Solos and Licks with Judas Priest's Richie Faulkner

Judas Priest axeman, Richie Faulkner, shows us several solos and licks from the band's huge globally-acclaimed album, "Firepower." He sits down with Sweetwater's Nick Bowcott to share vivacious riffs from "Traitors Gate," "Necromancer," "Sea of Red," and "Rising From Ruins."

[@MarkaNgamer]

To me he's a genuine Priest member. Down to earth and skillful as hell. Ritchie rocks!

[@4R4D34]

absolutely agree

[@iwontbebeat7111]

He is.

[@mikemercer5808]

Firepower is a fantastic album. Richie has been a fantastic addition to Priest's lineup.

[@sweetwater]

🤘

[@AlejandroRasmussen7]

Mike Mercer yep great great solos

[@4R4D34]

agree

[@hinjurock]

It's a pretty good album, but needs a fast "Rapid Fire" or "Screaming For Vengeance" style song or two.

[@iLanFrid]

One of the better guys out there currently. Great tone, feel, phrasing, technique, everything.

[@teevandy]

iLan Frid well said

[@Appytail]

I'm not sure how much his job at selling sausages in Sweden helped him become such a great player.

[@sackson2025]

Saw him live the other night on tour. He's an amazing guitarist, and holds a candle to both Downing and Tipton, as irreplaceable as they are.

[@johnserafin3689]

The Man,The guitar player that saved Priest. Now with Tipton down he's doing it again on stage playing KK's parts,Glens parts,And his own. Heavy metal Savior ! That is a lot on his shoulders,but he is doing it and doing it well. Hats off to Richie!

[@user-pi9cf9qi7g]

ПОДДЕРЖИВАЮ!

[@PalacerockTV]

Richie is a fantastic guitar player.He is no filler in the Priest line up, he is a killer !!

[@rhondaevans5435]

I love Richie! He is the entire package--fan-friendly, omnitalented, tremendous stage presence, yet very down-to-earth. Priest could not have made a better choice!

[@daveskritterkingdom]

So down to earth with everything he gives to the band, love it!

[@blkjakk]

Hell yeah!! Some Heads Are Gonna Roll!!! Old Priest rules!!!! Richie is great & seems so cool.

[@Radiozo]

Some eggs are gonna roll...

[@sanchz1111]

FYI - They didn't write that tune

[@wasichu66]

Priest has been with me all my life... Richie has managed an incredible feat, not only successfully taking a spot in a legendary band without disrupting the legacy, but bringing his own personality and style to enhance the band, which would have seemed an impossible feat and doomed mission, I think the fans must be pretty unanimous about that. Priest was (maybe understandably) pretty much a tired band on the verge of giving up, and he just gave the guys the spark again, a kick in the balls. Hats off.

[@mbradshaw6760]

I first heard him speak in an interview once and thought "bit of a prick" .... But God no no no how wrong can you be !!!! Lovely fella .... Very humble ..... Obviously an unbelievable guitarist.... Not afraid to call on his influences..... Top bloke .... No ego at all just a fuckin amazing player and a man who knows how to use the guitar for the best result of a song .... Priest are lucky to have him and vice versa.... Nice .....

[@jawaadzulqernine2146]

He's a top lad. Plays in a top metal band, not afraid to admit he isn't a shredder, appreciates the greats and very comfortable with his ability...the way he speaks about his influences and other players says a lot about him

[@love4steel]

went and saw priest this last summer.. i was bummed kk wasn't in the lineup.. but this guy BLEW my mind and melted my face. he's beyond worthy of filling that spot. sinner solo was incredible. he's now one of my favorite guitarists.

[@JFPriest]

2018 Album of the Year..This should get Priest a Grammy..

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

JFPriest Grammys lol

[@guitarworks2546]

The Grammy's don't have a category for the type of music that relates to anything Judas Priest does.

[@FatalArrivalMetal]

Great guitarist! He brought a lot of energy to Priest. Love Judas Priest - they are our main influence from riffs till the screams \m/ ♥♥♥ \m/

[@georghagglund9338]

Nice that he mentions lots of players outside of Judas Priest. Especially Michael Schenker. Michael Schenker is very much active with the new "Michael Schenker Fest"-album and Judas Priest with their "Firepower". I got them both and very glad to see them on such a high note at this stage in their careers!

[@fessfikkle]

This is a brilliant interview/conversation, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@butcho7492]

He has got it ALL! One of the most amazing players today-and what a cool dude!

[@JohnnyBargeldBoom]

Love the Schenker praise and influence.

