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Rockers are devoted to their fans, but sometimes that devotion pushes them to the limit and takes a toll on their health. Over the past year, several major artists have had to postpone tours to deal with serious health issues.
Bruce Springsteen returns to the stage this week after suffering from a stomach ulcer last year.
The tour kicked off in Phoenix on March 19. According to the AP, the “Born in the USA” singer addressed the crowd, saying, “Phoenix, first of all, I want to apologize if there was any discomfort because we had to move the show. last time. … I hope we didn’t inconvenience you too much.”
He went on to perform a nearly three-hour show, showing off his vocals, dancing and even ripping his shirt off near the end of the show, according to the AP.
Bruce Springsteen performs at the Footprint Center on March 19, 2024, in Phoenix, returning to tour after recovering from a stomach ulcer last year. (John Medina/Getty Images)
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Rob Weiner, pop culture librarian at Texas Tech University, has a simple explanation for what keeps performers like Springsteen, Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones and more going.
“Music is their life. It’s what they do. Dying slowly at home is not very appealing to most musicians,” he told Fox News Digital.
“There’s nothing that says you have to stop touring at any age,” Weiner continued. “That’s what keeps them young. Artists are creative and want to keep doing it, and as long as audiences keep coming, they’re going to keep going.” for as long as they can.
Marc Myers, music and arts contributor for the Wall Street Journal, notes that financial factors are also at stake for many stars.
Rob Weiner, a pop culture librarian at Texas Tech University, told Fox News Digital that for many performers, “Music is their life. It’s what they do. Dying slowly at home is not very appealing to most musicians.” (John Medina/Getty Images)
“A lot of classic rock artists and musicians have to go on tour,” he told Fox News Digital. “A lot of them have big bills to pay for multiple spouses, homes, and to cover health care costs. Albums are no longer making money because the music is being given away on streaming platforms.”
“Additionally, a lot of classic rock is out of sync with contemporary pop. As a result, most classic rock artists can’t fill large venues, which means they have to compete with a lot of smaller venues to get what they need. Those who can.” are selling their catalogs, but some of these lucrative deals require them to tour and maintain visibility and keep their catalog hits alive.”
Here are some stars who have recently faced health issues but still managed to bring their music to fans.
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Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi recently said he’s unsure when he’ll be able to tour again as he recovers from “major surgery” on his vocal cords. (Travis P. Ball Conference & Festival/SXSW via Getty Images)
Springsteen’s New Jersey-born rocker Jon Bon Jovi has a new album coming out, but his health is currently preventing him from touring.
Bon Jovi spoke to Boston radio station Mix 104.1 this month, saying, “I don’t know about touring. I’m looking forward to doing a tour next year, but I’m still recovering from major surgery.”
The “Livin’ on a Pray” singer went into more detail about his surgery during Hulu’s panel discussion of his new documentary series “Thank You, Good Night: The Bon Jovi Story” at the Television Critics Association in February.
He revealed that one of his vocal cords has “shrunken,” according to People.
Bon Jovi, who described one vocal cord as “thick as a thumb” and the other as “thick as a pinky,” said: “So the strong one pushed the weak one aside and I couldn’t sing well.” He added: “My career was taken away.”
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“However, and I say in the film and in the later episodes, if I get my tools back, I can handle the rest,” he said. “I can write you a song, I can play as good as anybody. But I need my tools back.”
Bon Jovi performed for the first time since surgery at the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute and honor concert in February.
Bon Jovi performed after surgery in February at the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute and honor concert. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
“Obviously, I’m humbled to be here and most proud that we’re here 40 years later… and we’re about to release our 18th album,” he told Fox News Digital at the event. “We’re so excited about it. The documentary, everything about celebrating the 40th anniversary.”
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The Airmen
Steven Tyler suffered a broken larynx last year and postponed his farewell tour for Aerosmith. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Janie’s Fund)
Aerosmith’s farewell tour, The Peace Out Tour, was set to begin in 2023 but was postponed until later this year due to lead singer Steven Tyler’s health issues.
The tour was set to begin in September, but Tyler suffered a broken larynx shortly after the run, forcing the band to postpone the show indefinitely.
In February, Tyler gave an update on his health while hosting the fifth annual Jam for Janie Grammy viewing party, which benefits his nonprofit Janie’s Fund.
“My throat is better, but it’s healing,” he told partygoers, per People.
