Rocker is at home resting following heart surgery
Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner is now resting at home, following emergency heart surgery in Louisville, KY. On September 26th, the guitarist suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection, during a performance at the Louder Than Life festival, in Louisville. He was rushed to Rudd Heart and Lung Center at UofL Health – Jewish Hospital where he underwent the life saving surgery.
“He was only four miles away, but miles equal minutes and he did not have many to spare,” shares Dr. Siddharth Pahwa, cardiothoracic surgeon with UofL Health – UofL Physicians. “Mr. Faulkner is alive today because the stars aligned. He had an outstanding emergency care team, he was close to a world class heart center, and he was quick to recognize he needed help.”
Dr. Pahwa led the surgery team which also included Dr. Brian Ganzel and Dr. Mark Slaughter. It took more approximately 10 hours to complete the surgery, an aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement with hemiarch replacement, that saved his life.
The performance was part of the band’s The 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour that launched on September 8th with Sabaton as openers. The Live Nation-produced trek has been postponed until further notice while Faulkner recovers. Dates were scheduled Stateside through November.
More details as they become available.
