Posted on 05/09/2006 5:51:28 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Doctors are concerned Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards could suffer from brain damage after undergoing two surgeries following a fall while holidaying in Fiji, the New Zealand Herald reported on Wednesday.
The newspaper said Richards had undergone an operation at a hospital in New Zealand on Monday to relieve a blood clot on the brain which involved drilling a hole through the skull. Subdural hematoma can be caused by mild knocks to the head.
His London publicists confirmed on Monday that he had surgery but did not disclose the details. They said it was a success and he was expected to recover in a few weeks.
The Herald said Richards had his first operation on April 28 to stop bleeding in his skull.
A spokesman at the Ascot Hospital in Auckland declined to comment on the report.
Richards' two daughters -- 21-year-old Theodora and 19-year-old Alexandra -- were also reported to have arrived at Auckland's Ascot Hospital on Tuesday to join their mother at Richards' bedside.
The 62-year-old rocker had been under medical observation in Auckland following the fall in late April.
Richards was flown to Auckland after the accident while holidaying in Fiji following the end of the Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand leg of a world tour.
Along with lead singer Mick Jagger, Richards has been the backbone of the Rolling Stones since the 1960s.
His history of arrests and drug abuse in younger years has given him the reputation as rock 'n' roll's ultimate survivor. He pokes fun at his checkered past by greeting concert audiences with the catchphrase, "Good to be here, good to be anywhere."
He has suffered his fair share of freak accidents.
In 1998, he broke three ribs and punctured a lung falling from a ladder while reaching for a book in his library. In 1990, one of his fingers got infected after he punctured it on a guitar string. In both cases, the Stones were forced to postpone concerts.
date on memo is mid 70's right?
How would anyone tell?
Prayers for Keef. BTT.
Nah! This is too easy!
You beat me to it...
The man's been dead 20 years... I didn't know further injury was possible. :~D
...ping...ping...ping...ping...
it will be the end of an era if he passes away or cannot recover enough to perform again.
Prayers for Keith..........
Indeed... I wish him no harm, hope he recovers.
Keith looks as healthy as I've ever seen him in that photo! To your health! Get well soon Keith!
Yep, I know we'd hear flippant brain damage comments. My prayers for his recovery.
I hear Keith personally is a good guy. Here's to his full recovery.
Ditto, Bill.
God sorts it all out. Drive by posters get to answer for their flip-offs on the Last Day. I would never kick a man when he is down - not even a Kennedy or Clinton.
I think he already had brain damage. Look at that photo.. He's wearing two hats and two jackets.
Maybe, he will come out of this more normal. Let us pray.
He's one of the best ever at his craft. I hope he recovers.
You're a Soul Survivor, Keef.
I got the bell bottom blues,
It's gonna be the death of me.
It's the graveyard watch,
Running right on the rocks,
I've taken all of the knocks.
You ain't giving me no quarter.
I'd rather drink sea water...
Fish could get wet.
How would one know?
Wait a second!
Seriously, hope he gets better.
Good luck to the guy and I hope he recovers.
My thoughts exactly.
How ironic..years of complete bodily abuse, drugs, alcohol, etc. He survives. Goes on vacation and falls out of a tree. Unbelievable.
He is a Rock Icon that embodies the Sex Drug and Rock n Roll lifestyle-he sometimes seemed invincible
I hope he continues his luck and recovers
Author of some of the greatest guitar licks ever. Get well soon.
Ah, but was he sober when he climbed up the tree? ;)
My exact thought.
So when did he have the surgery that replaced his pointer finger with a penis?
"it will be the end of an era if he passes away or cannot recover enough to perform again."
The 60s and early 70s have a huge impact on music.
Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, Fleetwood Mac, Stones, Beatles, Aerosmith, and many more will pass from the scene.
Why did I mention those particfular ones? Because they are still putting out music, live, recorded, a few new sounds.
BB King is having his 80th birthday live tour!!
Lately I buy collaborations, such as John Lee Hooker, with two songs on the CD with Santana, two with Morrison, one with Bonnie Raitt, etc.
1968
The Stones have sucked for 20 years. Jagger's been whiskey-monotone and his prancing act hasn't changed a bit. The drug-soaked band members are just as bad.
Jagger's Era ended 25 years ago. The Stones are like a ghost that doesn't know it is dead. They should have been exorcised years ago.
Those coconuts could have been injected.
Keef is straightened out now. I guess that is why he's not worm food.
C
His brain damage, I believe, started about 50 years ago.
This guy's damn near indestructible. If he hasn't killed himself with forty years of excess, falling out of a tree and landing on his dome should be cake.
}:-)4
Whoa, dude!
That's one gnarly digit.
Pretty funky finger, IMO.
Junkies are always cold.
The only living things that will survive a nuclear holocaust are:
1.Cockroaches
2. Keith Richards
In other words, I wouldn't worry about a piddly little head injury.
I love the 'stones. Me thinks they should've beein in the Rock'n Roller's Hall of Fame instead the Beatles.
From the picture Keith looks like he has a growing problem whith arthritis more so than everything else.
I wish him well!!
"My brain’s been battered, splattered all over manhattan Uh-huh, this town’s full of money grabbers"
How would they make that diagnosis?
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