Born Ian Frank Hill on January 20, 1951 in West Bromwich. Hill is a founding member and bass player for Birmingham heavy rock legends Judas Priest. Ian learned how to play the double bass from his father, a bass player for local jazz acts. In 1969, together with schoolmate K.K. Downing Ian went off to form pioneering heavy metal band Judas Priest. He has been playing bass for the band ever since and has witnessed the band achieve legendary platinum-covered status around the world. Hill is renowned for his solid and melodic bass playing which proved to be the ideal background for the dual guiatrs of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton and Rob Halford's operatic vocals.