RICHIE Faulkner is one of Judas Priest's lead guitarists.

On Monday, September 27, 2021, the 41-year-old was taken into hospital to be treated for a “major heart condition.”

Who is Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner?

Richie Faulkner is an English musician who has been the lead guitarist for Judas Priest since 2011.

He has replaced K. K. Downing who left the heavy metal band in April 2011.

The Londoner lived in Stockholm, Sweden between 1995 and 2000, working as a sausage seller.

During his career, he played with bands such as Dirty Deeds, Voodoo Six, Ace Mafia, Parramon, and Lauren Harris' band.

In 2011 he joined the Judas Priest and performed for the first time with the group on American Idol in May of the same year.

His first album with the band was Redeemer of Souls, which was released in 2014.

Why has Richie Faulkner been hospitalised?

The band was in the middle of their 50th-anniversary tour called the 50 Heavy Metals Years Tour, which had to be postponed after Faulkner was hospitalised.

A statement from the band’s social media read: “It is with deep regret that we have to postpone the rest of our U.S. tour.

“Richie Faulkner has major medical heart condition issues which have landed him in the hospital where he is being treated.

“In the meantime, we are all sending love to our Falcon to wish him a speedy recovery.

“As soon as we have any updates from his doctors on when we can reschedule the dates we will of course announce them.”

On Sunday, September 26, 2021, the group performed at Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

Their next gig was set to take place on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, in Denver and the tour was slated to continue through October in the U.S, before heading to Canada for three dates in November and on for a Europe run next year.

Is Richie Faulkner married?

Richie Faulkner is in a relationship with Mariah Lynch, the daughter of guitarist George Lynch.

The pair had their first child, a daughter, in July 2020.

Mariah often shares snaps of the little girl on Instagram, with her 11,000 followers.

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