Ian Hill
Encyclopedia
Ian Hill is a founding member and bassist
for the Birmingham
-based Grammy award winning heavy metal
band
, Judas Priest
.
His only three songwriter credits for Judas Priest
are "Winter" and "Caviar and Meths", both featured on the first Priest
-album Rocka Rolla
, and "Invader", featured on Stained Class
. As of 2011, Hill is the sole constant member of Judas Priest following the departure of KK Downing.
from his father, a bass player for local jazz
acts. His father died when he was only fifteen, but his contribution to Hill was the foundation for years to come. In 1970, together with schoolmate K.K. Downing, Hill formed pioneering heavy metal band Judas Priest. He has been playing bass with the band ever since and has witnessed them achieve platinum-covered status around the world
.
Hill is known for his solid and melodic bass playing, which proved to be the ideal background for the dual guitars
of K. K. Downing
and Glenn Tipton
and Rob Halford
's operatic vocals. He also played a twin-neck bass guitar in concert on the DVD
Electric Eye. During the early years of the band, he played bass finger-picking, but in the band's later years, he began playing with a pick
which he felt adds "attack" to the songs. On rare occasions, he still plays with his fingers.
Hill is also responsible for finding the singer for Judas Priest, Rob Halford. He met him while he was dating Halford's sister and mentioned that he needed a new vocalist for his band. Halford accepted leaving his band 'Hiroshima', and brought along drummer
John Hinch
, who would later be dropped by the band after one album
due to "musical inadequacy", according to Tipton in later years.
after switching to this brand during the late 1980s. Spector are currently producing an Ian Hill signature bass guitar, based on Hill's late 80's NS-2 and is fitted with an extra narrow neck and has an optional tuning of B.E.A.D. As of 2011, this model is still in production.
While Hill has used a wide range of different amplifers through his career, he has been using SWR products since the late 1990s. His current rig consists of two SWR SM1500 amplifiers and four SWR TRIAD cabinets.
During the Jugulator
and Demolition
recording sessions, Hill used a 5 string Spector bass to access the lower registers needed through the use of down tuned guitars by Tipton and Downing.
Hill married Rob Halford's sister, Sue, in 1976 and they divorced in 1984. Together they have a son, Alex, who was born in 1980.
Hill lived in Florida
while he was married to his second wife, an American named Letitia. They had a daughter with the same name.
He now resides in Staffordshire
, England with his wife, Jean, his two stepsons; Richard, Andrew and his daughter Letitia.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
-based Grammy award winning heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
.
His only three songwriter credits for Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
are "Winter" and "Caviar and Meths", both featured on the first Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
-album Rocka Rolla
Rocka Rolla
Rocka Rolla is the debut album by the British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1974. It was produced by Rodger Bain, who had made a name for himself as the producer of Black Sabbath's first three albums....
, and "Invader", featured on Stained Class
Stained Class
Stained Class is the fourth album by British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in February 1978. A popular album in the band's catalogue, Stained Class showcased a more streamlined songwriting style. The production is crisper, clearer, and cleaner than any of their preceding albums...
. As of 2011, Hill is the sole constant member of Judas Priest following the departure of KK Downing.
Biography
Hill learned how to play the double bassDouble bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
from his father, a bass player for local jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
acts. His father died when he was only fifteen, but his contribution to Hill was the foundation for years to come. In 1970, together with schoolmate K.K. Downing, Hill formed pioneering heavy metal band Judas Priest. He has been playing bass with the band ever since and has witnessed them achieve platinum-covered status around the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
.
Hill is known for his solid and melodic bass playing, which proved to be the ideal background for the dual guitars
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
of K. K. Downing
K. K. Downing
Kenneth "K.K." Downing, Jr. is a Grammy Award winning guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the British heavy metal band Judas Priest...
and Glenn Tipton
Glenn Tipton
Glenn Tipton is one of the Grammy Award-winning guitarists for the heavy metal band Judas Priest...
and Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
's operatic vocals. He also played a twin-neck bass guitar in concert on the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
Electric Eye. During the early years of the band, he played bass finger-picking, but in the band's later years, he began playing with a pick
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
which he felt adds "attack" to the songs. On rare occasions, he still plays with his fingers.
Hill is also responsible for finding the singer for Judas Priest, Rob Halford. He met him while he was dating Halford's sister and mentioned that he needed a new vocalist for his band. Halford accepted leaving his band 'Hiroshima', and brought along drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
John Hinch
John Hinch (musician)
Frederick "John" Hinch is a British drummer, the second drummer of heavy metal band Judas Priest. Hinch is a jazz-rock styled drummer with a very compact style....
, who would later be dropped by the band after one album
Rocka Rolla
Rocka Rolla is the debut album by the British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1974. It was produced by Rodger Bain, who had made a name for himself as the producer of Black Sabbath's first three albums....
due to "musical inadequacy", according to Tipton in later years.
Musical equipment
For the early years of Judas Priest's work, Hill played a 1970s Fender Jazz Bass, later switching to Hamer in the mid 1980s. Hill currently plays Spector bassesSpector
Spector is an American based company that manufacturers bass guitars. Founded in 1974 by self-taught luthier Stuart Spector, Spector's first few instruments were essentially crude experiments in instrument design and craftsmanship...
after switching to this brand during the late 1980s. Spector are currently producing an Ian Hill signature bass guitar, based on Hill's late 80's NS-2 and is fitted with an extra narrow neck and has an optional tuning of B.E.A.D. As of 2011, this model is still in production.
