Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready announced today that he is suffering from Crohn's disease. He admitted he's suffered from the debilitating stomach ailment for the past 15 years, and decided to do so after witnessing the strength of a young teenager who'd suffered through 6 surgeries and still had a long way to go.
During his speech, the artist related a particularly embarrassing incident to demonstrate how Crohn's can strike at any time.
"Playing onstage, I'm always aware of where the bathrooms are," he admits. "When Crohn's hits, I have to run, or it won't be pretty. It happened when we opened up for the Rolling Stones in 1997 in Oakland.
"It was our first show with them," McCready continues. "Five minutes before we went on, I went up to (Pearl Jam frontman) Eddie (Vedder) and I said, 'Look man, can we play 'Sometimes'? — which is a slower song that I'm not really on. I was in pain. I went running offstage looking for a bathroom, and there wasn't one. Then, all of a sudden, there was one. It was a honeybucket. I heard my band play that song from inside a portable toilet!"
McCready is on three medications currently and reports that the disease is in remission.
Pearl Jam return to the road this week in support of their newest release, Riot Act.
Article comments
1 - John Adams
Sounds like a terrible thing to have. Godspeed to him in his recovery.
2 - mike
That really is too bad; I'm hoping they can play forever! Hang in there, Jeff!
3 - mike
That really is too bad; I'm hoping they can play forever! Hang in there, Mike!
4 - Eric Olsen
Much PJ in the news lately, all the best to Mike.
5 - Catherine
I too have Crohn's and often wonder if while teaching one of my 5 classes during the day if I am going to have to write myself a hall pass :)
6 - rhiannon
Mike McCready, you're the best guitar player in the world. Keep on kickin A**
WE LOVE YOU!!!
7 - emily
what is the coulour of crohns disease ribbion
8 - Julie Richards
Believe me it can STRIKE anytime or anywhere.It has been soo embarrassing, but thats life.You sure learn where every restroom is when in a new enviroment.I always wondered if the crohns support meetings met in restrooms???LOL
9 - Frank
I have a very close friend with Chron's. In February she had to have her entire large intestine removed, along with ten inches of small intestine. This means she now has a colostomy bag.