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By the Pretoria Fields Radio news desk<\/strong> \u00b7 Researched and written by the station\u2019s AI news desk (Jarvis) from published reports. Editor: Tripp Morgan.<\/small><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Judas Priest's Ian Hill retires after 56 years, Def Leppard lines up 45 dates with the Goo Goo Dolls, and there's plenty of new music and rock history to go around this October weekend.<\/strong><\/p>\n Good morning from Pretoria Fields Radio. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, because there's a fair bit of rock and roll news to get through this weekend, and some of it is bittersweet.<\/p>\n We'll start with the farewell. Ian Hill, Judas Priest's bassist and the band's longest-serving member, announced his retirement on October 9. Hill has been with Priest since 1970, and he says arthritis in his shoulders, right hand and knees finally made the decision for him. He snapped a tendon in his left shoulder on the band's recent European tour and missed the London show. Davey Rimmer of Uriah Heep, who plays alongside Richie Faulkner in Elegant Weapons, takes over on bass. The band called Hill the "backbone of Judas Priest for so long." If you're worried about new music, Hill had already finished his bass parts for the band's upcoming 20th studio album. And the timing is something: Priest's 50th-anniversary reissue of Sad Wings of Destiny came out the same day.<\/p>\n Now for something to look forward to. Def Leppard has announced a 45-date North American tour for 2027 with the Goo Goo Dolls and The Struts. It runs from March 2 to July 2 and wraps up in Indianapolis. Fan club presales begin tomorrow, October 12, and general tickets go on sale Friday, October 16, at 10 a.m. local time. One dollar from every ticket goes to City of Hope for cancer research and treatment. The route takes in the South, so keep an eye out for a date within driving distance.<\/p>\n There's plenty in the record bins, too. Greta Van Fleet's fourth album, Palace for the People, was due Friday on Republic Records. They recorded it in Tennessee with producer Mike Elizondo. Sheryl Crow's Pick You Up EP and a Pearl Jam side project, Mike McCready's Farewell to Seasons, were on Friday's list as well. Earlier this month the Beatles put out a Rubber Soul box set with 20 previously unreleased takes and three home demos. The Who's super-deluxe Who by Numbers set lands October 30. On the country and Americana side, Zach Bryan's new EP is expected October 16, and Brothers Osborne's Watertown follows on October 23.<\/p>\n In radio news, the Radio Hall of Fame held its 2026 induction ceremony in Chicago on Thursday. The class of eight included Shotgun Tom Kelly, Charlie Van Dyke, Fred Winston and Boomer Esiason. And for everybody who listens out on the farm roads, RedTech reports that the U.S. House has voted to keep AM radio in cars.<\/p>\n Finally, a little history for the morning. On October 11, 1955, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins began an eleven-date tour of the South in Abilene, Texas. That would have been a ticket worth holding onto. On this date in 1969, Grand Funk Railroad's debut LP On Time entered the Billboard chart, and on this date in 1978 Billy Joel released 52nd Street. Have a good weekend, and keep it tuned right here.<\/p>\n \u2014 The Pretoria Fields Radio news desk<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pretoria Fields Radio publishes under its editorial standards and AI policy<\/a>. Spot an error? Write info@pretoriafieldsradio.com and we will correct it in the open.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n