In September 2024, Dead Daisies guitarist Doug Aldrich underwent surgery after being diagnosed with what he described as “treatable throat cancer.” In a new video interview posted on the Border City Rock Talk YouTube channel, the veteran rocker discussed his cancer journey, including details about his treatment and his current health status.
Aldrich, who turned 61 on February 19, recalled the anxiety he felt when he first learned of his diagnosis.
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“[W]hen I got the news that … it was definitely cancer, … I didn’t know what kind of cancer and how advanced it was,” he explained. “That’s the scary part … It was just a nerve-racking situation, because I’ve got kids. I’ve lived a great life, I’m super blessed and lucky, [and] if it’s my time, I’ll go, but I don’t wanna leave yet, because I’ve got to help my kids get through life a little bit.”
He continued, “It was definitely a setback mentally. And I just had to kind of go, ‘Look, I’m gonna leave it in God’s hands and just whatever it is, it is, and I’ll just deal with it my best I can.’”
Aldrich said his greatest fears were eased after his doctors looked at his tests.
He noted, “Once I met with the oncologist, he said, ‘Hey, this is very treatable. You’re gonna be fine. It’s gonna be a pain in the a–, but it’s very treatable.’” Aldrich added that his doctor told him he’d require surgery as well as radiation treatment.
More About Aldrich’s Treatment
Aldrich recalled that after finding out about what was needed to treat his cancer, “I thought, ‘Okay, the surgery is the worst part of it,’ but actually radiation is [the worst.] … Fortunately, I didn’t have to have chemo, so that was good.”
Regarding the surgery, Doug reported, “They took out my tonsil where [the cancer] was, and then they took out a bunch of lymph nodes [in my neck]. And the scar is pretty good, actually.”
Aldrich explained that the treatment didn’t affect his sense of smell, but he lost his sense of taste.
“On one side, for some reason, it … really [tasted] metallic,” he added. “I would gargle all day with salt water and baking soda, and that helped a bit with a lot of issues.”
Alrich also revealed that he “lost a bit of weight” while be treated.
His Current Cancer Status
Doug also reported that his latest blood test showed that no cancer was detected.
“[T]he bottom line is I got my blood test the other day and it’s zero, whereas prior to my surgery, it was 277, whatever that is,” he noted. “So that’s good. I’ve still got to get scanned on my full body to make sure there’s no organs that got anything in ’em, but I think I’m pretty good, you know. I’m hoping so.”
Aldrich Will Return to Touring with The Dead Daisies in March
Aldrich took a hiatus from touring with The Dead Daises because of his cancer operation and treatment. Doug’s former Whitesnake bandmate Reb Beach filled in for him during The Dead Daisies’ fall 2024 tour of Europe. Aldrich was a member of Whitesnake from 2003 to 2014.
Doug will rejoin the group for a short new European tour leg that kicks off March 5 in Breda, Netherlands. The trek runs through a March 16 concert in Berlin. The Dead Daisies also have a few European festival performances lined up in the summer.
New Music Plans for The Dead Daisies
The Dead Daisies’ latest studio album, Light ’Em Up, was released in September 2024. Meanwhile, the band already has recorded a new album, a collection of blues covers titled Looking for Trouble that’s due out soon.
An advance single from the album, a rendition of Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads,” will be released this Friday, February 28. A companion music video will premiere the same day.
In the Border City Rock Talk interview, Aldrich explained that The Dead Daisies’ version of “Crossroads” offered a fresh take on the blues classic.
“It’s not like we did the Cream version or the original version,” he maintained. “We did our own version. We ‘Daisified’ everything, and we’re really excited about it. It’s a lot of fun. And [singer] John [Corabi] … sounds great, the band’s cool, and we can’t wait for you guys to hear it.”
You can pre-save the digital single now.
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