Keith needs surgery on his fingers, thats the only way we'll ever hear him properly again, but I'm afraid that at this point even surgery is a lost cause.
Doctors have come up with artificial kness, Hips, vertabrae but they have not invented the knuckle replacement. Have you seen KR's knuckles ? Each joint looks like it has a marble on top of it. I have arthritis in my C4, 5 & 6 and it kills me. I honestly don't know how he plays at all. His playing during Voodoo was still fluid but you could tell that his arthritis was really starting to progress during B2B.
I think the setlists on LICKS reflected KR's situation....a lot of open G tunes, his "solos" were very limited, although he ripped thru Midnight Rambler which has a lot of repetitive licks in a small area on the fretboard, his hand must have hurt like hell after that one.
I cannot imagine how frustrated he must be. He must have to soak his hand in a bucket of ice after each show.
I just had full knee-replacement surgery 6 weeks ago caused by arthritic conditions.
I understand the pain he must endure.
Due to extensive ligament damage and 3 orthothoscopic surgeries caused by sports injuries during the mid-eightie's , my old knee was in pretty bad shape. Eventually, the arthritic conditions in my knee became nearly unbearable...to the point where the knee was literally caving in on itself. There was no choice..total knee replacement surgery. Thankfully the surgery was a complete success and I'm already out and about kickin ass!
As was stated above, there are no known surgical remedies for this type of hand and finger arthritis problems that Keith suffers from. I can only imagine the pain Keith must endure during each lick he coaxes from his guitar. You could see it in his face last tour at times...total pain.
I have to hand it to him for enduring the struggle. Anything Keith can offer us at ths point guitar-wise should be seen as a gift straight from his heart, but at the same time we should all acknowledge that his playing and singing is a far, far cry from his peak form in the glory years.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-04-10 09:26 by Hairball.
Keith will be OK other wise they wouldn't be cutting a new album...!!!
Well there's one thing you can't lose It's that feel Your pants, your shirt, your shoes But not that feel You can throw it out in the rain You can whip it like a dog You can chop it down like an old dead tree You can always see it When you're coming into town Once you hang it on the wall You can never take it down
But there's one thing you can't lose ANd it's that feel You can pawn your watch and chain But not that feel It always comes and finds you It will always hear yo ucry I cross my wooden leg And I swear on my glass eye Itt will never leave you high and dry Never leave you loose It's harder to get rid of than tattoos
But there's one thing you can't do Is lose that feel You can throw it off a bridge You can lose it in the fire Yo ucan leave it at the altar But it will make you out a liar You can fall down in the street You can leaveit in the lurch Well you say that it's gospel But I know that it's only church
And there's one thing you can't lose And it's that feel It's that feel
Check out the heart felt version of That Fell by Lil' Band Of Gold
I agree with Rockman, they would not cut another album and embark on a new tour if Keith hadn't felt like he was fit for it. Still there's a concern about this matter. It's really a gift from the heart from Keith hitting the road again lasting maybe 1 ½ years before it's all over.
Thanks Keith and the rest of the greatest rock and roll band on earth! See you soon!