Update on Judas Priest's Richie Faulkner

[Willie G. Moseley]

Priest's publiciist just sent this out earlier this evening:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UPDATE ON RICHIE FAULKNER: We have an update on Richie – see below in Richie’s own words…. Maniacs… I’ve always been grateful for the opportunities I’ve been presented with.  I’ve always considered myself THE most fortunate man ever - to be able to play my favourite music - with my favourite band - to my favourite people around the world… Today just being able to type this to you all is the biggest gift of all… As I watch footage from the Louder Than Life Festival in Kentucky, I can see in my face the confusion and anguish I was feeling whilst playing ‘Painkiller’ as my aorta ruptured and started to spill blood into my chest cavity…. I was having what my doctor called an aortic aneurysm and complete aortic dissection. From what I’ve been told by my surgeon, people with this don’t usually make it to the hospital alive….. I was taken to nearby Rudd Heart & Lung Center and quickly went into what turned out to be a 10 ½ hour emergency open heart surgery. Five parts of my chest were replaced with mechanical components…..I’m literally made of metal now…. It could have all ended so differently – we only had an hours set that night due to Metallica’s performance after us – and it does cross my mind if it was a full set, would I have played until total collapse…? If it hadn’t happened in such a high adrenaline situation would my body have been able to keep going long enough to reach the hospital…? The amazing Heart & Lung Center was 4 miles away from the gig site – if it had been further away…….. We can always drive ourselves crazy with these things but I’m still alive thankfully.  Whatever the circumstances, when watching that footage, the truth is, knowing what I know now, I see a dying man….. I’ve been moved to tears and humbled by friends, family, my fantastic band, crew and management and also you guys sending me videos and messages of love and support during the last week – I thank you all so much and although I have a recovery road ahead of me, as soon as I’m able to get up and running again, you’ll be the first to know and we’ll get back out there delivering the goods for you all….! One last thing maniacs, this came totally out of the blue for me – no history of a bad heart, no clogged arteries etc…my point is I don’t even have high cholesterol and this could’ve been the end for me.  If you can get yourselves checked – do it for me please……      Lots of love and see you down the front again soon…. Richie… This is from our strong falcon -  he will be flying high again just as soon as he is able…. JUDAS PRIEST October 6th, 2021

[Bass Guy Dave]

Wow.

Wow....

Sheesh.  A ruptured aorta in the middle of a song, and lived to tell the tale.

I really do like the guy, and really enjoy his playing.   So glad he's looking like he's on the mend.

What an incredible story.

[RobB]

Good grief, what a story! To say he lucked out would be a huge understatement. Imagine if he played their full set until he bled-out?

Glad he's on the mend.

[0054]

You just never know. He seems pretty anchored. 

If it is your time, it's your time.

Rock on Richie.

[Steve Haynie]

That was more serious than I thought.  The guy is still young and in good shape.

[Willie G. Moseley]

Sounds  like proximity of the specialized heart hospital was a big factor in him surviving. A 10 1/2 hour operation's mindboggling. 

And not to wax philosophical but sometimes numerous real-life "dominoes" have to be lined up just exactly right for someone to make it.  My father had a massive heart attack on a golf course in 1999, and the following facets of the episode (in numerical order) were in place; if one of these things hadn't have happened, he probably wouldn't have made it:

1. A guy in his foursome knew CPR, and got his heart into a weak but steady rhythm, but it was probably not going to last

2. They were in a golf cart, not walking (faster transport)

3. They were on the 18th hole when he was stricken, and just across the road was a fire station, w/ an emergency defibrillator among its equipment. which was used. Hiis heart flatlined after the first shock but started up stronger after the second shock.

4. He was stabliized at a nearby hospital then transported to the area hospital that specializes in heart issues and surgery, where...

5. ...Two cardiologists happened to be on in the premises, one of whom was Pop's regular heart doctor. So he got a double amount of pro care.

When he was finally stabilized to the point that he appeared to be out of danger, he was so sedated he didn't even blink.

Pop was 77 when that happened. He got a pacemaker and lived until he was almost 93.

[Jakeboy]

What a story! Very Providential in so many ways….

[Disturber]

 My mentor and friend died of a ruptured aorta 20 years ago. It's a really terrible thing. It is a miracle that Richie made it. 

[Hamerica]

Wow, Richie Faulkner's story regarding his heart health is remarkable.  

