Judas Priest have announced that longtime bassist Ian Hill is retiring from the band, closing an extraordinary chapter in the group’s history after more than five decades.
In a statement published on the band’s official site on 9 October 2026, Judas Priest described Hill as a central part of the band and thanked him for the music, stages and life they have shared. The announcement also welcomes Davey to the Priest family.
A foundational presence steps away
For generations of metal listeners, Hill’s role was inseparable from the weight and discipline of the Judas Priest sound. His approach was rarely about spectacle. It was about the pulse underneath the riffs: the steady foundation that allowed guitars, vocals and drums to reach their full dramatic force.
That quiet consistency is precisely why the news carries such significance. Bands can change line-ups, but some musicians become part of the architecture of the music itself. Hill’s contribution belongs in that category.
The announcement follows an earlier injury update
On 21 September, the band had said that Hill had damaged a tendon and was unable to appear at a scheduled Hammersmith show. Davey Rimmer stepped in for that performance. The new statement goes further, confirming Hill’s retirement and formally welcoming Davey into the Judas Priest family.
The official announcement does not frame the moment with unnecessary drama. Its tone is affectionate and direct: gratitude for Hill’s contribution, acknowledgement of his bond with the band and confidence that the Priest journey will continue.
A legacy measured in endurance
Heavy metal often celebrates speed, volume and confrontation. Hill represented another essential virtue: endurance. Remaining the dependable centre of a band across decades of changing production styles, tours and generations of listeners is an achievement in its own right.
His retirement will naturally prompt fans to revisit favourite records and performances. Yet the most fitting tribute may be to listen for the element that was easiest to take for granted—the disciplined low end that kept the songs moving and gave the twin-guitar attack room to strike.
The next chapter
Judas Priest’s statement makes clear that the band intends to move forward while honouring the person who helped shape its identity. Welcoming a new musician does not erase what came before; it depends on it.
For Ian Hill, retirement arrives with the gratitude of bandmates and a global audience. For Judas Priest, it marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. The riffs will continue, but the foundation Hill built will remain part of every chapter that follows.
Source: official Judas Priest news announcements dated 21 September and 9 October 2026.
