This popped up on Facebook today, in case anyone is inclined. Theres a link to his GoFundMe to help with his cancer battle.

He was a member of Canned Heat. He played with John Mayall. He played with The Rolling Stones. In fact, he almost became a Rolling Stone. He is Harvey "The Snake" Mandel. His career has spanned over 50 years, bridging the gap between the blues, jazz and rock with his two-handed fretboard tapping and his creative use of sustain and controlled feedback.
These days Harvey Mandel is battling cancer – again! Doctors had curbed Harvey’s cancer, but it has come back with a vengeance. And he needs your help to afford another round of grueling surgeries. Please visit Harvey’s go fund me page and contribute whatever you can. It will mean the future for Harvey:

[www.gofundme.com]

This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

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TheflyingDutchman
This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

He lives in the US, and played in bands his whole life as his job.

All the best Harvey, wishing you a fast return to full health!

Your guitar work on the Black&Blue sessions was a precious contribution to the Stones in their mid-70s transition period, an exceptional musical gift to us fans. It is one of the reasons why that album turned out to be so unique.

I really enjoyed meeting you after a Canned Heat concert in Germany back in 1991.

gofundme - Harvey Mandel

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treaclefingers

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TheflyingDutchman
This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

He lives in the US, and played in bands his whole life as his job.

That's not a reason to not have health insurance.

Mathijs

Hopefully the band will help him as they had helped Don Covay after his stroke...

No but having irregular income is a reason. An average healthy person easily pays $1000 a month. And I know people with more than double that amount.

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Mathijs

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treaclefingers

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TheflyingDutchman
This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

He lives in the US, and played in bands his whole life as his job.

That's not a reason to not have health insurance.

Mathijs

Sorry, I left out a key point which I thought I implied but apparently not explicit enough. In the US it is private health care, unlike most Western developed nations, so you have to pay big money on your own, unless you're covered under your employer's plan - playing guitar may not have given him that corporate benefit. I'm not sure how Obamacare works and maybe there is partial coverage for him there.

I thought this was generally 'known'...sorry I made that assumption.

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treaclefingers

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Mathijs

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treaclefingers

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TheflyingDutchman
This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

He lives in the US, and played in bands his whole life as his job.

That's not a reason to not have health insurance.

Mathijs

Sorry, I left out a key point which I thought I implied but apparently not explicit enough. In the US it is private health care, unlike most Western developed nations, so you have to pay big money on your own, unless you're covered under your employer's plan - playing guitar may not have given him that corporate benefit. I'm not sure how Obamacare works and maybe there is partial coverage for him there.

I thought this was generally 'known'...sorry I made that assumption.

I know all this. I decided not to continue as the post might become political.

Mathijs

Yep,

It's a sad world when health is a mater of politics...

...but that is indeed where we are .

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Mathijs

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treaclefingers

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TheflyingDutchman
This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

He lives in the US, and played in bands his whole life as his job.

That's not a reason to not have health insurance.

Mathijs

It's very sad but I agree. People must plan for their future.

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Mathijs

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treaclefingers

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Mathijs

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treaclefingers

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TheflyingDutchman
This is terrible news of course. I wonder why he has no health insurance.

He lives in the US, and played in bands his whole life as his job.

That's not a reason to not have health insurance.

Mathijs

Sorry, I left out a key point which I thought I implied but apparently not explicit enough. In the US it is private health care, unlike most Western developed nations, so you have to pay big money on your own, unless you're covered under your employer's plan - playing guitar may not have given him that corporate benefit. I'm not sure how Obamacare works and maybe there is partial coverage for him there.

I thought this was generally 'known'...sorry I made that assumption.

I know all this. I decided not to continue as the post might become political.

Mathijs

Ah I see. So your question was rhetorical in nature.