Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner has opened up about the lasting effects of the life-threatening aortic rupture he suffered during a live performance in 2021. While fans already knew the incident was severe — it occurred mid-show during Painkiller at Louder Than Life festival — Faulkner has now revealed a heartbreaking new detail: the ordeal left him with permanent brain damage.
In a new interview on the Nothing Shocking Podcast, Faulkner explained that the rupture caused a massive drop in blood pressure, which led to a lack of oxygen flow to his brain. “They told me I’ve got brain damage… from the oxygen not getting to the brain,” he said, noting that while he’s still fully functional, the damage is permanent.
The guitarist recalled the harrowing moments on stage, saying he felt his chest “go bang” but kept playing. He finished the set, then was rushed to the hospital where doctors performed over 10 hours of emergency open-heart surgery — an operation that literally saved his life. His survival has been described by medical professionals as nothing short of a miracle.
Despite the trauma and the irreversible effects, Faulkner maintains a remarkable attitude. He says he’s grateful to be alive, able to perform, and do what he loves. “There are people who go through worse every day and come out stronger,” he shared, adding that it gave him a new perspective on life, health, and resilience.
Faulkner’s story is not just a tale of survival, but a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. Since the incident, he’s returned to the stage with Judas Priest and also launched a new band, Elegant Weapons, showing that nothing can extinguish the fire inside a true rocker.
