Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers Reveals He Had 13 Strokes in the Past Few Years
The frontman of the band Bad Company, Paul Rodgers, has opened up about some serious health issues he has been facing in recent years. The 73-year-old has been with the band since the 1970s and has worked with other groups including Queen as well as pursued a solo career. The singer-songwriter admitted that he almost lost his voice, which would have effectively ended his long career.
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Rodgers revealed that he had 13 strokes, 11 were minor and two were major. The second major stroke almost killed him. He said, “I couldn’t do anything to be honest… I couldn’t speak. That was a very strange thing. You know, I’d prepare something in my mind and I’d say it, but that isn’t what came out. And I’d go, ‘What the heck did I just say?’”
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After his major strokes, he had a procedure called an endarterectomy in 2019, which had some serious risks. The procedure removed plaque buildup from blocked or narrowed arteries and the surgeon had to make an incision in his neck, near his vocal cords.
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Rodgers continued about the procedure, “They told me, they’re very clear, you may not come out of this alive. And I said, ‘Oh, well, that’s a plus, isn’t it?’ So, we’re like fingers crossed, you know. And when I woke up — I opened my eyes, I thought, ‘Oh! I’m still here.'”
Rodgers credits his recovery not only to his doctors but his wife, Cynthia. He said she was by his side through everything and always remained optimistic that he would make a full recovery. Luckily, he did and was able to release a new solo album recently called Midnight Rose. Be sure to check it out!