Savage" (2005, Cosmodelic Records) and "We Are Volsung" (2010, SPV/Steamhammer). His bass influences include British rock bassists such as John Entwhistle, John Deacon, Trevor Bolder, Bob Daisley and Neil Murray.

In the early 2000s, Rimmer was a regular member of METALWORKS, a rock covers band based in Camden Town. This group featured notable musicians such as Richie Faulkner (JUDAS PRIEST) and Les Binks (ex-JUDAS PRIEST),alongside other guest artists. In 2013, Rimmer joined URIAH HEEP, initially filling in for Trevor Bolder during his illness. After Bolder's passing, Rimmer became a permanent member, contributing to the album "Outsider" (2014) and subsequent releases. He has maintained a consistent presence in the band, which is recognized for its extensive touring schedule and commitment to both classic material and new music. In 2022, Rimmer expanded his musical involvement by joining forces with Richie Faulkner, Ronnie Romero and others in ELEGANT WEAPONS.