While Hill has used a wide range of different amplifers through his career, he has been using SWR products since the late 1990s. His current rig consists of two SWR SM1500 amplifiers and four SWR TRIAD cabinets.
During the Jugulator
Jugulator
-Personnel:*Tim 'Ripper' Owens: Vocals*K.K. Downing: Guitars*Glenn Tipton: Guitars*Ian Hill: Bass*Scott Travis: Drums...
and Demolition
Demolition (Judas Priest album)
Demolition is British heavy metal band Judas Priest's fourteenth studio album, and the first in the decade of the 2000s. It is the second and final studio album to feature Tim 'Ripper' Owens on vocals and one of the few albums to feature a Parental Advisory label...
recording sessions, Hill used a 5 string Spector bass to access the lower registers needed through the use of down tuned guitars by Tipton and Downing.
Personal life
Ian's mother is named Joan and he has two step great nieces, called Hannah and Becky. He has two step great nephews called Tom and Ollie.Hill married Rob Halford's sister, Sue, in 1976 and they divorced in 1984. Together they have a son, Alex, who was born in 1980.
Hill lived in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
while he was married to his second wife, an American named Letitia. They had a daughter with the same name.
He now resides in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England with his wife, Jean, his two stepsons; Richard, Andrew and his daughter Letitia.
Discography
- Rocka RollaRocka RollaRocka Rolla is the debut album by the British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1974. It was produced by Rodger Bain, who had made a name for himself as the producer of Black Sabbath's first three albums....
(1974) - Sad Wings of DestinySad Wings of Destiny-CD Track listing:The 1995 CD reissue by Repertoire Records had track 3 labeled as "Dream Deceiver" rather than "Dreamer Deceiver", this was later changed back to its original title on the 1998 release by Snapper Music. None of the reissues of Sad Wings of Destiny are endorsed by Judas Priest. -...
(1976) - Sin After SinSin After SinSin After Sin is the third album by British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1977. It was the band's first album on Columbia Records after their contract with Gull Records was terminated, as a consequence of which they lost all rights to Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny, and any...
(1977) - Stained ClassStained ClassStained Class is the fourth album by British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in February 1978. A popular album in the band's catalogue, Stained Class showcased a more streamlined songwriting style. The production is crisper, clearer, and cleaner than any of their preceding albums...
(1978) - Killing Machine/Hell Bent for LeatherKilling machineKilling machine may refer to:* Killing Machine , an album by Judas Priest, or the title song* The Killing Machine, a novel by Jack Vance* Killing Machine , an American metal band...
(1978/1979) - British SteelBritish Steel (album)British Steel is the sixth album by the British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 14 April 1980. It saw the band reprise the commercial sound they had established on Killing Machine however; this time, they abandoned many of the dark lyrical themes which had been prominent on their...
(1980) - Point of EntryPoint of Entry-Judas Priest:*Rob Halford: Lead Vocals*Glenn Tipton: Lead Guitars*K.K. Downing: Lead Guitars*Ian Hill: Bass Guitar*Dave Holland: Drums...
(1981) - Screaming for VengeanceScreaming for VengeanceScreaming for Vengeance is the eighth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest. It was recorded at Ibiza Sound Studios, Ibiza, Spain and mixed at Beejay Recording Studios and Bayshore Recording Studios in Coconut Grove, Florida. It was first released on 17 July 1982...
(1982) - Defenders of the FaithDefenders of the FaithDefenders of the Faith is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest. It was recorded at Ibiza Sound Studios, Ibiza, Spain and mixed from September to November 1983 at DB Recording Studios and Bayshore Recording Studios in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. The LP and cassette tape...
(1984) - TurboTurbo (Judas Priest album)-Judas Priest:*Rob Halford: Lead Vocals*Glenn Tipton: Lead Guitars*K.K. Downing: Lead Guitars*Ian Hill: Bass Guitar*Dave Holland: Drums-Guests:*Jeff Martin: Backing Vocals on "Wild Nights, Hot & Crazy Days"-External links:*...
(1986) - Ram It DownRam It Down-Judas Priest:*Rob Halford: Lead Vocals and Production*Glenn Tipton: Lead Guitars and Production*K.K. Downing: Lead Guitars and Production*Ian Hill: Bass Guitar*Dave Holland: Drums-Trivia:*The song Johnny B...
(1988) - Painkiller (1990)
- JugulatorJugulator-Personnel:*Tim 'Ripper' Owens: Vocals*K.K. Downing: Guitars*Glenn Tipton: Guitars*Ian Hill: Bass*Scott Travis: Drums...
(1997) - DemolitionDemolition (Judas Priest album)Demolition is British heavy metal band Judas Priest's fourteenth studio album, and the first in the decade of the 2000s. It is the second and final studio album to feature Tim 'Ripper' Owens on vocals and one of the few albums to feature a Parental Advisory label...
(2001) - Angel of RetributionAngel of RetributionAngel of Retribution is the 15th studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released in 2005. It marks the return of Rob Halford, after a 12 year departure from the band. The album debuted at #13 on the U.S. Billboard chart, which made it the second highest chart of a Judas Priest album...
(2005) - NostradamusNostradamus (album)- Personnel :* Rob Halford – vocals* K. K. Downing – guitars, synthesized guitars, producer* Glenn Tipton – guitars, synthesized guitars, producer* Ian Hill – bass* Scott Travis – drums* Don Airey – keyboards...
(2008)