Renowned frontman of legendary bands Queen, Free and Bad Company, Paul Rodgers, recently opened up about a harrowing health crisis that nearly robbed him of his ability to sing.
In an interview on “CBS Mornings,” the 73-year-old singer shared the details of his medical battle. Rodgers disclosed that he endured a staggering 11 minor strokes and two major strokes, one occurring in 2016 and another in October 2019. These events left him temporarily unable to communicate verbally.
Reflecting on those challenging times, Rodgers stated, “I couldn’t do anything, to be honest. I couldn’t speak. That was the 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?'”
As reported by BlabberMouth – To address the critical condition of his carotid artery clogged with plaque, which posed a severe threat to his vocal cords, Rodgers underwent an endarterectomy. During this procedure, a delicate operation involving neck incisions, the medical team cautiously navigated the proximity to his vocal cords. The risks were daunting, and they made it clear to Rodgers that there was a possibility he might not survive the operation.
“I couldn’t speak. That was the 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?'” Rodgers shared about the aftermath of the surgery.
In the arduous recovery that followed, it took Rodgers six months to regain his ability to play the guitar and sing. Each step of progress became a triumphant milestone for the determined artist. He recalled, “Each thing was a step forward. Each thing that I did was an achievement … ‘Oh, I can do this. I can sing.'”
Despite the daunting challenges, Paul Rodgers returned to the studio in Vancouver and embarked on the creation of his new album, “Midnight Rose,” a significant achievement and his first solo LP of fresh material in nearly a quarter-century.
A British icon who later gained Canadian citizenship, Rodgers, ranked No. 55 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Notably, he fronted QUEEN between 2004 and 2009, a period during which the band undertook two world tours and released “The Cosmos Rocks” album. Following this, Rodgers gracefully resumed his role in BAD COMPANY, a testament to his resilience and dedication to music. As the lead vocalist of Free, Bad Company, and The Firm during the ’70s and ’80s, Rodgers is credited with reportedly selling over 90 million records, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of rock music.
