Judas Priest - Painkiller : Live at Louder Than Life Louisville, KY 2021

[@wimpingus123]

The most metal thing I can imagine. Playing "Painkiller" - and shredding perfectly on that hugely difficult solo no less - while your heart is exploding ... and surviving. Richie's place in the Halls of Metal is forever secure, lol.

[@zach5500]

If there is a God that was THE example of a miracle. If it happened literally anywhere else, any earlier in the song, or any later etc, he wouldn't have made it. If there is a God he knew that Ritchie is the chosen one for modern metal guitar players and it was not his time.

[@schoolofrockcary6625]

99.999% of humanity couldn't play these riffs with a fully functioning heart, and he cranks this out as he's literally DYING. Fucking legend!!

[@AlanBumac]

Hahaha.That's true

[@jeffl.8489]

Richie is now a legend.

[@Nightshade1881]

Hell yeah he is 🙏🏼

[@gabrielegiorgi2623]

Richie is now made of metal! He already was a legend

[@szhasteinn9061]

He was already

[@keefriff99]

Richie is so lucky to be alive...an aortic aneurysm/complete aortic dissection is usually a death sentence. And I know Rob isn't in his prime anymore, but to be able to do HALF of what he can still do vocally is simply remarkable. He was truly blessed with one of the greatest and most durable voices in the history of music.

[@no98765]

He was fine, the jab did it

[@SteelGeneral]

Insane that he was able to finish the set with something that horrible going on and I couldn't even tell anything was off! I'm glad Ritchie made it to the hospital in time and hope he makes a full recovery!

[@remembertheblacksabbath]

God bless Richie and I’m glad he’s ok, but he just became king of the mountain for the most metal thing ever!

[@drywizardinc]

He's out now!

[@81millionvotes]

Amen

[@screamingtubes6683]

Saint dime and Saint Rhoads were watching down on you Richie, dying and playing one of the best solos ever.

[@moonwork4378]

Me too!

[@ogguineapig7900]

My god…….. And to think that Richie was practically dying on stage while giving a performance like that……. He is one tough legend

[@donkeypunchbandit]

Not practically. He was literally bleeding out

[@mark-wh2qc]

He is a bit tough is Richie, you'd certainly want him on your side in a punch up...

[@nosedive44]

I was there at that show, I can say this recording doesn't do it justice. It was amazing, the acoustics, his screams reverberated off all the surrounding buildings. I have seen priest many times, but this was best I have seen. They upstaged the shit out of Metallica (Metallica sounded like a tribute band playing Metallica). Now I come to find out that Ritchie almost died and yet kept shredding like a pro, there are no words, he is a metal god and I glad he is still around to spread his gospel.

[@LoganFK]

I saw them in Virginia Beach on the 9th and I’ve seen a lot, but nothing like them in my life, I was literally high on the music.

[@taskmaster65]

Richie's Statement: Maniacs… I’ve always been grateful for the opportunities I’ve been presented with. I’ve always considered myself THE most fortunate man ever - to be able to play my favourite music - with my favourite band - to my favourite people around the world… Today just being able to type this to you all is the biggest gift of all… As I watch footage from the Louder Than Life Festival in Kentucky, I can see in my face the confusion and anguish I was feeling whilst playing ‘Painkiller’ as my aorta ruptured and started to spill blood into my chest cavity…. I was having what my doctor called an aortic aneurysm and complete aortic dissection. From what I’ve been told by my surgeon, people with this don’t usually make it to the hospital alive….. I was taken to nearby Rudd Heart & Lung Center and quickly went into what turned out to be a 10 ½ hour emergency open heart surgery. Five parts of my chest were replaced with mechanical components…..I’m literally made of metal now…. It could have all ended so differently - we only had an hours set that night due to Metallica’s performance after us - and it does cross my mind if it was a full set, would I have played until total collapse…? If it hadn’t happened in such a high adrenaline situation would my body have been able to keep going long enough to reach the hospital…? The amazing Heart & Lung Center was 4 miles away from the gig site - if it had been further away…….. We can always drive ourselves crazy with these things but I’m still alive thankfully. Whatever the circumstances, when watching that footage, the truth is, knowing what I know now, I see a dying man….. I’ve been moved to tears and humbled by friends, family, my fantastic band, crew and management and also you guys sending me videos and messages of love and support during the last week - I thank you all so much and although I have a recovery road ahead of me, as soon as I’m able to get up and running again, you’ll be the first to know and we’ll get back out there delivering the goods for you all….! One last thing maniacs, this came totally out of the blue for me - no history of a bad heart, no clogged arteries etc…my point is I don’t even have high cholesterol and this could’ve been the end for me. If you can get yourselves checked - do it for me please…… Lots of love and see you down the front again soon…. Richie… This is from our strong falcon - he will be flying high again just as soon as he is able…. JUDAS PRIEST October 6th, 2021

[@scanman9467]

Cocaine use can cause acute aortic dissection. NOT saying that he uses. But you never know.

