Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Judas Priest Nearly Joined Iron Maiden for a 2026 North American Tour
Iron Maiden invited Judas Priest to join a four-week North American tour in 2026, bassist Ian Hill says.
Hill said Priest accepted, but Iron Maiden later withdrew from the plan.
The tour would have brought together two British heavy metal bands whose touring history includes Iron Maiden opening for Priest in 1982.
Hill was already considering retirement because arthritis in his thumb and problems with his shoulder made recent tours difficult.
He says six shows in eight days worsened his injury, and he felt a tendon snap during a show in Brussels.
Hill finished that performance but could not play the final show in London.
The planned joint tour did not go ahead, and the account gives no further plans for it.
Iron Maiden invited Judas Priest to join a four-week North American tour in 2026, but later withdrew the offer.
Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill said he had been willing to take the tour despite considering retirement.
Hill said arthritis in his shoulder and thumb had made recent tours difficult.
He said a tendon snapped during a run of six shows in eight days, leaving him unable to play the London show.
- Who
- Iron Maiden invited Judas Priest, whose bassist Ian Hill discussed the offer.
- What
- Judas Priest nearly joined Iron Maiden for a four-week North American tour, but Iron Maiden later pulled out.
- When
- In 2026.
- Where
- North America.
- Why
- Not stated why Iron Maiden withdrew the offer. Hill said he had been willing to tour despite his health problems.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Iron Maiden invited Judas Priest to join a four-week North American tour, and Hill said he accepted.
Iron Maiden later pulled out of the proposed tour.
Hill said a tendon snapped after Judas Priest played six shows in eight days.
Hill last performed with Judas Priest, in Belgium.
Hill missed the band's final show in London because he could not play bass.
- Proposed tour
- Four weeks in North America
- Inviting band
- Iron Maiden
- Invited band
- Judas Priest
- Hill's age
- 74
- Shows before tendon snapped
- Six in eight days
- Last performance
- Sept. 18 in Belgium
What people are saying
Iron Maiden said, 'Do you fancy doing a four-week tour of America this year?'
And I said, 'Well, yeah, that sounds okay, a four-week tour of America, quick four weeks.'
Then they pulled out.
I almost retired at the end of the last tour.
Sources
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