Paul Rodgers, who fronted Free and Bad Company, has opened up about his health battles, including three major strokes, and a recent operation on his carotid artery
Paul Rodgers, the iconic Free and Bad Company vocalist who performed alongside Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor after Freddie Mercury’s passing in 1991, has revealed he faced a 50/50 survival rate following major surgery.
The 75-year-old musician has endured three significant strokes in recent years, which he acknowledges were “hereditary.” The rehabilitation journey proved lengthy as he “lost the ability to comprehend certain things” and was forced to remaster fundamental skills like using cutlery, while requiring therapy to restore his speech and vocal capabilities.
Yet this ordeal was overshadowed by an operation on his carotid artery, which he described as “a major surgery with only a 50/50 chance of survival”. He explained: “I was completely on life support then, very strange to come back from because your circulation system has to relearn itself. But I’m doing very well now,” reports the Express.
“When they were wheeling me off to surgery, my wife said, ‘Now you better come back to me.’ She tells me that just after the operation I said that I had the option to leave this dimension, but thought, ‘I can’t do that, Cynthia will kill me. I can’t remember any of it, though,” he revealed to Forbes.
Paul’s wellbeing remains a concern, and on November 8 he was compelled to skip his own Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Taking to Instagram he wrote: “My hope was to be at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritise my health.
“I have no problem singing, it’s the stress of everything else. Thank you for understanding,” he wrote.
Chart-topping Canadian rocker Bryan Adams stepped in for him on the evening, performing alongside the band as they accepted the accolade.
Paul was being honoured at the Hall of Fame as a member of Bad Company, whom he fronted from 1973 until his departure in 1982 to dedicate more time to his family.
He later rejoined the group, famous for their 1975 smash Feel Like Making Love, from 1998 to 1999, 2001 to 2002, and 2008 to 2019.
In 2004 he teamed up with Brian May and Roger Taylor under the name Queen + Paul Rodgers.
He continued collaborating with the duo until 2009, during which period they embarked on extensive tours and released one studio album, The Cosmos Rocks.
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