As many know now, guitarist Richie Faulkner was rushed to the hospital a little more than a week ago with ‘major heart issues.’ As a statement from the band read. Leaving fans to speculate what the extent of the episode really was. Well now we have the facts. And the situation was about as bad as it gets.
It turns out, mid show, mid solo even, Richie Faulkner suffered from a ruptured aorta. Which, according to research I’ve done, is basically like a brain aneurysm for your heart. It can happen to anyone at anytime for no real reason at all. Faulkner is after all, only 41 years of age. And has no pre-existing conditions. Fortunately it’s fairly rare. But the survival rate is something around 10 to 15 percent. However, Faulkner has pulled through and is currently recovering in the hospital. Where he had an open heart procedure that lasted over ten hours.
Of course, everyone has a camera in their pocket. And there’s no shortage of footage of the incident. If you watch the video closely you can actually see the moment it happened. Right in the middle of ‘Painkiller,’ (ironic no?) during the solo, you can see a wince and then a quick look of worry. However, like a true freakin’ champion, he finishes the song. In an age where it seems like everyone quits for little, petty reasons; something like this happens. And it’s unreal that he finished the track. He’ll always be able to say, ‘Oh yeah? Well my aorta ruptured in the middle of concert and I finished the song.’ I mean, what are you going to say to that?
Faulkner has issued a statement. And it’s clear how grateful he is for his fans, his doctors and his band.
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…
There it is, the official statement from Richie Faulkner. I’m sure you’re all with me in wishing him a swift and full recovery. Be well and take care of yourselves.
