Richie Faulkner, the lead singer of Judas Priest, has spoken publicly about having his heart repaired for the second time.
The ‘Breaking the Law’ rockers had to cancel the rest of their US tour a year ago when their guitarist was admitted to the hospital with “severe medical cardiac condition difficulties.”
While performing, he burst his aortic artery. This week, the 42-year-old rocker told followers he’s “not out of the woods yet” after undergoing surgery six weeks ago to remove an “8cm bag that was enveloping my heart” caused by blood leaking through a split in the link between the synthetic graft and his aorta.
His Instagram health update began like this: “Exactly a year ago today I had less than an hour to live before everything altered. It’s crazy to think that just a moment ago I was listening to the audience sing “war pigs” and everything was normal and fine, and now I’ve realized that might have been the final time I ever heard that song.
Things were bubbling away beneath the surface, and I had no idea they were ready to burst. Lucky and thankful, here I am, typing this a whole year later. My family, the medical staff, and especially you metalheads have been nothing short of incredible, and I am eternally grateful.”
According To Richie
He is fine to play the rest of the band’s upcoming US tour, which begins on October 13 in Wallingford, Connecticut. And he went on to say: “To put it bluntly, I haven’t made it through yet.
Scan results revealed a leak in the synthetic graft’s link to my aorta just before our European vacation. The leak was developing a bag around my heart that was 8 centimeters in diameter.
The doctors gave me the go-ahead to go around Europe, but when I got back I had to have open-heart surgery again. Therefore, the bag was taken out and the leak was corrected three days after our game against Belgium.
“I had my second open heart surgery six weeks ago and am doing great. I can’t wait to go back out on the road with you guys for the next leg of the US #50heavymetalyears tour, which kicks out in just a few short weeks.
It now appears that the time allotted for me to heal and resume my travels was accurate on the part of my surgeons. It looks like it’s still going to be a Kick-Ass festival, but unfortunately, we had to lose @aftershockfestival so that I could get well. (sic)” As Richie concluded his message, he wrote: “Keep yourself and your loved ones safe; you never know what the future may hold.