JUDAS PRIEST LIVE AT THE WARFIELD IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON 10/20/15

JUDAS PRIEST FORGING NEW FIRE WITH RICHIE FAULKNER

When guitarist K. K. Downing decided to leave Judas Priest in 2011, this was as severe a blow to the band as when the Metal God Rob Halford stepped away from the mighty Priest in 1991. Luckily Halford returned in 2003 to help the band regain their former glory. Now how would the band be without the guitar duo of K. K. Downing and Glenn Tipton? Who would be qualified to step into the boots of the heavy metal legend? That answer came with guitarist Richie Faulkner.

This Londoner came into the group and didn’t skip a beat and transitioned seamlessly into the band. Not only did he have some of the same physical characteristics of Downing, he hit the stage playing a flying V guitar. Richie is more than a hired gun guitarist playing the licked he is told to play. He brings his own flavor to the band technically and is a breath air to their live performance.

You can tell that Faulkner appreciates being on stage playing in one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time. Guitarist Glenn Tipton has never been one to be running all over the stage and stays pretty much in a specific area throughout the show. Unfortunately with Rob Halford previously having back surgery, he is not as mobile as he once was. This leaves Faulkner to cover the stay and be the one who runs over to join Glenn Tipton as well as Rob Halford.

Richie Faulkner earned his official stripes in the band with the release of Judas Priest’s 2014 album “Redeemer of Souls” in which he co-wrote all the songs on the album with Halford and Tipton. The album reach number one on the Billboard Top Rock Album Charts.

K. K. Downing will always be a pinnacle member of Judas Priest whether he is in the band or not. I have to give credit to Richie Faulkner for carving his own niche in the legacy of the mighty Judas Priest and we only see great things in the future for this musician.