Photo: Getty Images North America
Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner is getting ready for an emotional return to the stage this week.
Judas Priest paused its '50 Heavy Metal Years' tour last September when Faulkner, now 42, was rushed to the hospital after a festival gig with a complete aortic dissection; the largest artery in his body burst open and began spilling blood into his chest cavity.
After more than 10 hours in surgery, Faulkner's life was saved. He was rehabbing and playing the guitar again a few weeks later. The band rescheduled its tour to this spring after getting the go-ahead from Faulkner's doctors.
"And we’re back!! Priest rehearsals 2022!! Feels so good to be back after so much has happened," Faulkner wrote in an update earlier this week. "Having these U.S. dates has really given me something to aim for as part of my recovery process, and the guitar, as always, has been my medicine throughout."
The tour resumes Friday, March 4, in Peoria, Illinois, and continues through April 13 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
"It’s gonna be emotional to see all those faces out there once again next week and I’m really looking forward to seeing you all," he continued. "Thanks for all your support through all of this and see you all soon. Hopefully I can remember the stuff!"
Faulkner, who says he has no personal or family history of cardiac issues, pointed out last fall that most aortic dissection patients don't make it to the hospital alive. He says he was extremely lucky because he was in a "high adrenaline situation" when the emergency occurred, and he was only four miles away from the Rudd Lung & Heart Center.
Faulkner's doctor, Dr. Siddharth Pahwa, agreed, saying the guitarist 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."