If there is any comfort in having an incurable, serious disease, for the Crohn's patient it may be the knowledge that at least it is usually not fatal. The life expectancy for Crohn's patients is almost the same as that of the normal population. One tragic exception to this rule was that of British musician Nicky Hopkins. He was perhaps the most talented rock pianist of the late 1960s to the early1990s.
Nicky Hopkins fought a life-long battle against severe Crohn's in an era when the about the only therapies available were diet, steroids, and surgery. His many bouts of severe illness meant that despite his enormous musical talent he could never join a rock band because his frequent hospitalizations precluded any touring or extended recording stints. Thus, he became everyone's favorite piano sideman - an enormously talented guy brought in to play on a song or two on someone else's hit album.
He played on various records by many groups and performers including the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Who, the Beatles, the Steve Miller Band, Jefferson Airplane, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, The Hollies, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Harry Nilsson, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Jerry Garcia, Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, Badfinger, Graham Parker, Gary Moore, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Donovan.
Nicky Hopkins died in 1994 at age 50 of complications of Crohn's disease.
For small sample of the talent of Nicky Hopkins try this song by the Rolling Stones:
Nicky Hopkins fought a life-long battle against severe Crohn's in an era when the about the only therapies available were diet, steroids, and surgery. His many bouts of severe illness meant that despite his enormous musical talent he could never join a rock band because his frequent hospitalizations precluded any touring or extended recording stints. Thus, he became everyone's favorite piano sideman - an enormously talented guy brought in to play on a song or two on someone else's hit album.
He played on various records by many groups and performers including the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, the Who, the Beatles, the Steve Miller Band, Jefferson Airplane, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, The Hollies, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Harry Nilsson, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Jerry Garcia, Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, Badfinger, Graham Parker, Gary Moore, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Donovan.
Nicky Hopkins died in 1994 at age 50 of complications of Crohn's disease.
For small sample of the talent of Nicky Hopkins try this song by the Rolling Stones:
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