At the age of 78 and with a myriad of health issues, Dick Dale is touring to stay alive. The legendary and influential surf rock guitarist literally cannot retire, because if he does, he will die.
As the Pittsburgh City Paper reports, when you buy a ticket to see the iconic guitarist in action, you’re not just paying to see a show, you’re helping Dale pay for the costly medical care keeping him alive.
“I can’t stop touring because I will die. Physically and literally, I will die,” Dale explained on the eve of a three-month, 25-city tour which will take him across the US from Denver to Boston and back home to California.
It’s an ambitious trek for a 78-year-old performer, particularly one who is battling renal failure, diabetes, and the aftereffects of two bouts with rectal cancer, but Dale has little choice.
“I have to raise $3,000 every month to pay for the medical supplies I need to stay alive, and that’s on top of the insurance that I pay for,” said Dale. The musician’s wife and caretaker, Lana, also suffers from multiple sclerosis.
A big chunk of Dale’s costs go to purchasing colostomy supplies, which he must constantly change or face excruciating pain. “The hospital says change your patch once a week,” he told the Pittsburgh City Paper.
“No! If you don’t change that patch two times a day, the fecal matter eats through your flesh and causes the nerves to rot and they turn black, and the pain is so excruciating that you can’t let anything touch it.”
“That has happened to me because I was following the orders of the hospital.” Dale is even in pain when he’s on stage. However, despite the tragic state of affairs, Dale insists he’s not interested in courting sympathy.
Instead, he’s trying to be open and honest about his situation in order to challenge and inspire others who may feel restricted or defeated by their own health issues or advanced age.
“I’ll talk about it onstage,” said Dale. “I’ll tell them, ‘I don’t want to see anybody complaining about anything because I’m up here jumping around like a dummy.’ …I was told 20 years ago that I wouldn’t live much longer, but here I am.”
“I believe our maker has kept Lana and I alive to give hope. We’re like Johnny Appleseed, crossing the country and sowing the seeds of survival.” According to the PCP, Lana wanted to cancel Dale’s current tour.
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He refused, saying he must work. For the money, but also for his fans who come out to see him after all these years. Dale said he’s not scared of dying, but is terrified of not living the life he wants to live.
Still, Dale’s story is a sobering and confronting one. While the idea of the ageing rocker conjures up images of acts like The Rolling Stones or Rod Stewart, Dale is just one of many classic acts who can’t leave the road behind.
Dale’s medical costs are particularly high and he simply can’t make that kind of money doing anything else except touring, but the story is similar for other artists who simply can’t retire, because bills need to be paid.
