Though he’s never been one to sit around twiddling his thumbs, Richie Faulkner has been keeping himself incredibly busy over the last year or so. There’s the highly anticipated new music to come from Judas Priest (now slated for next year), the launch of new band Elegant Weapons, plenty of planning for tours to come and more signature gear in the works.
Given that he almost died after suffering an aortic aneurysm while performing on stage at the Louder In Life Festival in Kentucky on September 26, 2021 – it’s easy to see why the last 18 or so months have been among his most productive. Put it to him that this acceleration in activity could very well be down to a kind of newfound appreciation for life, and he’ll look you in the eye and tell you just how grateful he is for everything after such an unexpected brush with death...