[@rodgedefender]

@@scanman9467 shut up

[@ucheehQ]

@@scanman9467 Why even say it then? What does conjecture and speculation win us or him at this time? I'm nominating you for the 'Most Useless Comment of the Decade Award'.

[@thesandman4438]

@@scanman9467 there's one in every crowd, and YOU decided to to be it. 🖕

[@stansuiter2938]

@@scanman9467 I have gone through the exact same thing with no cocaine use in my life. There is a special place for beings like you.

[@planetbard1]

It is a miracle that Richie survived this. Life is fragile.

[@Skysiah0503]

My boy Richies heart fucking exploded while playing the best damn metal song in the Painkiller Album, what a fucking mad lad to walk away from that when to others it would be a death sentence

[@mitchcarson6309]

And to think Richies heart pretty much exploded during this song and he finished. I can only imagine what he said when he walked off stage. Much respect.

[@soanmonte9706]

You can see at 6:02 when he finally finishes the song, his hand goes straight to his chest. It must've been terrifying, he's such a tough metal maniac.

[@beefybassplayer]

I believe Richie has been crowned the Most Metal AF person alive!! So glad everything worked in his favor to be where he is now.

[@BM-vi5hk]

Rob Halford: 5+ octave vocal range for 5 decades: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. Pretty darn impressive!

[@hidearzo]

It s a miracle that Richie has survived after that.. and he played amazingly as ever..

[@remembertheblacksabbath]

He doesn’t skip a beat as he’s literally dying on stage!!!! Such a metal god guitarist!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@charlie.dont.surf.]

Noticed that Richie walks off as soon as he's done playing Painkiller and didn't join the rest of the band to say goodnight. He must have already been feeling bad prior to the end of the show. Hope his surgery went well.

[@killingsleep]

You could see Rob following him over. Rob knew something was wrong. Get well soon Richie!

[@johnlester3385]

His aorta had ruptured and was bleeding.

[@bigtommy9715]

He said during the performance it happened watch his face

[@GregK9]

Amazing! The guy's bleeding to death and still shreds away!! Respect!

[@danmarshall5895]

You can see him grab his chest a couple times before walking off stage. Lucky he made it, happy for him.

[@catindell]

Richie Faulkner we love you and get well 100% you mean so much to me !!

[@jimjim7008]

Ritchie is a fucking hero been able to finish off the set while his major heart vessel is bulging. Well, he's literally made of metal now and will come back stronger than before. Good on you Ritchie, you're a true fighter.

[@fredyklug3512]

wow, you can really hear the siren of the ambulance at the end! what a show, I couldnt even imagine playing smoke on the water with a stoping heart, but Richie plays Painkiller while his heart stops beating and he finishes it off like a fucking god!

[@kscarano]

SO thankful that he made it to the heart hospital in time!! What a traumatic nightmare, so glad you're still with us Richie. Sending healing wishes and energy for a full recovery!

[@NooDLES411911]

Richie is the last person on that stage you'd expect to almost die from a heart attack

[@standarddef8769]

'And the show must go on' has never meant more than in this moment. Unbelievable resolve to actually finish the song and walk off stage. Legendary and very, very lucky 🤘

[@waynequirion1749]

With all that metal in his chest, Richie is truly a Metal God now. A heart attack is one thing, what he had happen is usually instant death. Truly amazing.

[@coinslotsandjoysticks2572]

Playing like that while his aorta was slowly ripping open and blood pouring into his chest cavity. He really is a metal god with all the metal parts the surgeon put in him.

[@ESUSAMEX]

If you look at 6:02, Richie looks like he grabs his chest, then finishes the song, gingerly removes his guitar and leaves the stage. Sending my best wishes to Richie and the band.

[@janalong2702]

Well thank god the song was almost over at that point

[@mikejelinek1413]

That must have been it. I just don't how he conveyed to the band how band he felt? Unless he did say something and passed out. Someone had to take him to the hospital know way do you have time for a rescue squad? Unless because it was a festival setting they may have had EMT's onsite.

