Health Update: Eagles, Bad Brains, X

The news about Glenn Frey’s upcoming surgery was revealed in an announcement today saying his health issues have forced the Eagles to hold off on receiving the Kennedy Center Honor.

The band was supposed to appear at a Dec. 6 ceremony in Washington, D.C., along with fellow recipients Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actresses Rita Moreno and Cicely Tyson, and conductor Seiji Ozawa. While the 38th Kennedy Center Honors will still take place as planned, the Eagles’ tribute is postponed until 2016.

The group released a statement explaining that Frey was suffering from a recurrence of “previous intestinal issues, which will require major surgery and a lengthy recovery period,” according to the Washington Post.

The Post points out that Frey had surgery to remove a large portion of his intestine in 1990 and four years later a bout of diverticulitis suspended the Eagles “Hell Freezes Over” reunion tour until 1995. The musician also suffered an intestinal disorder in 1986.  

As of post time, Bad Brains hadn’t revealed details about Dr. Know’s condition, other than to request that fans send prayers and positive vibes.
 “The Bad Brains family ask that you please keep Gary (Dr. Know) Miller in your thoughts and prayers,” the group posted on Facebook Nov. 3. “The family respectfully ask that their privacy be honored during this time and very much appreciate all the great energy that is being sent their way. Positive vibes and PMA!”

More information is trickling in from fellow musicians on social media. Rolling Stone collected several Facebook posts including one from author/RS contributor Greg Tate. He posted Nov. 1, saying he had just seen a “troubling note” from 24-7 Spyz guitarist Jimi Hazel that said Dr. Know was “fighting for his life at this very moment.”

Dean Ween Group told its Facebook followers Nov. 2 that the group had “just got word that dr. know from bad brains (gary) is on life support in the hospital. pray for him, or at least smoke a huge spliff and keep him in your thoughts. one of my fave guitarists of the era–and always.”

On a happier note, X is celebrating its very own “Xmas miracle” in time for the punk band’s “Family X-Mas” holiday tour.  The group says that Billy Zoom’s recovery from bladder cancer is such a success that he’s hitting the road with the band later this month.

The guitarist was forced to sit out the band’s summer tour plans to undergo treatment. Today’s announcement says, “Zoom is currently on break from the chemo treatment and ready to bring his infamous Cheshire grin back to stage left, where he belongs!”

Nov. 27-28  – San Diego, Calif., The Casbah 
Dec. 3-6 – West Hollywood, Calif., The Roxy Theatre
Dec. 11 – San Juan Capistrano, CA  The Coach House Concert Hall 
Dec. 15-16 – San Francisco, Calif., The Independent
Dec. 18 – Seattle, Wash., The Showbox
Dec. 19-20 – Portland, Ore., Star Theater 
Dec. 31 – Agoura Hills, Calif., The Canyon 

Mike Watt & The Secondmen opens all shows except Dec. 31.