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.
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 brains been battered, splattered all over manhattan Uh-huh, this towns full of money grabbers"
How would they make that diagnosis?
"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."
Well, I can relate to the posts about brain damage, I have been around long enough to know some of the Stones' songs.
But, would it not be ironic if that finger, playing that awesome guitar, was his demise?
He must be nuts to be in his 60s and in a tree -- but that has nothing to do with the fact the Stones produced some GREAT music. (UH OH, showing my age).
When any of us falls out of a tree, we'll be lucky if anyone notices.
One of the most amazing and understated things he did was put together the "Hail, Hail Rock and Roll" project - the concert/documentary honoring Chuck Berry.
An excellent movie, a must see for anyone who has ever enjoyed a Chuck Berry song.
(And shame on the FReepers vomiting the same parroted unfunny, unoriginal brain damage one liner!)
ROFL.... cruel, but so true.
Well said. Bump that!
Did another 60+ YO chase him up that tree? When I'm that age I will be flying UltraLight aircraft. It's much more peaceful up there than up a stupid tree. I got my specialty aircraft licence at 50. You can't be stoned, drunk and stupid to get in one in the first place either. The same FAA rules apply. It's a pleasure watching big dirty seagulls check you out and fly away at 750 feet. Above Camarillo and Port Hueneme.
One story I read said it wasn't certain that he fell out of a tree (after drinking vodka and rum with Woody.) There was another version of the accident. (I can't find it now. Anyone?)
"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."
Yeah, me neither. You and I simply have different demons to deal with than they do.
There goes our hope of ever unifying quantumn dynamics.
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