In a candid interview with PremierGuitar, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner has revealed he suffered a stroke that resulted in permanent brain damage, following his near-fatal aortic aneurysm in 2021.
The 45-year-old musician disclosed that about a month after his initial heart surgery, he experienced a stroke while walking his dog near his Nashville home. "My face went. I couldn't talk. It was like a weight was pulling me down," Faulkner recalled of the incident, during which his girlfriend Mariah had to hold him up.
Medical tests later confirmed damage to the left side of his brain, affecting the right side of his body - particularly his right hand, which is critical for his guitar playing. "They found the damage. They said that the fact that it hasn't gone away means that it's not a TIA [mini-stroke]; it's a stroke. That's it. It is damaged," Faulkner explained.
The guitarist admitted keeping these health challenges private due to fears about potential career impact. "I feel like I've got a lot of trust from the fanbase, from the guitar companies, the string companies. I don't want anyone to know, because as soon as they know, they're gonna lose faith," he shared.
The condition has affected his playing ability, particularly with rhythm patterns. Faulkner revealed he struggled to replicate guitar parts during the recording of PRIEST's latest album "Invincible Shield," noting that practice wasn't helping improve the situation.
Despite these challenges, Faulkner continues performing with JUDAS PRIEST. He hopes sharing his story will help others facing similar struggles: "I know there's a lot of people out there that play, they sing, whatever they do, and they feel like they're not good enough... I want them to know that they're not alone."