Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner recently joined Mitch Lafon for an interview and talked about his plans after the band decides to retire. As it seems, the guitarist is eager to form his own group.
Judas Priest continues to rock the stages with their never-ending love of metal since they were first formed in 1969. Although they were to embark on their 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour in 2020, the tour was pushed back to 2021 due to the pandemic. Then, it was rescheduled for the spring of 2022, while the European leg with Ozzy Osbourne was rescheduled for 2023.
Richie Faulkner joined Judas Priest in 2011 as a replacement for the band’s original member K.K. Downing. According to his bandmates, he saved Priest as the band found him at a crucial time. Unlike his bandmates, who are in their 70s, Faulkner is the youngest member of the band; he is 42.
In an interview with Mitch Lafon, Richie Faulkner revealed what he plans to do when Judas Priest decides to leave the music scene. He stated that he has been writing songs over the last few years and stashing them as they’re inappropriate for Priest’s sound. Faulkner then said he was able to record some of those songs.
Mitch Lafon then asked him whether he would continue as a band or a project. In a response, Faulkner said one never knows how long a project will last, so he plans to continue as a band. Moreover, the musician said he intends to stick around, release several albums, and grow. He added that he actually did that and plans to debut early in 2023.
During the conversation, Richie Faulkner said the following:
“Over the last few years, I’m always writing and getting stuff together. You know, melodies, riffs, and songs. Some things aren’t really appropriate for Priest, and I’ve put them in the files. Just because they’re either not appropriate or just not of the stylings that Priest is.
You know, Priest is a certain thing. During the COVID period, I was able to get some of those songs and finish them, refine them, and get a group of musicians together. I think Rex Brown broke the silence on that. We put a record together with a group of musicians that are respected for a group of songs.”
After Mitch Lafon asked him whether he thinks about continuing as a band or a project, Faulkner said:
“Definitely as a band. I don’t think a project doesn’t really carry much weight. There are a lot of projects around at the moment, and you never know how long they’re going to last. The intent, anyway, is to be a band.
In my mind, it’s a band that sticks around, does a few out many albums, and grows like that. That’s the intent. I did that, and we’re looking at putting it out early next year.”
You can watch the full interview below.