[@joliethebluestang3705]

You can literally see it happen. He bends over right then and as he stands up it hits him and he reaches up to his chest. A hair flip, lifts guitar off and raises his arm to maybe shake it off but no.. then reaches to chest again. That's when it hit.

[@cricket502]

@@mikejelinek1413 There was definitely at least an ambulance or two on standby for a concert this size. I was at the concert and saw the Louisville Mass Casualty Unit trailer was there too, just in case it was needed

[@stevenharris716]

The original version of this song is probably the definition of metal. This version is just as amazing. Robs death growls are awesome!

[@Maxx61]

As Richie himself now says, "I'm literally made of Metal now." Dude was put on this earth to shred....and kept here for that very purpose.

[@BM-vi5hk]

I remember when a similar thing happened to the drummer from REM-- had a brain aneurysm on stage. He had emergency surgery which required removing part of his skull, healed up and got back on the road a few months later, but retired from the band soon after. He's been a farmer for the past 20 years. I don't think Richie will retire and become a heavy metal farmer, but you never know.

[@Steeler_]

having a heart attack is scary. glad surgery was a success and that recovery is going well. Damn to play a show when you are either suffering from heart issues or starting to feel them must be scary as hell and not to mention how physically demanding the job is too! wish him and the band the best

[@IDONTCAREWYT]

Even scarier: his aorta ruptured and was literally dying on stage.

[@Steeler_]

@@IDONTCAREWYT yea i read the update from him yesterday and that was a frightening read and extremely scary. unbelievable lucky to be alive and having a good hospital nextdoor too. Hopefully he makes a full painfree recovery but going through this must be a scary situation for him as well.

[@NooDLES411911]

@@Steeler_ Jesus can't even imagine. I've gotten high and thought I was having a heart attack, imagine being on stage, aorta ruptured, shredding the guitar, wondering if it's adrenaline or something has gone severely wrong.

[@dawnparkin8426]

Cary so right, Ritchie is now officially a rock legend - what a bloke! But just hope he can make a full recovery. If the Priest get to Newcastle - i've had my tickets for nearly 2 years - I for one will cheer him to the rafters!

[@stef2090]

This footage is legendary So glad he pulled through

[@mrandsp]

Here’s wishing Richie a full recovery. I won’t say speedy because these things take time; he is a lucky guy to have survived what happened, and I can only but imagine the noise of the ovation he will receive when returning to the stage. Whenever that may be Falcon, we are here and waiting for you.

[@ST0RMSHAD0W_117]

Richie was still fighting like a trooper even when his heart was melting down.

[@donaldbothe3518]

Saw them here and truely discovered them via this show. I was just so amazed someone so old had such an immacualte voice and vocal range.

[@michaeldrums3190]

How ironic it was during pain killer. Man hes so lucky to be alive. The metal Gods were looking out for him.

[@warrenjensen4670]

At 6:00 Richie grabs at his chest, he must've been in a world of pain. Here's to a speedy recovery 🙏

[@mateoh.3735]

That shits crazy man you can see him grab his chest at the end of the song. Glad he survived and is on the mend.

[@killdozer3464]

thanks for sharing. That will be a night that I never forget. I been a fan of Judas Priest for 35 years and this night I got to see them Live for the first time! They should had headline their own night! To think that this happened to Richie on a stage, that happens to be an 8 minute ride to the leading Heart Surgery Center in the country it’s a sign. Someone was looking out for him. I uploaded a short clip of this performance in my Louder Than Life Highlights video. Check it Out.

[@shawnfuton6746]

Really quite frightening to think what was happening to him, aortic aneurysms hurt quite a bit when they dissect. This video could have ended very tragically as if the aneurysm had of ruptured he'd of dropped like a rock and survival chances are pretty much nil. I'm glad he made out ok, and he was quite fortunate to be so close to a hospital that actually specializes in cardiovascular work. BTW, a big risk factor for what Ritchie had is smoking and high blood pressure, so if you smoke and have high Blood Pressure, please stop smoking and get your BP treated. Those risk factors are what caused my Aunt to die of an aortic aneurysm.

[@GonzoAmerican]

Guarantee his smoking days are over.

[@charleslaine]

In most of these cases the victim drops like a stone, never to return from the abyss.

[@TreasureRescue]

You can see Richie put his hand on his chest @6:01, it must have been so scary. So glad he is on the mend, healing vibes headed your way Falcon. 💖💖

[@gianlucacobretti]

Richie is strong 💪 ❤️ and he is still with us!

