Judas Priest is postponing the remainder of the North American leg of the band’s 50 Heavy Metal Years tour because guitarist Richie Faulkner has been hospitalized with a “major medical heart condition.”
“It is with deep regret that we have to postpone the rest of our [U.S.] tour,” Priest says in a statement. “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.”
The tour was expected to continue Wednesday in Denver, and was scheduled run through a November 5 show in Hamilton, Canada.
“As soon as we have any updates from [Faulkner’s] doctors on when we can reschedule the dates, we will of course announce them,” Priest adds.
Judas Priest had just performed at the Louder than Life festival Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky. The set included a special version of their Fleetwood Mac cover “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” featuring a guest appearance by Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett.
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