Ian Hill states that K.K. Downing was not considered to replace Glenn Tipton for Judas Priest’s tour

Ian Hill states that K.K. Downing was not considered to replace Glenn Tipton for Judas Priest’s tour

Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill was recently interviewed by Spain’s Metal Journal and spoke about former Priest guitarist K.K. Downing not being considered as a replacement when the group realized that Glenn Tipton would not be able to perform during the entirety of the band’s latest Firepower Tour due to his struggles with Parkinson’s Disease.

Hill stated (as transcribed via Google): “Not really. Ken is retired. Richie is taking over Ken‘s part of the band. I know he mentioned something about it. But Richie would have had to perform Glenn‘s parts for Ken to come back. In addition, he has not played anything from the last two albums. That idea was really impossible. No, he was not considered.”

In terms of whether Judas Priest could continue without Hill, Tipton or singer Rob Halford, Hill opined: “You never know that until it happens. We’ll have to see that a bit later. And it does not depend on us. It really depends more on the fans than on anything else. Whether they want to accept it or not. So it really depends on them.”

With regard to former Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland who recently passed away, Hill advised: “… I had not talked to Dave in a long time. He had his problems. I talked to him when he left the band and I remember we stayed a few times then. I had not seen him for many years, which is a shame.”

You can read the interview with Ian Hill in Spanish at the Metal Journal.