Ailing musicians
In 1974, the 'BMJ' published a brief report of a delicate medical complaint afflicting regular players of the cello, dubbed cello scrotum. Sadly, it was a spoof. Baroness Murphy (Dr Elaine Murphy) owned up in 2009 when other papers started referencing the original study.
While cello scrotum may be fiction, there are many real conditions affecting musicians. Not surprisingly, hearing damage is an occupational hazard not just to those in rock bands but also classical performers situated close to loud instruments such as trombones.
The repeated movements many players have to make leave them at risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI). Guitarists, for example, are prone to carpal tunnel syndrome, when bones in the wrist begin to press on nerves at they pass through a channel (the carpal tunnel). Numbness, pins and needles, and pain can all ensue. Jonny Greenwood, guitarist with Radiohead, plays with a splint on his right wrist because of RSI.
The unusual posture needed to play many instruments can predispose to a variety of musculoskeletal complaints, leading to back pain or other local discomfort. Another common problem is spontaneous muscle contraction (focal dystonia), particularly in the fingers.
Allergic reactions or other skin disorders may arise where skin comes into contact with an instrument. These lead to instrument-specific conditions, such as 'fiddler's neck', 'flautist's chin' and 'guitar nipple'.
Brass players are at risk of abnormalities affecting their 'embouchure' (the complex arrangement of lips and other tissues at instruments' mouthpieces). Legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong suffered particularly badly because of his forceful playing style. The condition is known as 'Satchmo syndrome' in his honour.
Sometimes instrument playing can reveal underlying health problems. A 17-year-old trumpet player suffered transient ischaemic episodes ('mini-strokes') when playing, later found to be caused by a hole in his heart. Surgery corrected the heart defect and cured his symptoms.
Female musicians tend to be affected slightly more often then men, and string players more often than percussionists. Rest is the most common therapy and generally resolves musculoskeletal complaints. Involuntary muscle contractions are very difficult to treat and can end musical careers.
Like all performers, musicians can suffer performance anxiety about playing in public. At its worst, extreme stage fright can potentially end professional careers. Barbra Streisand did not perform in public for nearly 30 years because of stage fright, which may also have affected the brilliant but eccentric classical pianist Glenn Gould. XTC stopped touring in 1982 because of Andy Partridge's stage fright. Fortunately, a variety of psychotherapies are available for people with 'performance anxiety'.
Rock and pop
In popular music, touring can hazardous to health. Falling from the stage has injured several performers, including Ryan Adams and Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Stage diving or crowd surfing is a dangerous pastime (Jamie Reynolds of the Klaxons broke his leg doing it in 2007, while Mike Skinner of The Streets aggravated an old hernia in Cambridge in January 2009). Some performers run the risk of being pelted with objects such as bottles (or, in David Bowie's case, a lollipop).
More seriously, the 'rock and roll' lifestyle has claimed numerous lives, particularly due to drug overdose or the long-term effects of overindulgence. A recent study of more than 1000 rock and pop stars found that even after their period of fame, they were at substantially higher risk of dying than matched controls.
Perhaps the most unusual case, though, is the fate of country singer Johnny Cash. In 1983, he was kicked in the stomach by an ostrich. Unfortunately, a severe abdominal injury led to a dependence on pain-killers and a descent into addiction.
Related links
- A medical guide to the health problems facing musicians
- An esoteric compendium of notable rock star injuries