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Judas Priest – Richie Faulkner

Judas Priest – Richie Faulkner

By: Lori Smerilson Carson

So many catchy, melodic, heavy metal songs have spawned from legendary band Judas Priest since the release of their debut album Rocka Rolla in 1974. These extraordinarily talented musicians have sold over fifty million albums, won a Grammy Award in 2010 for Best Metal Performance, and in 2022, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, awarded for Musical Excellence. Now, with fifty years under their belts, Judas Priest are still going strong, and have recently released their nineteenth studio album INVINCIBLE SHIELD. Not slowing down, they are taking their new music, along with prior fan favorites on the road, and Florida fans had the opportunity to catch their Invincible Shield Tour show in Daytona on May 9th at Welcome to Rockville (Daytona International Speedway).

Catching up with Guitarist Richie Faulkner at the start of their Invincible Shield Tour, he revealed some details about the new album that he and Lead Singer Rob Halford, Guitarist Glenn Tipton, Bassist Ian Hill and Drummer Scott Travis just released this past March, about the new show, a bit about his past experiences, and what fans can look forward to.

SFL Music Magazine: The new album is INVINCIBLE SHIELD, the 19th studio LP. Is there a theme with songs like “The Serpent and the King” and “Crown of Horns”? What would you say inspired it?

Richie Faulkner: It wasn’t really. When you start writing an album, you’re not quite sure which way it’s going to go. You might have a group of ideas, but it starts to take shape on its own, and you kind of recognize that and go with it. I think the songs, the ones you mentioned, “The Serpent and the King” and songs like “Invincible Shield”, they had a few twists and turns in them that will take you on a musical journey, if you know what I mean. So, we kind of recognized that’s where the album was dictating it was gonna go, and we went with that. Apart from that, not really. We kind of do what comes out of us naturally, if that makes sense.

SFL Music Magazine: Yes, definitely and the album has that wonderful Judas Priest sound with the strong vocals, drums and guitars. The solos were really impressive! What would you say inspired “Panic Attack”? It really sticks in your head.

Faulkner: I don’t know where is comes from really. Again, when the song starts taking shape, and even more so with the vocals, I think. When the vocals get put on, and the message of the song starts to take shape, we start off with the chorus in terms of the phrase, you know, panic attack, panic attack. Then, I think Rob goes away and thinks well, that was what was coming out naturally, panic attack. What can that panic attack be about? Then I think he comes up with stuff, and then the song starts to take on its message. That’s how it usually works, but where it starts from, I don’t know. For me, I sit down with a guitar in the morning, afternoon or evening and some stuff just jumps out. You say, oh that sounds strong. I’m gonna keep that. Then you might do something else that sounds strong and you put them together, and that’s how it goes, really.

SFL Music Magazine: The album cover with the shield and the serpent, and characters.  How did that come about?

Faulkner: Well, the “Invincible Shield” has been around for a while. I remember Rob called me up with the vocal phrase for the chorus and I had some stuff that went with that. So, the idea for the song has been around for a while. Then we considered different ideas for the title and stuff, but that one kept coming back. That one kept coming back into our consciousness, and it really sums up the music in the community that we’re part of and proud of. The invincible shield of heavy metal. We hold it high. We hold it strong and together, and that’s the shield that we rally behind in this community, but it could also be a family, or a team or whatever you choose it to be. In our case, it’s the power of heavy metal that’s the invincible shield. That seemed to be a strong statement to name the album after.

SFL Music Magazine: I saw the videos for those two songs. I loved the fields with the wind mills, but “Trial By Fire” looks like it was filmed in a forest. What inspired that song?

Faulkner: Yeah, that’s exactly where it was. It was freezing cold where I was. We went out in thirty-degree weather, me and Scott. We live quite close to each other. So, we went out and had our friend record where we were. It was putting across the sometimes-bleak nature of being on trial. Whether its personal or the Salem Witch Trials type stuff. It kind of fit it in with that kind of sentiment. So, yeah, it just seemed to fit the vibe of the music and the lyrics and everything like that, and it came together quite well in that sense.

SFL Music Magazine: Are there any new videos that are going to be coming out?

Faulkner: I’m not sure. There’s always opportunity to do more. We could potentially do some from the road or do a live version or stuff like that, so you never know. At the moment, there are all the studio kind of recorded videos, but we’ll see if there’s anything that can come out from the road.

SFL Music Magazine: That’s something for fans to look forward to. How did the tour come together with Sabaton?

Faulkner: Well, when you’re putting these tours together, you’ve got a lot of things to think about. Which bands are suitable, which bands want to do it, and which bands are available. Some bands, sometimes they’re not available. So, you consider all those things. We were actually out with Sabaton in 2021, but the tour got cut short, you know, one of us had a bit of a medical episode. So, we approached them again to see if they wanted to do it this time, and they were available. We knew it would be a good package. They ticked all the boxes. Great band. Great group of lads. The crew is great, so we knew that they can get on and off stage quickly. All those things come into consideration, but ultimately, it’s a great band of great guys. So, it’s a pleasure to have them out on tour with us again.

