Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner is well aware that the legendary heavy metal institution cannot tour forever, and he is actively building his side project, Elegant Weapons, to carry him into the future.
During a recent appearance on the “Talk Louder” podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist “Metal Dave” Glessner and hard rock vocalist Jason McMaster, the guitarist opened up about his long-term career plans. When asked where he sees himself a decade from now, assuming Judas Priest has retired from the road and the studio, Faulkner offered a highly pragmatic response.
“That’s a great question. It’s a really good question. I put Elegant Weapons together because of that, really. Because of joining a band like Priest on the farewell tour, it’s always been in my mind that they’re not gonna be around forever. I joined them 40 years in. [Priest guitarist] Glenn Tipton told me they’re not gonna be around forever. We’re all aware of where they are in their career. So it was a conscious thing for me to think, ‘Well, what am I gonna do after?’ And this band that I put together was part of that,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Currently promoting Elegant Weapons‘ upcoming sophomore album, the guitarist stressed that he never intended the group to be a temporary distraction. He wants to build a lasting legacy.
“I’m really fortunate that we got to the second [Elegant Weapons] album,” Faulkner continued. “I didn’t want it to be a one-and-done COVID album. So I’m really happy that we got to the second one. And hopefully we can build up more of a personality. You know what it’s like, when the band has got a sound, and you just want it to build up its own personality and its own journey. Whether it’s two or three or four albums, I’ll be like, stoked. But like Priest did, they carved their niche out of nothing, and [Black] Sabbath and [Iron] Maiden and all these bands. And just to do something similar would be great. If we could put this band together and go from one album to two album — you know what I mean? And that’s kind of what I put the band together for. So, as long as I can do it, I would love to try and do it and take it as far as I can.”
He also addressed the harsh economic realities facing modern touring acts, noting that the drive to create music ultimately outweighs the financial hurdles.
“We all know it’s tough [for bands] out there. It’s expensive to tour. Costs are rising, and no one’s getting paid any more money. Things are going up all the time. But I think I speak for everyone — even if everyone did this and broke even, they’d still do it because of the love for doing it. ‘Cause they love to make music, and there’s a drive in us that wants to make music and put it out there for people to hear. That’s why we’re all doing it. So, I’d love to play as long as I could, as long as my health allows, like everyone says. So we’ll see if that happens,” he concluded.
Elegant Weapons‘ second full-length album, Evolution, is scheduled to arrive on April 24 via Exciter Records. The record will initially be available on CD and digital formats, with a special edition vinyl pressing slated for later this year. The band recently dropped the official lyric video for the album’s lead single, “Bridges Burn.”
The group boasts a powerhouse lineup, featuring Faulkner alongside vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG), bassist Dave Rimmer (Uriah Heep), and drummer Christopher Williams (Accept).
Reflecting the band’s international pedigree, Evolution was recorded across Nashville, France, and other parts of Europe. Faulkner co-produced the record with Andy Sneap, Judas Priest‘s current touring guitarist and the producer behind their recent acclaimed albums Invincible Shield and Firepower.
