Home Featured JUDAS PRIEST’s RICHIE FAULKNER Calls DOLLY PARTON Declining ROCK HALL Nom A “Classy Move”

JUDAS PRIEST’s RICHIE FAULKNER Calls DOLLY PARTON Declining ROCK HALL Nom A “Classy Move”

judas priest rock and roll hall of fame, JUDAS PRIEST’s RICHIE FAULKNER Calls DOLLY PARTON Declining ROCK HALL Nom A “Classy Move”

JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner believes that Dolly Parton taking her name off the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s 2022 class of inductees was a “classy move” on her part.

On Monday (March 14), the iconic country singer and actress politely asked the Rock Hall to withdraw her name from the 2022 ballot, saying “I don’t feel that I have earned the right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”

Faulkner, who would not be included in the induction should JUDAS PRIEST make the ballot, due to his joining the group in 2011, replacing longtime guitarist K.K. Downing, was recently asked his opinion on Parton’s decision to remove her name from the running in a new interview with “Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen”.

Richie said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I think it was a classy move, really. I think she recognizes her brand, and it didn’t necessarily fit into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. And I think it raises questions to what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s brand is as well.

“To call it the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and not have bands like JUDAS PRIEST in it from day one, I think, is a weird thing,” Richie continued. “I’ve said this before. It’s shocking, really. I don’t know how you can call it the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame without having bands like that in it as default; they sort of spawned the genre. But, you know, I’m not eligible, so I can sort of say what I want about it I just think bands like that — [IRON] MAIDEN, PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD — there’s a few bands that are not in, and a few artists that are, maybe it shouldn’t be called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I don’t know.

“I’ve said this before, but I think the greatest accolade any band can have… You’ve toured the world for 50 years, you’ve put out music for 50 years, you’ve got a loyal fanbase for 50 years,” Faulkner added. “No one’s more grateful that these guys in this band, and I know that. They’re still putting out music, they’re still making music, they’re still touring the world. And I’m repeating myself here, and I apologize, but I think that’s more of an accolade than a trophy on a shelf; I really do. I think that’s worth much more than getting in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. That’s just my opinion. And I know the [rest of the] band don’t share that opinion; that’s just my opinion. It’s a loyal fanbase for 50 years. What more can you ask for?”

According to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, the JUDAS PRIEST members that would get inducted would include current members Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar), Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

JUDAS PRIEST, one of the most influential and respected heavy metal bands of all time, have been eligible for induction since 1999. They have also been on the nomination ballot twice before.

You can listen to the full interview at this location.