Guitarist Richie Faulkner had to undergo emergency heart surgery
Judas Priest has postponed the rest of its US as guitarist Richie Faulkner battles a heart illness. The band shared the news on Monday (Sept 27th) with no confirmed resume date.
“It is with deep regret that we have to postpone the rest of our US Tour,” the band shares. “Richie has major medical heart condition issues which have landed him in hospital where he is being treated – in the meantime we are all sending love to our Falcon to wish him a speedy recovery…as soon as we have any updates from his doctors on when we can reschedule the dates we will of course announce them – tickets will be valid.”
The band kicked off The 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour on September 8th with Sabaton as openers. The Live Nation-produced trek was scheduled Stateside through November.
Faulkner is “stable and resting” following “major emergency heart surgery,” according to his girlfriend.
Judas Priest will release 50 Heavy Metal Years of Music, a 42 CD numbered limited edition box set featuring each one of the band’s official live and studio albums along with 13 discs of previously unreleased live cuts, on October 15th via Sony Legacy Recordings. A CD and 2 LP set edition called Reflections – 50 Heavy Metal Years of Music will also be available.