[@Bbr6704]

Get well soon Ritchie, I wish you all the best to come. Good luck and keep on rockin'!

[@nabuconosor]

03:00 ese es el momento donde empieza a fallar en las notas, terrible por Ritchie pero PROFESIONAL sobretodo, excelente y gracias x ese solo dolido y adenalinico. GRACIAS TOTALES!!

[@doublestack2k]

Ritchie had an aortic dissection which means his vein going to his heart tore open and his chest was filling up with blood. He's real lucky to be alive. He said himself if they would have been playing a full set he might not have made it.

[@andyman2462]

You can see him cough towards the end when he's on his knees. Like wtf is going on with me

[@DenisPauna]

Richie the legend!

[@dmjord412]

A man so metal, his chest is literally made of metal.

[@MoistCheeto]

i was there! they put on a great show and the whole festival was incredible!

[@craigkrane3901]

Richie is only 41 and looks fit as a fiddle. Wonder why the hell this happened. Downright scary when you think about it. The man is tough as nails to finish the set. God bless him and I wish him a speedy recovery.

[@keefriff99]

An aortic aneurysm is sometimes hereditary. It has nothing to do with fitness...it's basically a timebomb in your body that doctors don't usually check for.

[@alainecollins6532]

Not to be that person, but cocaine can also cause aortic dissection. Current or past use.

[@kenelder5182]

Dude is literally having an aneurysm and he plays better than I do.

[@joshhamburger5451]

Dude's literally dying as he plays one of the most insane guitar solos in history, pulls it off, holds his chest and walks off like a fucking boss like its nothing and goes to the hospital...THEN LIVES... Sorry, but, thats the most metal shit to ever happen to somebody!

[@charleslaine]

METAL GOD!

[@guardiandelasroyals9677]

The power of metal 🤘🏻

[@ekaterinas8796]

I could not believe it, damn! Thank god he is alive!!!!

[@jdubya2006]

Richie to the grim reaper:.......NO! not now, I have this bad ass solo to shred...after the show we'll talk but I can't promise you anything.....\m/

[@ferox965]

Reading Richie's statement, it's scary knowing what we know now during this song...

[@THEHenrikOlsson713]

Knowing what we know now about Richie's condition makes this video very disturbing! What f***ing soldier! 💥

[@braydenchastain2002]

Glad that Richie is doing well!

[@Jonkerz77]

Scary. I´m really glad Richie made it to the hospital in time, and that he now is on the road to recovery. I wish him all the best. ALSO can we talk about Rob Halford adding those death metal style grunts to Painkiller. Has he done it before, and is it a good addition to the song? I´m on the fence here!

[@Werner4voss]

stay strong Richie

[@gstevens6948]

Get well soon Richie!

[@aceluke7783]

Richie is one tough dude.

[@shonpistoll]

You can see him touch his chest when the pain hits. The Falcon is a METAL WARRIOR!

[@hellfire8883]

He had an aortic aneurysm. In his case it was also an aortic dissection because his ruptured. This is a different issue than a heart attack. Still its amazing he finished the song. Im not sure if painkiller was the planned set ender. Maybe because it was a festival they had less time so they played a shortened set with no encores. If you look at their setlists for all other dates on this tour they played a total of 18 songs. 14 songs plus 4 encores. At this show painkiller was only the 11th song. Either way all that matters is that Richie survived and that the venue was only 4 miles from a major heart and lung surgery center.

[@weirdguy59]

It was a shorter set because Metallica were the headliner of the festival.

[@KevinQ1989]

At 6:02 you can see Richie grabbing his chest. He was already feeling bad. :(

[@jamminfun]

I saw that too! Sending positive, healing energy Richie's way!

[@Dedcalm1]

So scary. Hope he makes a full recovery.

[@psychoseventyeight]

Man Metalheads are the toughest fucking musicians out there. I was impressed when I played a show with a broken hand. This dude's heart was exploding. Bobby Blitz had a stroke on stage and still tours, shit I saw Overkill in Jersey a few years back and they killed it, the next day they cancelled the tour because Blitz had fucking Pnuemonia...

[@johnstoner666]

You can see at the end of the song Richie grabs his chest and then takes off his guitar. Glad he got help as quick as he did! Get will soon Falcon!

