Faulkner’s girlfriend, Mariah Lynch, shared an update on the rocker’s status via Instagram on Tuesday, writing: “Thank you to everyone for all your messages. I will try to get back to you as soon as I can. Richie underwent major emergency heart surgery. He is stable & resting.
"If you know him, you know how tough & strong he is. So tough that he finished the show & kept the hair flips coming. There's no one like him. We'd be lost without him. #HotDad".
Lynch is the daughter of Dokken/Lynch Mob guitarist George Lynch; the couple became parents to their first child last summer.
The day after Judas Priest completed their September 26 performance at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, KY, the group revealed that the 41-year-old guitarist was hospitalized with a medical condition that would impact their current 2021 tour schedule.
“It is with deep regret that we have to postpone the rest of our US Tour,” said the band, “Richie has major medical heart condition issues which have landed him in 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 - tickets will be valid.”
The fall series was scheduled to wrap up in Hamilton, ON on November 5.
Faulkner – who joined the Judas Priest lineup in 2011 following the retirement of K.K. Downing – has appeared on the band’s last two albums, 2014’s “Redeemer Of Souls” and 2018’s “Firepower.”
See also:
Judas Priest postpone North American tour after guitarist hospitalized
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