Fifty years ago on this day, Ringo Starr was forced to take a 12 days absence from The Beatles (allowing Jimmy Nicol a brief gig and a lifelong pickup line) to undergo a medical procedure. The culprit? Tonsillitis. Starr's predicament might not have been as dire due to his duty as a drummer (not primary vocalist) but the condition, which causes the swelling of the tonsils, has struck many a performer. Some examples:
Bennie Moten
If you ever scoff at the danger of such a condition as tonsillitis: A) Look at the picture provided on Wikipedia and B) don't forget about Bennie Moten. The big band leader and pianist died at the age of 40 after a botched tonsillectomy. So...we suppose the jazz legend died of medical malpractice more so than the condition itself. You should probably still see a doctor about it...we promise the medical procedures have come lightyears since 1935. We swear. The good news is that Count Basie picked up most of Moten's members and started his own iconic career.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was serving in the military during 1959 when he came under the weather. Doctors diagnosed tonsillitis and suggested that the vocalist, then the biggest performer in the universe, have his tonsils removed. Presley, already more trustworthy than most modern performers in his pleasant acceptance of military duty, agreed. The problem was that no doctor nearby wanted to risk operating on the star, fearing that malpractice would leave him without his golden voice, and either a lawsuit or an an angry fan could ruin any medical career and/or life. They gave him penicillin instead and fortunately everything worked out.
Josh Groban
You know Josh Groban, the guy who always comes on the radio and steals the attention of your girlfriend right before you try to do something Christmasy/romantic? Yeah, his career was nearly cut short by tonsillitis around 2002. He was only 21 at the time and a regime of heavy touring coupled with some exotic stops left the vocalist with progressively worsening throat pain. A throat specialist referred to Groban's pipes as "in shreds" and suggested having his tonsils removed. Groban underwent the surgery with no lasting effect to his voice, thankfully. He called his first drink after the surgery, apple juice, as "the most painful thing I ever experienced in my life."
Demi Lovato
Many performers suffer frequent bouts of tonsillitis but try other methods of dealing with it out fear that it might affect their vocal abilities post-surgery (Leona Lewis is an example that comes to mind). Demi Lovato decided that it was worth the risk after so many sore throats and turned her announcement into a virtual media tour, stopping on multiple shows to discuss the procedure she was about to undergo. Although we rolled our eyes at her bordering-on-death approach, we stared in earnest when she said she would go through her recovery process without painkillers. As Groban said after his surgery "vicodin can do amazing things." Lovato preferred the, and we quote, "I'm a boss" approach.
Perrie Edwards
Many a One Direction fan wouldn't mind if Little Mix member Perrie Edwards were to pass on (if she died, then Zayn Malik wouldn't be able to marry her, would he?). Unfortunately for them, tonsillitis and its siblings such as strep throat would need some help to reach fatal levels. And Edwards opted to skip out on a few Mix gigs a few years back in order to have her tonsils removed. She summed it up simply and accurately: "Getting your tonsils taken out sucks! #SORE."
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