Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner is “stable and resting” after undergoing a “major emergency heart surgery.”
On Monday, September 27th, Judas Priest announced they would be postponing the remaining dates of their ’50 Heavy Metal Years’ tour, on account of Richie Faulkner experiencing “major medical heart condition issues.”
Following their set at Louder Than Life festival on Sunday, September 26th, the band announced that they would postpone all scheduled dates on their North American tour, whilst Faulkner sought medical attention.
The North American tour was scheduled to continue through a November 5th show in Hamilton, Ontario, with over than 20 dates still left on the itinerary.
“It is with deep regret that we have to postpone the rest of our US tour. Richie has major medical heart condition issues which have landed him in hospital where he is being treated,” frontman Rob Halford wrote in a statement.
Per an Instagram post by Faulkner’s girlfriend, Mariah Lynch, Faulkner underwent an unspecified emergency heart surgery.
“Thank you to everyone for all your message. I will try to get back to you as soon as I can,” Lynch wrote. “Richie underwent major emergency heart surgery. He is stable & resting. If you know him, you know how tough & strong he is. So tough that he finished the show & kept the hair flips coming. There’s no one like him. We’d be lost without him”
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In a post shared to Judas Priest’s Instagram account, the band added: “good news metal maniacs, our Falcon is stable and resting after undergoing extensive heart surgery.”
Richie Faulkner joined the Judas Priest fold in 2011, replacing founding guitarist K.K. Downing. During his tenure with the heavy metal legends, Faulkner has performed on the bands critically lauded albums Redeemer of Souls and Firepower.
