Judas Priest’s Glenn Tipton Gives up Touring Due to Parkinson’s Disease

Another musician is calling it quits on touring due to Parkinson’s disease.

Yesterday, Glenn Tipton, the lead guitarist for rock band Judas Priest, announced that he would no longer be touring with the band. Tipton has been living with Parkinson’s for almost a decade, but was recently diagnosed with the later stages of the disease. The neurodegenerative disease has progressed to a point where Tipton is no longer able to play the band’s “more complex material.”

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While Tipton won’t be touring with his bandmates regularly, he’s staying optimistic about his future. He hasn’t ruled out returning to the stage, saying, “I want everyone to know that it’s vital the Judas Priest tour go ahead and that I am not leaving the band. It’s simply that my role has changed. I don’t rule out the chance to go on stage as and when I feel able to blast out some Priest!”

The band will release their 18th album, Firepower, on March 9.

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