Ian Hill retires from Judas Priest: “Thank you for the life you’ve let me live”

O baixista da Judas Priest, Ian Hill, anunciou sua aposentadoria da banda após 56 anos.

• READ MORE: ‘The Ballad Of Judas Priest’ review: how the heavy metal legends were forged.

The band made the announcement on social media and in a press release, with Hill confirming that he will be stepping down due to his ongoing battle with arthritis in a lengthy post.

Uriah Heep’s Davey Rimmer will fill in for the rest of the band’s tour dates after stepping in for Hill during their show at London’s Eventim Apollo last month.

Hill continuou dizendo que consultou especialistas “que sugeriram que eu poderia ficar sem cirurgia”, mas “mesmo que eu não faça, não há garantia de que terei força suficiente no ombro/braço para completar todo o show no palco.”.

He continued: “In view of all this, and the fact that I’ve neglected my family life for fifty seven years, I’ve decided to retire and spend the remaining years making up for it, and doing things with them before it involves one of ‘em pushing me around in a wheelchair.”.

Hill concluded: “There’s not a day goes by where I don’t give thanks for the incredible journey I’ve lived through, and it just remains for me to say that I love you all, and thank you for the life you’ve let me live X.”.

O baixista foi o membro de maior permanência dos veteranos do metal depois de se juntar a eles em 1970 e de ter participado de todos os 19 álbuns de estúdio deles até o 'Invincible Shield' de 2024.

Earlier this year, Judas Priest released their documentary film, The Ballad Of Judas Priest, which was co-directed by Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello.

NME awarded the film four stars and described it as a “lively, in-depth examination of the fascinating and important heavy metal icons,” adding that “this Ballad is well worth listening to”.

The world's defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what's new and what's next since 1952.

When you purchase through affiliate links on NME.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn More.

NME Networks, a part of Caldecott Music Group. All rights reserved.