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His daughter, Mia Tyler, told People that while her father is “much better,” he doesn’t always follow doctors’ orders.
“Sometimes he’s not allowed to talk, so I literally have to yell at him and say, ‘You can’t talk to me on the phone right now, just text,’” she said, adding that he talks to his phone instead of typing.
“You can’t shut him up, he can’t keep his mouth shut,” she joked, adding that he’s “very healthy.”
Tyler’s daughter, Mia Tyler, told People that her father didn’t always follow doctors’ orders to continue his treatment, joking, “You can’t shut up, he can’t shut up.” (Elyse Jankowski/Getty Images)
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Tyler’s bandmate Joe Perry told the Boston Globe in late December 2023 that the band was “sorry” to miss their New Year’s Eve show, adding, “[B]ut with any luck, we’ll be back late summer and fall of ’24.”
“Aerosmith songs take a lot of energy to sing night after night,” Weiner notes. “Tyler’s vocal style has never been easy.”
“It’s important for singers like Steven Tyler and Steve Perry to take care of their throats, because that’s what they make their money on,” he says.
He also points out that fans appreciate the dedication of bands and performers to performing.
“There are always naysayers who say these legacy artists should give it up. But people continue to see artists who are far below their best,” he says, adding, “Everyone has health issues, so I do too.” He thinks audiences can be forgiving (although not always, especially when tickets are purchased).”
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The Eagles and Steely Dan
Vince Gill, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Deacon Frey and Joe Walsh of the Eagles perform last September at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Eagles)
The Eagles and Steely Dan had been working on a farewell tour that was set to begin in 2023 but have faced serious difficulties and a tragic loss.
In March, Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard died after a brief illness. He had been a member of the band since 2008 and they last performed on January 20 in Phoenix.
In addition to his role as keyboardist, Beard was also a pianist, composer, producer and arranger.
As of now, both bands still have tour dates scheduled for late May in the UK. The Eagles will also perform a Jimmy Buffett tribute show at the Hollywood Bowl in April.
Steely Dan also ran into trouble early on in their October 2023 tour when frontman Donald Fagen was hospitalized. According to the Indianapolis star, Don Henley said onstage that Fagen was in the hospital but “the show must go on.”
Donald Fagen of Steely Dan performs in January after having to suspend the band’s joint tour with the Eagles last year. (Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Fagen was released shortly after his stay and the tour resumed.
Weiner explained that the “show must go on” mentality doesn’t mean either band is cold or callous.
“Some of these legacy acts don’t have original members, but they often have long-time members who have been with the group for years. Steely Dan is more of a studio band, and the public doesn’t know who they are. They just like the songs. The show must go on, and in the case of Steely Dan, I doubt the public will pay too much attention, except for the die-hard fans,” he said.
“Often, music acts have to add some ‘newer’ artists to their lineup to keep things fresh and on track,” he added. “A lot of legacy acts only have one or two original members, but people still want to hear the music.”
He cited examples like Killer Queen, who replaced the late Freddie Mercury with Adam Lambert, or U2, which replaced founding member Larry Mullen due to his ongoing health issues.
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The Rolling Stones
Ronnie Wood, Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards will embark on a 16-city tour in April. (David M. Benett/Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones announced their latest tour, for their 18th album, “Hackney Diamonds,” last year, sponsored by AARP, an organization “dedicated to empowering Americans aged 50 and over to choose how they live as they age.”
The band will play 16 cities across the United States and Canada, and AARP members will have access to a special pre-sale. The tour kicks off in Houston in April and ends in Santa Clara, California, in July.
Last year, in an interview with the BBC, Richards admitted that he had to change the way he played guitar after more than 60 years with the band, in part due to arthritis.
Keith Richards told the BBC last year that arthritis had affected his guitar playing but had not slowed him down. (Nelson Almeida/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s funny, I have no doubt about it, but I don’t feel any pain, it’s a benign thing,” Richards said. “I think if I slow down a little bit it’s probably because of age.”
“Also, I find it interesting that when I say, ‘I can’t do that anymore,’ the guitar shows me another way to do it. A finger moves into another space and a whole new door opens,” he continued.
“Keith Richards has also said that he would ‘rock around in his wheelchair’. That’s what musicians do,” Weiner said.
“Musicians are a unique breed. They tend to just go and go. They don’t or can’t do anything else. Something is keeping them past retirement age.”
