Ian Hill of Judas Priest

[A.K.]

Ian is often discounted as a bassist, especially compared to the likes of Steve Harris or Geezer Butler. But if Ian isn't on their level, he is incredibly solid and powerful. Scott Travis has said that Ian is the only musician he's ever known who never makes mistakes or has a "bad night."

Bass lines like "Tyrant," "Sinner," and "Victim of Changes" show that he knows more than root notes. And, like Cliff Williams, he can make the root groove. Check out "Grinder," "Devil's Child," or "Heading Out to the Highway" to hear simplistic basslines played right in the pocket.

Here are some of my favorite Ian clips. You can actually hear him play here, unlike on some of the '80s albums.

AK

Electric Eye:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il1etwBDCIs

Screaming for Vengeance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liqT8X6PG3M

Victim of Changes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXqb_3fR6Ok

Sinner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48A2VE_9aaQ

[John Wentzien]

He absolutey kicks ASS!

[stonedmotus]

great bassist. played on every priest album. legendary.

[John Wentzien]

Did you ever notice that he doesn't get his picture in all of the promo very often?
He looks too much like a typical bass-player "Don't He"

[A.K.]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Did you ever notice that he doesn't get his picture in all of the promo very often?
He looks too much like a typical bass-player "Don't He"

That's definitely true. He is very much a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, but he founded the band with KK Downing all the way back in 1969. I've always loved that Fender Jazz he used for everything b/w '72 and '84. Talk about a workhorse bass!

He was also married to Rob Halford's sister, Sue, b/w '74 and '88. His personal favorite Priest album is "Defenders of the Faith." It's my favorite, too.

AK

[John Wentzien]

Sin after Sin is a great album.

[James Hart]

I dig a lot of his / Priest's stuff...

2 of my favorites aren't written by them

Green Manalishi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FpQr1HUGW8

and Diamonds and Rust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9NQzNFyoXg

OK, I need to go listen to Unleashed in the East now

[jazzbo58]

Originally Posted by James Hart

OK, I need to go listen to Unleashed in the East now

I love that album! Ian is a very solid player.

Cheers,
Jim

[A.K.]

Originally Posted by jazzbo58

I love that album! Ian is a very solid player.

Cheers,
Jim

One of my favorite moments on "Unleashed" is "The Ripper."

AK

[barebones]

For me, Glenn Tipton brought the cool. Ian was a little too far back, musically and visually, to be noticed much. And I'm a bass player. Believe me, I tried.

[funkybass4ever]

Originally Posted by A.K.

Ian is often discounted as a bassist, especially compared to the likes of Steve Harris or Geezer Butler. But if Ian isn't on their level, he is incredibly solid and powerful. Scott Travis has said that Ian is the only musician he's ever known who never makes mistakes or has a "bad night."

Bass lines like "Tyrant," "Sinner," and "Victim of Changes" show that he knows more than root notes. And, like Cliff Williams, he can make the root groove. Check out "Grinder," "Devil's Child," or "Heading Out to the Highway" to hear simplistic basslines played right in the pocket.

Here are some of my favorite Ian clips. You can actually hear him play here, unlike on some of the '80s albums.

AK

Electric Eye:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il1etwBDCIs

Screaming for Vengeance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liqT8X6PG3M

Victim of Changes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXqb_3fR6Ok

Sinner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48A2VE_9aaQ

i totally agree that he is great-and the early Priest is where he shines the best-i have seen him live probably ten times and onstage his presence is oftenovershdowed visually but sonically he plays tight and thunderous. For me Priest would not be the same without him. Tyrant and Sinner are my two alltime favorites! Victim of Changes is their "stairway to heaven"

[FenderGibson]

Ian Hill is deffinately an underrated bass player. He needs to be more up front.

[jmattbassplaya]

Holy crap, I forgot how sick Rob Halford was.

[Anthbass]

Ian's the man. My band still covers 'Breakin' the Law' and I never tire of his propulsive style. I think he has some of the inhuman timing skills possessed by Topper Headon.

[Raven2k360]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Holy crap, I forgot how sick Rob Halford was.

'sick' as in bad-ass, or 'sick' literally...?

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Raven2k360

'sick' as in bad-ass, or 'sick' literally...?

Badass! Him singing the line at the end of the green menalishi is incredible.

[sobie18]

Painkiller was a turning point for the band, getting Scott Travis on drums and just destoying it! I love his drumming on this album.

Ian holds it down.

[Space-Man]

Always liked his sunburst J-Bass with block inlays and his playing.

[Gerhn Blanston]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Badass! Him singing the line at the end of the green menalishi is incredible.

...or Victim of Changes from Unleashed in the East, or Exciter or...

[A.K.]

Freewheel Burning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVsC_...eature=related

After this album and tour, he retired the Jazz bass and played Hamer before switching over to Spector.

AK