Judas Priest’s Richie Faulkner Says His Aorta Ruptured Mid-Guitar-Solo

If you were planning to see Judas Priest on the road,  you’re going to have to wait. Guitarist Richie Faulkner is recovering from a near-fatal heart rupture – one that happened right in the middle of a guitar solo.

Faulkner says he suffered an “aortic aneurysm” while playing the solo from “Painkiller” during the band’s set at last month’s Louder Than Life festival. There’s even YouTube footage of the exact moment it happens – Faulkner says he’s watched it and “can see in my face the confusion and anguish I was feeling”. Go to :58 seconds into the video to see

Faulkner underwent emergency surgery that night and is currently stable and resting.

Judas Priest has postponed the rest of their U.S. tour while he recovers.