During a recent interview on “The Classic Rock Podcast,” founding Saxon guitarist Graham Oliver revealed that he is battling Parkinson’s disease. Despite this, he says he is still determined to “keep going till [he] can’t.”
Oliver said the following:
“I was shocked at first. I mean, in ’76 I cut my finger off and [thought] I’d never play guitar again. When I was 59, I had a mini stroke and that paralyzed my left side and I thought I’d never play again. So I’ve overcome them, so I’ve got another battle on my hands. So I’ve done it three times. So it’ll be the third time lucky. It’s not gonna beat me as yet, so I’m just going to keep going till I can’t.”
He continued when asked if the disease has affected his guitar playing:
“Well, I’m on medication. I went to ‘jam night’ last week. I did a gig in Lancaster with OLIVER’S ARMY, which is the band that we’re using now. And I did really well, ’cause before I had to concentrate on my left hand to make it work properly whereas it was a lot like I was playing things that I hadn’t played for a couple of years. ‘Cause I’ve had these complaints since lockdown and thought it was a trapped nerve. I didn’t know what to put it down to. I just put it down to inactivity, bitter old age and arthritis or a trapped nerve. So it’s been slow. Hopefully medication is gonna keep it under control.”
[via Blabbermouth]
Metal Anarchy 
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