When you think of heavy metal, what comes to mind? Leather jackets, flying riffs, and that electrifying roar that shakes your soul? If you said Judas Priest, congratulations, you’re officially in the metal know.
Even so many years later, Judas Priest has never lost their metal mojo. Their music still sounds fresh, their live shows still blow minds and their style remains instantly recognizable. So, whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering metal’s roots, remember this: Judas Priest didn’t just play metal, they shaped it. And with riffs as sharp as a freshly forged blade and a style that’s pure steel, they’re metal royalty, forever. Ready to crank up the volume yet?
Ian Hill of Judas Priest Talks to Audio Ink Radio
Legendary Judas Priest bass player Ian Hill spoke with Anne Erickson about the band’s current tour and, of course, their “War Pigs” single that they did with Ozzy Osbourne for charity. The cause is Parkinson’s disease, which Ozzy suffered from, as does Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest.
When asked about Ozzy’s final show and if Judas Priest now wish they had performed there, Hill says that of course they do. But, they had a commitment with the Scorpions, and he says if both bands had known Ozzy would pass away a few weeks later, they would have done things differently.
“I mean, obviously in hindsight, if we knew what was going to happen, we’d have come and done that,” he said of playing the final Black Sabbath show. “And the thing is, the Scorpions would have understood that, as well. In fact, they were probably gutted that they couldn’t be there as well. But, yeah, hindsight’s great thing. We didn’t know that was going to happen.”
Hill said that because of Ozzy’s ailments, his death “wasn’t as big a surprise as it might have been. Like you said, he was struggling for some time with Parkinson’s and other ailments, and he was, like I say, he was struggling.”
Ozzy seemed to be loving it on the stage, and Hill saw that. “You get the last show out of the way and then you let go. So you don’t know, you know. He was loving it,” he said. “He was up there and he was loving it, and like you say, he looked as well as he’s been for ages, and it’s why it was such a shock.”
He added, “He was so full of life on that show, that when it happened, we were all gutted. Couldn’t believe it when we first heard.”
Switching gears, Hill says that Judas Priest are definitely doing another album together. “Yeah, there’s plans to go back into the studio in the new year. So, when it’ll be released, I don’t know. It’s a long process. I’m in no rush either, you know. So, it’ll be a while. The recording is going to happen, looks like, next year.”
So, have they started writing it all on the road? “I know Richie has,” Hill said. “He’s got quite a few ideas together, yeah. So we’ve got a head start there.”
What about touring? “Well, that’ll happen, as well,” Hill said. “Obviously, if you have an album, you have to go out and tour with it. So, yeah, that’ll happen, too.”
Watch the full interview above and subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts.
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