It just so happens that that "team" is legendary metal band Judas Priest, and Faulkner had landed a role as half of one of the genre's most iconic guitar teams. After K.K. Downing left the group in 2011, Faulkner got the job as the other half of their six-string duo, along with Glenn Tipton.

While other musicians joining a new band have had rough experiences, frontman Rob Halford tells Radio.com that, "We made that perfectly clear to Richie, this is your moment, you're in the band."

He wasn't only welcomed by the band � the fans have also greeted the guitarist warmly. Exhibit A: In the group's new live DVD/BluRay, Epitaph, due out May 28, longtime fans can see how well he gels with the group; nneophytes may not even realize that he's "the new guy."

Faulkner was born in 1980, six years after the band debuted with 1974′s Rocka Rolla, but he stresses to Radio.com that he has been preparing for this role his entire life. "I grew up with bands like Priest � you work out your poses in front of the mirror, with a guitar� or with air guitar," he said. "It was kind of natural to kind of fit into that environment. I'd been working in front of the mirror for decades!"