[@dustyandsneezing]

Even when he slows it down it looks incredibly difficult. He knows his guitar and very humble guy. I’m subscribing!

[@lefterispanos9543]

What a player, I mean I've been watching his covers so many years ago especially the no more tears solo, and I was thinking then, how skillful he was, but now he is so so so much better. Great Ritchie

[@markbirchette8740]

Ritchie, saw the show here in S.L.C. Utah. Brilliant. Been going to Judas Priest since they warmed up for Kiss. I went For the Priest ! I took my son to his first Judas Priest concert here Friday, April the 13th ! All prayers to and for Glenn Tipton. \m/ The Firepower show was as I said Brilliant !!

[@JFPriest]

Priest and Deep Purple...Thanks for coming back to the East Coast.. Seeing you again in September in Jersey and New York..

[@chiefmegadeth]

Wow this is fantastic! Richie is amazing! Firepower is my favourite album of the decade hands down. Since its release it hasn't left my ears! The way Richie talks about Michael and Randy is the way i see Glenn Tipton! The way Glenn hits those solos? cuts me straight to my Metal Heart. Puts me too tears how beautiful they're. the bends the spacing and melody are unforgettable.

[@Asphaltheizer]

One of my favorite guitarists of the past interviewing one of today...brilliant

[@johnramsey7706]

Damn!! This is seriously DELICIOUS guitar tone and with Richie's unbelievable control, spacing and feel....ABSOLUTE GUITAR HEAVEN!!!!

[@kimlarsson7259]

His sound is just.... aaaarrgh 👍🌟👑💥🤘

[@bruceMooseman]

Such an awesome guitarist!! Honestly just being able to take apart what he plays so easily...is very impressive! And what a nice guy

[@dieterschanzer1744]

Richie's ace...he can really rip but importantly and as he says 'gaps' matter not widdly widdly.... Judas Priest with RF and Sneap Producing/playing are re-energised and renewed to the extent that its a really exciting chapter in their evolution; Sneap has had some undeserved flack - the guy needs to be cut some slack and allowed to make his mark and find his feet as we all would - fuck me, landing that gig then playing live with the greatest metal band on earth - we'd all need time to settle in FFS.....Sneap can riff like a MF plus he's massively important to metal.....I love all the cap-doffing to Schenker made in this great video ....Schenker is my No 1 player.....thanks to Sweetwater for the great interview!

[@Explorer766]

Dieter Schänzer How do you feel 2 years on? Sneaps presence as a guitar player is zero and hopefully stays that way. His Firepower gig is irrelevant. No mark left. If Priest pass On Kk for the next tour...it’s certainly not the will of the audience. Neither a new shredder nor Sneap will make any sense.

[@Explorer766]

R/ S Compelling.

[@JrileyJ1286]

was so pumped when the last solo was Rising From Ruins. Fav solo on the record.

[@davidknichal6629]

Love it too. But No Surrender kicks too

[@JrileyJ1286]

I was hoping for No Surrender as well lol

[@jurisblues]

This guy has excellent phrasing. Very much, very good indeed. in addition he demonstrates in his interviews always to be an accessible and humble person. great revelation of this generation. congratulations.

[@teknomanning]

Made me buy my first priest album since like 1978 80. S? Stained.Class? I gots firepower cranked up loud in the car.ALLraces looking at me like 67 yr old black? I go yup!

[@palliare-carpediemz.u.pall569]

God bless you, Mr. Manning and your family too! Glenn Tipton and co. are writing new album right now. Its gonna be huge once again!

[@guitarhero31629]

Very humble guitarist who opens up his views n ideas on playing. Usually other guitarists never tell. N every single note he plays is so fukin clean n crisp. N his chord works n riffs gives me goosebumps.

[@GregoryPearsonMusic]

I appreciate the interviewer just as much as getting to learn from Richie - Nick does a great job just connecting with musicians in an authentic way

[@StahlsBlues]

Such absolutely beautiful playing. Wow!

[@PeteWizzle]

I've never been into JP, but Firepower is a quality album. This dude seems like really cool guy.

[@rockinrob6853]

Luv’d …luv’d ….. LUV’D this vid. Thank you !! JP rules ! Always have. 😎🎸🇨🇦❤️👍

[@stevealsop83]

Haha loved it, you sir are a diamond, so funny and very insightful, thank you buddy 😁

[@trash817]

This man is a legend. Just as good as any great guitar hero that he mentioned here. Love his phrasing, articulation, bends... He just make me want to play. Thank you Richie Faulkner.

[@TomPark1986]

what an awesome guitar tone.

