Ian Hill announced his retirement from Judas Priest, explaining that the physical problems he has faced for several years are now affecting his ability to perform live. The band confirmed that Davey Rimmer, of Uriah Heep and Elegant Weapons, will take his place, accompanying Hill’s personal statement with a farewell recognising his longstanding importance to the group.
In his statement, Hill recalled the answer he had regularly given when asked how much longer he could continue: he would keep going until his performances began to suffer. He now believes that point has arrived, following a struggle with arthritis that he describes as advanced in his left shoulder and right hand, established in his right shoulder, and also present in both knees.
The musician said he had used painkillers, gels and, more recently, cortisone injections in his shoulder and hand to manage the condition. Those difficulties were compounded when he ruptured a tendon in his left shoulder during the Brussels concert, shortly before the encores. The injury left him unable to raise his arm high enough to reach the neck of his bass, forcing the band to call on a replacement it had already prepared.
Even before that incident, there had been concerns about whether Hill could complete the recent European tour. Judas Priest therefore asked Rimmer to learn the set and be ready to step in if Hill had to withdraw. That preparation became crucial for the London performance, which took place two days after the Brussels show.
On September 21, the band officially announced that Hill would miss the concert at Hammersmith’s Eventim Apollo because of a badly damaged tendon in his left arm. Rimmer took over on bass that evening, and Hill used his retirement statement to praise the performance his replacement delivered after receiving the call at such short notice.
Consultations with specialists have not provided the assurance Hill would need to return to the stage. He explained that he might be able to avoid surgery, but neither route guarantees that he will regain enough strength in his shoulder and arm to complete an entire show. His decision reflects both that uncertainty and his desire to spend more time with his family after decades of musical commitments.
Hill referred to 57 years in which his family life had taken a back seat, saying that he wants to use the coming years to share activities with his loved ones. His statement presents retirement as a personal decision he has already made, rather than a temporary break with an anticipated return date.