[@Mung1st]

Robs still got it after all these years

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

I was there for the festival, no one knew except Richie at that time, so glad nothing tragic happened and that he will make a full recovery. The stars aligned that day...shorter set, fantastic EMT staff and being only 4 miles from the Heart and Lung center, he is a lucky man. He needs to recognize his calling now

[@PoetryETrain]

Word! Turn the Song UP!

[@Carljohan1718]

50years om Metal AMAZING

[@pigxstix]

His wife said it was happening while he was playing but he finished the show. Sounds like a walking heart attack followed by a stint or bypass surgery. He's lucky.

[@Steeler_]

right? that is a scary situation from so many angles and dang lucky too but it's a relief to hear the surgery went well.

[@MarkNLaura1]

He had a dissected aortic aneurism so his aorta blew a hole while he was playing the song. I’m so grateful he is ok.

[@Steeler_]

@@MarkNLaura1 just read the health update from him and all i can say is holy hell he got extremely lucky to be alive

[@rkhale02]

He isn't lucky, the man is just so godly a major medical incident that usually kills people didn't even show him down.

[@palsyddad]

fucking CHILLS

[@andyman2462]

You can see him grab his chest at the end as he walks off

[@charleslaine]

6:01 he grabs his chest. Now he is a literal METAL GOD.

[@eringann3162]

the man had a complete aortic direction, holy shit

[@reinaldomendoza8969]

Ironicly...Painkiller nearly comes to real life but Faulkner was stronger and Louder Than Life. That's one hell of a history to tell for eons!!

[@MR.CHRISTIAN8888]

As an old man now middle aged who listened to Judas priest in the 80s . I am now a born again Christian . God gave Rithie another chance . If he would have died he would have gone to hell or the lake of fire for all eternity truly scary . Life is so short Jesus said if we are not born again we cannot see the kingdom of God . I pray Ritchie and Judas Priest come to know Jesus as their personal . All the unbelief in the world will not make hell disappear . None of us are getting any younger eternity will be forever . Jesus is the way the truth and the life .

[@whiteheatredhot5341]

It just was announced Ritchie suffered an aortic aneurysm.

[@pinkfloydmeddle6692]

Still sounds amazing! Not any different from when he was younger

[@ScootsMcPoot]

If anything hes better now. Hes worked on mids and lows the last 15 years. Thanks to corpsegrinder

[@SteelGeneral]

They were great! It was my first time seeing them and I was very impressed!

[@Th3Raz96]

@@SteelGeneral Same and I am SO STOKED I got to see them while Rob still had it goin on! Only regret is that Glenn Tipton couldn't be present, but Andy Sneap and Richie Faulkner blew me away anyways. The whole band was amazing but holy shit Rob's vocal skill blew me AWAY! Remember when he hit that one sustained scream, the band cut out for a second, and just his voice became _ear piercing_ ?? Out of every band that performed, I think Priest was hands down the greatest as far as raw energy and still sounding as good as the records. Even Metallica, as much as I love them, are starting to lose a little of their magic.

[@scjklp6971]

You must not have been around for the Operation RnR tour.

[@mark-wh2qc]

I think he's better now, now he's not trying to be Zakk Wylde every time he goes on stage..

[@peterrimel8170]

This is the scariest thing. I’m shocked it doesn’t happen more often. Thank God it doesn’t.

[@aseranto9310]

6:01 😢

[@TheStormReef]

thank god Richie pulled through

[@twinborn6028]

What solo did he have the heart attack? Where in the video

[@elarioargentino6102]

Otra forma de hacer música

[@michelpater4562]

Missing kk

[@michaelmclaughlin6440]

Things must still be really bad between the band and KK Downing to not even ask for him to fill in wow also Hey Andy hope things are good looking great!

[@Nick-xv5ci]

He sounds so much like King Diamond here.

[@jimsimoes1401]

WTF with all the body surfing? people still do that shit?

[@cnt55cnt55]

killed the actor John Ritter and he was across the street from a hospital when it happened. Killed Lux Interior of The Cramps also. coke and smoking are big risk factors external to bad luck and hereditary.

[@Neilbear5820]

Bet he had the corona poison jab.

[@neospawnkiller6586]

He is vaccinated, and so is the rest of the band, but the fact that they all got vaccinated before the tour began over a month ago, and the fact that heart problems affect a measured 60 out of every million vaccinated individuals, makes it look pretty stupid to assume there's any connection. Not to mention the condition he suffered was that his aorta ruptured which has never been linked to any vaccine in history.

[@hermunkulus]

There's always one...