[@MachineGunManUFMS]

"Four Faulkner Fretburners from Firepower" hahahaha that sounded cool. To me, Nick Bowcott is one of the very best interviewers ever, regarding anything. Directs the chat asking the right questions, lets the interviewed talk without getting in the way and knows his shit (he was in Grim Ripper, after all!). Awesome!

[@sweetwater]

Wait, how did you know that was the original title?

[@MachineGunManUFMS]

HAHAHAHAHAHA definitely sounds like a video title!

[@hinjurock]

Nick shreds too.

[@hinjurock]

@@sweetwater Nick says it at the beginning and end of the interview.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Ritchie is pure class. A lovely guy and a great player.

[@DaemonRicks]

Very articulate and precise playing!

[@omarmahfouz5599]

Richie is a certified guitar god

[@rakkaannir1]

hahahahaha yeah he is forsure

[@Halenrocks5150]

1st class player and person! Love how down to earth and humble he is!

[@frenchydelboy5509]

Wow ! Quelle révélation.... Merci beaucoup pour ce partage de plans. je n'avais pas percuté sur les "Gaps" et "finger prints". Maintenant je comprends mieux les particularités de tous ces guitaristes de talents !!!

[@johnny_b_dude]

This guitar is beautiful, the tone is sick and Richie is fucking awesome!

[@AlejandroRasmussen7]

What a fresh guitarrist to hear, his solos in fire power are great

[@Frontbuner]

Firepower is a mean ass record! Kicks major ass from beginning to end!

[@maverick120adventures8]

Great tone, and his skill is amazing.

[@SomewhereInTheMaidenverse]

How could one person be so talented???

[@katrinalenutaphong7383]

Such a great Guitar

[@512banana1]

so humble, love hims so much

[@gabrieledomingosjardim5358]

Richie is a monster!! This solo of Traitors Gate remembers me of that riff on the beginning of The Ripper

[@viviancp2807]

Ownnn!!!! Muito bom te ver tocando!!!! 😘😘

[@neilschlemeel5751]

love this guy! Priest always a favorite with me

[@demonbell8258]

Already legendary, killer player.

[@fumezofficial6696]

I'm very influenced by early judas priest... but must admit this guy is amazing, and I love new judas priest as well! Very good new guy! :)

[@crystalschneider3422]

Richie is one of those guys that could calm down anyone. To go against his 15 year old instincts to impress and play it slow tells me that he can reach his 15 year old self. A healer of metal heads. 😆 Thanks for this video man

[@jasondesjardins7371]

Nick is such a lovely guy and always self deprecating Damn fine player in his own right.

[@rodedo4242]

Richie you are magic!!!Fantastic solo.😍🎸😎💋💋💋❤️💘

[@peterdavies4623]

Great album throughout + ' Sea of Red ' is a beaut, awesome track !

[@panagiotiskaroutas6859]

Amazing player! one of the best on earth! Priest are very lucky to have him! and vice versa of course!

[@cicerobarbiero]

he is amazing...He know what is doing, and go all against the "modern movement", with this crazy djent and bla bla bla. Pretty Simple, old school guitars, old school looks, and old school playing that fits perfectly the Priest Stuff... Man its kinda K.K son!!!!

[@gabrieledomingosjardim5358]

It would be a dream seeing Richie, KK and Glenn together!

[@cicerobarbiero]

@@gabrieledomingosjardim5358 parece que você é brasileira também.... Haha, mas concordo.

[@gabrieledomingosjardim5358]

@@cicerobarbiero AHAUAHAHAUA NEM TINHA ME LIGADO NO TEU NOME, impressionante como a gente esbarra com algum BR aqui

[@Patrickkokujin]

Wow Solo at 8:08 ....sounds like Michael Schenker playing. Its great to see that influence still around. Richie is an absolutely fabulous guitar player!

[@fy7589]

This guy is a fantastic guitar player and also very light headed. He doesn't claim he's a guitar god. The right guy for the band which has been my all time favorite.

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

Richie should release s tutorial DVD, it would sell like hot cakes.

[@trollmunchkinzm4364]

DVD’s don’t sell anymore

[@P3KaX]

In my opinion, Rising From Ruins is one of the two or three best songs in the album... and that solo is... fantastic!

[@Metalshreder777]

15:28 to 15:45 absolutely wicked. Exceptional guitarist.

[@trollmunchkinzm4364]

What song was that?

[@Metalshreder777]

@@trollmunchkinzm4364 Opening riff to......Heading out to the highway off the Point of Entry album.

