Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:31 +0200
Quote:
- the blues blog
Aging rockers face health issues
http://the-blues-blog.blogspot.com/2005_09_25_archive.html#112779617880328429
Text:
Aging rockers face health issues
Miami (Sep. 25)—It used to be that rock stars died young of living life to the rhythm of notorious excess in drugs, alcohol and the like. These days, they're more likely to die of heart failure.
"It's certainly a problem as some of these groups age," said Bernie Dillon, senior vice president of entertainment at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
"Can they maintain their tour schedule? Can they maintain their voices? Touring is a tough business."
In recent years, several tours have been affected by performers' health ailments.
In August 2004, then 57-year-old David Bowie was forced to halt his European tour and undergo emergency heart surgery for a blocked artery.
Also that month, The Kinks co-founder Dave Davies, also 57, collapsed of a stroke in London, causing an upcoming American tour to be canceled.
Last October, former Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, then 58, was hospitalized for chest pains in Los Angeles.
On the R&B-soul; scene, Ronald Isley, of the Isley Brothers fame, suffered a minor stroke last year at age 63 while 56-year-old Rick James died. The funk legend, famed for 1981's Superfreak, had suffered a stroke while on stage in Denver in 1997 and had hip replacement surgery the following year.
"As long as these guys can work, they'll sell tickets," said Ray Waddell, senior editor touring of Billboard magazine. "But at some point, biology will take over."
Source: CHRISTINA HOAG, Miami Herald
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