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Judas Priest Bassist Ian Hill Suffered Tendon Injury

The longtime bassist missed his first live concert appearance in decades due to an arm injury.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Metal

Graphic illustration of a lone bass guitar neck against a stage railing, capturing the mood of a heavy metal performance.
Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill missed a live concert for the first time in decades following a tendon injury to his arm. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Is it acceptable for legendary bands to perform using replacement musicians when founding members are injured?

Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill has sustained a damaged tendon in his left arm, forcing the 74-year-old musician to miss a live performance for the first time. The band confirmed the injury via Instagram and utilized a replacement bassist for their show at the Hammersmith Apollo Eventim.

Why it matters

Hill has been a cornerstone of Judas Priest since joining the band in 1969. His absence from the stage marks a rare interruption for one of the most enduring figures in heavy metal history.

Judas Priest has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and earned one Grammy Award from six nominations. Their latest album, Invincible Shield, debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.

The players

Ian Hill

He is the 74-year-old bassist and a founding member of the heavy metal band Judas Priest.

Davey Rimmer

He is a professional bassist who stepped in to perform for Judas Priest at the Hammersmith Apollo.

Judas Priest

This influential British heavy metal band has been active since the late 1960s and has achieved significant global commercial success.

The details

The band employed substitute bassist Davey Rimmer to fill the vacancy for the September 21 performance. Hill remains a vital member of the group, which is currently navigating the 27-date Faithkeepers world tour that launched in Germany this past July.

Timeline

  1. Ian Hill has been a member of Judas Priest since 1969.

  2. The Faithkeepers tour began in late July 2026 at BOBfest.

  3. Ian Hill missed his first concert performance on September 21, 2026.

  4. Judas Priest is scheduled to perform at Tons of Rock in late June 2027.

  5. Judas Priest is scheduled for the Tuska festival from July 2 to July 4, 2027.

Industry Dynamics

This event reflects the ongoing challenge for classic rock and metal legacy acts as their founding members age. It underscores the importance of having reliable substitute musicians ready to maintain the touring viability of major international acts.

Fans attending upcoming tour dates should monitor official band channels for any potential changes to the lineup. Access to live performances remains intact, though audiences may see temporary session musicians filling in for regular members.

The takeaway

Maintaining physical health is a critical challenge for veteran performers who have sustained decades-long careers. Fans should appreciate the rarity of such long-standing commitments as bands look to support their lineups during unexpected recovery periods.

Further reading

For more information on the evolving live scene for classic metal bands, visit the Metal section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Celebrity.

Live Poll

Is it acceptable for legendary bands to perform using replacement musicians when founding members are injured?