[@user-cb5ol3yl7o]

😮 RICHIE IS THE METAL MAESTRO!!!!

[@humanbeing2420]

Sick tone.

[@windsurfer49]

"Richie is a standout player for sure"" Last two Priest albums are awesome,

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

And Nr.3 is my favourite so far. Very melodic and lots of shredding done beautifully. I was happy to hear him mention Randy, I've been insisting that I can hear so much Randy in his playing.

[@christ4613]

richie is a keeper.a bad ass.

[@LD10000]

Thanks Richie!

[@Mikeys_garage_mods]

Fantastic guitarist....

[@Jay-ef2ii]

This guitarist has an awesome attitude. Rare! Most musicians are "super stuck-up" but this is the first guitarist that I have seen who has an approachable attitude. May this young man keep rocking with Judas Priest. June 2, 2021.

[@sweetwater]

😁👍

[@dibbo9264]

Ritchie Faulkner Is A Machine

[@guitarworks2546]

I have been a Priest fan since the late '70's...Firepower is my favourite album for overall attention to songs, arrangements, production, and overall individual performances from everyone in the band...absolute stellar job! no, NOT the "BEST" songs in the overall catalog but the strongest sounding release by far....there are of course the all time classic HITS...they will always be the defining "'priest" moments....

[@jonmacist]

All time favorite first was exposed to them in the early 80s and loved them ever since even more when they went heavier and faster in there playing since painkiller, and on.

[@phihelix8777]

Sounds so good. Love it that he gives credit to Michael.

[@jfo3000]

Used to be videos on here of him playing Schenker solos, look em up!

[@phihelix8777]

@@jfo3000 thanks definitely would love to hear him playing some of that. He is really an exceptional musician, to my 👂

[@raymondreid4987]

I need to get two of his signature guitar that is a beautiful flying V.

[@HeavyElectric800]

Necromancer.... A love song.

[@karomrovo]

Very talented, he plays incredibe, and he is humble, nice person. And also handsome, I like his hair, and his accent, and of course his music. I'm in love!!! Papacito!!! Greetings from Mexico.

[@karomrovo]

Incredible. Sorry, I didn't change my cell keyboard to english.

[@markmcmullan3351]

Don't be fooled this guy can shred with the best of them .

[@dgs931]

Superb axeman....i like his schenker-esque style....superb fit for JP, his contribution along with Sneaps Phil Spector wall of sound production = METAL

[@esquared232]

The more I hear from Faulkner , the more I like him, phenomenal player and a nice cat too

[@hinjurock]

Richie is really cool dude and a great guitarist.

[@nethbt]

Richie is the boss

[@jf5543]

My god how good is Richie? I really appreciate his homage to his influences (Schenker, etc.), but he adds his own elements and personality to his playing. Who else caught that little riff from UFO "Out in the Streets". I've seen Judas Priest long ago when I was a kid, several times, with Glenn and KK, and I"m really looking forward to seeing them again in August with Richie !!

[@romanzaytsev4661]

It is always interesting to hear guitar player talk about their influences and how they constructed this or that riff. And by the way, Ritchie has a cool jacket. Any ideas what it is ?

[@mr65plexi]

You Rock!

[@dingdang3845]

He’s kick ass! 🤟🏻

[@trinityflow]

Love the respect to Schenker!

[@ontherunjg]

Richie is such a cool guy and a perfect fit for Priest.

[@jensohle1785]

"Schenker-est" - like it ... it's amazing how many guitarist mention Michael Schenker as a source of strong influence and how underrated he is/was by the public ... sad that he never earned what he deserved in a mega band (Ufo fans, no offence) ... I underrated Faulkner first, when KK left - great that you made it !!!

[@icedtaerow]

For those who don't know who the interviewer is, it's Nick Bowcot, the legendary guitarist (well, maybe not that legendary) of the somewhat underrated band Grim Reaper. Just for your information. And of course, Richie Faulkner is the new blood that came to revive Judas Priest, who by the way, revived with this great album Firepower. 🤘😠

[@leobastosmusic]

Show 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@holysmoke7887]

Spectre is my favorite song on the album whats yours?

[@brubakersflatcakes9755]

Faulkner is a gentleman and a killer guitarist.

[@aronscotttattooer264]

Richie is everything I want to be as a guitar player

[@glennkemp3680]

I saw Ritchie live a few years ago. Black Label opened. In one night I saw Zakk, Glenn Tipton, and Ritchie. Guess who stole the show. That's right. One Mr. Ritchie Faulkner. What an addition to Priest. He is a force to be reckoned with. I look forward to hear what he releases in the future. What a player.