STRYPER's OZ FOX To Sit Out Rest Of Year While Recovering From Brain Surgery; HOWIE SIMON To Step In
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STRYPER guitarist Oz Fox is recovering "very well" five months after undergoing the first of his brain surgeries to treat one of the tumors that were found in his head three years ago.
The 60-year-old musician offered an update on his condition in a social media post earlier today. He wrote: "Hey there folks! I wanted to make a quick announcement letting you all know that my recovery is going very well from my first surgery.
"Thankfully, after about 3 months of recovery I was able to record with the band in June. The circumstances for that project were well conditioned for my limited abilities at the time and I'm happy to say it was a successful mission but not without it's challenges for me. With that in mind, after my next surgery to remove my acoustic neuroma behind the left ear my wife Annie and I feel it would be best for me to take the rest of the year off for some solid recovery time. Another big project is coming for STRYPER in January and I really would like to be in my best shape for the task. With all of that in mind, I have strongly encouraged my brothers in the band to continue with booked shows coming up in the next few months with our dear friend Howie Simon [JEFF SCOTT SOTO, GRAHAM BONNET] covering my duties. Howie is an amazing guitar player and vocalist and I trust him to fully 'out-shred' me for those up and coming dates! So I am trusting you all to welcome him with open arms so the band can continue to work in my absence.
"I will be updating everyone on my health status as things come up. And I thank you for your prayers and encouragement as I face another risky procedure. I know God will be with me like he was for the last one. I am thankful for everything he has pulled me through! Of course I will continue to be a part of our social media platforms including our patreon page where we all have our weekly hour Q& A sessions. So I hope to see you all there! Take care and we'll see you soon!"
Fox's tumors — one by his ear and the other in the back of his brain — were discovered when he suffered his first seizure in August 2018 while performing with SIN CITY SINNERS at Harrah's in Las Vegas. Over the past two and a half years, both tumors had grown and were posing a serious health risk to the guitarist, who turned 60 in June. Specifically, the tumor behind the ear, if it continued to grow, could have caused hearing loss, balance, vision and spinal problems, while the tumor in the back of Oz's brain was in the area where left side of his arms, hands and body operate. Removing it could have affected the upper left motor function and potential ability to recognize faces and objects.
Last October, Fox was briefly hospitalized after suffering another massive seizure. Within weeks of Fox's original August 2018 seizure, STRYPER toured Australia and Japan as a three-piece, and later recruited Simon to fill in while Fox was unable to go on the road.(Source: www.blabbermouth.net)