Disturber,  I had lunch with a friend of mine just yesterday who told me her husband will be gone 20 years ago next week - I sat dumbfounded.   I couldn't believe it twenty years had passed - but they have.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  A lifetime for some and like yesterday for others.   

Godspeed to Richie on a healthy and speedy recovery.  Richie sounds very grounded - good on him.

Hamerica

 

[tbonesullivan]

DANG. Aortic Dissections and Ruptured Aortic Aneurysms usually are something you only read about in an obit. Damn lucky!  There may need to be further surgeries to replace / remove / adjust the hardware that they put in his chest. I hope he's able to keep touring.  I would guess he had either massively high blood pressure, or was born with an aortic defect.

[Brooks]

On 10/6/2021 at 10:33 AM, tbonesullivan said:

DANG. Aortic Dissections and Ruptured Aortic Aneurysms usually are something you only read about in an obit. 

Yeah, AA's and PE's

[Disturber]

On 10/6/2021 at 4:31 PM, Hamerica said:

Wow, Richie Faulkner's story regarding his heart health is remarkable.  

Disturber,  I had lunch with a friend of mine just yesterday who told me her husband will be gone 20 years ago next week - I sat dumbfounded.   I couldn't believe it twenty years had passed - but they have.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  A lifetime for some and like yesterday for others.   

 

 

Yes, twenty years and it feels like four or five years. I think about my friend often. Miss that guy. Funny, his last name was Colegate (he was from Isle Of White) and that is not a common name over here. So I saw this ad for an appartment for sale near my place. The brokers last name was Colegate. Young woman. I also sat dumfounded when I realised it is his daughter, now and adult. Last time I saw her was at the funeral. She was just a very young girl and I felt so sad that she lost her dad.

[DaveH]

https://youtu.be/rsYXCMBEi80
 

This is the first video I’ve seen from Richie himself since the incident, but he’s looking and sounding good! A freaking miracle, no less. There may be a full length version of this interview, I haven’t looked yet.

[tomteriffic]

Whoa!  Life expectancy after such an event is usually measured in seconds. It's very gratifying to see him pull through.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Damn, sounds like Marfan's. No one survives that. Amazing story. 

[The Shark]

16 hours ago, Ting Ho Dung said:

Damn, sounds like Marfan's. No one survives that. Amazing story. 

I had a friend die right in front of me on a softball field.  They did an autopsy and he had Marfan's which caused a blow out.  Took about ten seconds after he hit the clay.  I think he was fifty at the time.  Like he just fell asleep.  I'll never forget it.

[Drew816]

Wow, that's some crazy stuff. I am so happy for the outcome and talk about "timing," I mean, what?!? 4 miles away from one of the best centers in the State when that happened?

Heal up and rock on!

[Ting Ho Dung]

3 hours ago, The Shark said:

I had a friend die right in front of me on a softball field.  They did an autopsy and he had Marfan's which caused a blow out.  Took about ten seconds after he hit the clay.  I think he was fifty at the time.  Like he just fell asleep.  I'll never forget it.

Damn, that's something that will stick with you. Was he a tall guy?

[Willie G. Moseley]

RE the softball game passing: Again, no philosophical rumination but that's the way I hope to go. As might be expected (RE: My father's heart attack chronicled earlier) the paternal side of my family has a lot of congenital/hereditary heart problems, including me, so I hope I can just....well, drop dead (as long as I'm not driving so as to endanger anyone else).

In '92, Pop's younger brother, age 64, slumped over dead in a golf cart during a corporate tournament. He was one under par at the time....

[RobB]

Anyway, back to Ritchie…

[The Shark]

20 hours ago, Ting Ho Dung said:

Damn, that's something that will stick with you. Was he a tall guy?

Funny you mention it.  He was about 6'4".  In perfect health.  Or so we thought.

[Ting Ho Dung]

6 hours ago, The Shark said:

Funny you mention it.  He was about 6'4".  In perfect health.  Or so we thought.

Marfan's tends to be a tall person's affliction. Don't know why.

[specialk]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/marfan-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350782

 

[Travis]

Abraham Lincoln was suspected to have had Marfan’s…

[Ting Ho Dung]

9 hours ago, Travis said:

Abraham Lincoln was suspected to have had Marfan’s…

Marfan's via lead poisoning?