SFL Music Magazine: Definitely looking forward to the show, and glad you are doing better. That was a little scary.

Faulkner: Oh definitely, yeah.

SFL Music Magazine: Is there anything you may recommend to people? You’ve been in great shape, and then to hear what happened. Whoa!

Faulkner: Well, I would say what happened was my aortic valve, which they don’t usually check in a lot of checkups. So, they check your heart, but they don’t check around it. You have to actually ask them to specifically do it. So that was something you’re always unaware until it happens (he laughed), you know what I mean? That’s something I would say, if your concerned, or if it runs in the family or anything like that, history of aortic or cardiovascular stuff, definitely get it checked out if you’ve got any concerns, for sure.

SFL Music Magazine: That is great advice. What can fans look forward to with the new show?

Faulkner:  We do different things every time. A different stage set up or different songs. New songs, but you’ve got to put the classics in there. You’ve got to put some deep cuts in there. You’ve got to put a loud Harley-Davidson in the show somewhere where Rob comes out on the Harley. So, all those things that we know and love about a Priest show. Yeah, that’s what to expect, really.

SFL Music Magazine: The last time we talked was in 2018 when FIREPOWER came out. You were saying you mostly play Les Paul’s and Flying V guitars, and after the interview, you were going to a music store in South Florida to get a new one. Are there any new guitars for fans to look forward to seeing you play?

Faulkner: There’re always new guitars. Yeah, for sure. It’s a bit of an addiction. I love guitars. I love new ones and old ones. Just the hunt sometimes is what it’s about. Sometimes you go fishing, but you don’t catch anything, but it’s about everything else. Not necessarily the catch. In this case, I like to go out and see what there is. If there isn’t anything, better next time, and when you do find something, it’s even more special (he laughed). It’s still the same. I’ve got Flying V’s and Les Paul’s and some Explorer’s. I’ve actually got a new Explorer out with me this run. The great guys and girls at the custom shop at Gibson, they made me this new Explorer with custom appointments, and it’s sounding really good on the road. It’s always exciting to have a new guitar on the road, so that’s a new one the fans can see.

SFL Music Magazine: What would you say influenced you to become a musician? To play guitar?

Faulkner: It was my father really, that introduced me to things like Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, and stuff like that. So, my father was the catalyst. Then when you see Hendrix, how can you not be for better or for worse, affected by that. You know, sonically, visually, the whole thing. It was mind blowing really, for a seven-year-old boy. I’m obviously, not the only one. There’s going to be millions after me to get influenced by him as well. So, they were the main things really. My father was into Hendrix and he introduced me to that, and then it went from there, really. Hendrix, Thin Lizzy, UFO, (Iron) Maiden, Priest, Metallica. It goes on. So, that’s where it came from.

SFL Music Magazine: What would you recommend to a new musician coming into the industry?

Faulkner: That’s a really interesting question. Music changes so much, but I think what stays the same is, you’ve always got to be on top of your game. You’ve got to be as good as you can be at what you do, and I think what you do is important as well. Recognize what you do that’s different. That’s your strength. Sometimes your weakness, can be your strength. If you can’t play what other people can play, but you can play something that no one else can as well. That’s your strength. Figure out what that is, and try and hone that I’d say, and be unique. Being unique these days is vital. So, I’d say that.

SFL Music Magazine: Are there going to be any other shows added to the tour in Florida?

Faulkner: I’m not sure. Last time we played Florida, it was right next to a swamp and there was alligators in there, and it was amazing! It was mosquitos, right by the swamp, so like clouds of mosquitos above us and everything. It was amazing! It was really, obviously, hot and humid as well, by the water there. I love Florida. I spend a lot of time down in Florida. These tours always seem to kind of grow. We started in Europe, and then we’re going to the U.S. They always seem to grow, so you never know where we’re going to come back to or where we’re going to tour next. So, hopefully we get down there again.

SFL Music Magazine: People just have to keep their eyes open, right?

Faulkner: Yeah, check out all the socials, obviously. If there’s any new announcements to be about new dates, that’s where to find them.

SFL Music Magazine: Are there any new projects that Judas Priest is working on?

Faulkner: Well, our entire focus at the moment is this tour. So, as I’ve said, we’ve done one leg in Europe. We’re focused on the U.S. at the moment. Then we go back to Europe for the summer. So, our focus is completely on that at the moment. Getting out there, and representing these songs and this music for all the fans around the world. Yeah, that’s what we’re focusing on. We’re kind of just gearing up, really. This is just the second leg as I said. So, hopefully this will be a long tour.

SFL Music Magazine: Anything else you want to add?

Faulkner: Thank you, guys, for the support down there in Daytona. We saw the big armored truck. It was a knight with invincible shield motifs on. It was incredible! So, the support down there has been great. We just can’t wait to get down there with the mosquitos again, and play some heavy metal for you. We can’t wait!

SFL Music Magazine: We’ll try to keep the mosquitos at bay.

Faulkner: (he laughed) Ok. Nice one.

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