Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner has addressed speculation about the legendary heavy metal band’s future. He dismissed any notion of an imminent retirement, citing their relentless creative cycle as evidence of their longevity.
“I don’t have [a timeline],” Faulkner stated. “I mean, I joined the band on a farewell tour, and that was 15 years ago. So if I know anything about those guys, they live for it too.”
The guitarist elaborated on the band’s perpetual creative momentum. He described a self-sustaining cycle that has defined their five-decade career. “We’re doing another record. We’re doing another tour this year. And I’ve seen the cycle. We do a new record and we get fired up to play live. And then you play live and you get fired up to do some more tunes in the studio. You do the album and you get fired up to go out again,” he explained.
Faulkner’s confidence in the band’s future stems from their proven track record. “They’ve been doing that for 50 years. So I don’t see that that changing anytime soon. So, yeah, I mean, if history tells us anything, [it’s] that they’re gonna be around for a while.”
Faulkner’s remarks reflect the reality of Judas Priest’s current trajectory. The band continues to balance studio work with extensive touring schedules. His perspective offers insight into the mindset of a band that has consistently defied expectations about retirement and longevity in the music industry.
Judas Priest released their most recent album, Invincible Shield, in March 2024, according to Blunt Magazine. This marked their 19th studio effort. The album debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and claimed the top spot on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart, demonstrating that the band’s creative output remains commercially viable and critically acclaimed.
The success of Invincible Shield has validated Faulkner’s assertion about the band’s creative cycle. Metal Injection reported that bassist Ian Hill announced plans for the band to return to the studio in 2026. They will begin recording a follow-up album, ensuring that the creative momentum Faulkner described will continue unabated.
