Karl Sanders, vocalist/guitarist, etc. for Egyptian-obsessed technical death metal outfit Nile, underwent multilevel spinal fusion surgery this month. He has just checked in from that procedure, which he underwent on October 01st due to a combination of accrued injuries that included disc degeneration, a martial arts injury and as he put it, ‘decades of headbanging’.
His statement on the matter outlined his health ordeal as follows:
“Quick update for fans, students, and friends:
On October 1, I underwent multilevel spinal fusion surgery in my neck to address serious issues that had been getting progressively worse.
Disc degeneration, decades of headbanging, a martial arts injury 11 years ago, and a long stretch of stress have taken a toll on my health. I’d been dealing with pain from pressure on my spinal cord and nerves, but when I developed constant numbness in my right hand this year, I knew I couldn’t put it off. Scans showed severe narrowing around my spinal cord, along with signs of injury to the cord itself. My doctors made it clear that surgery was necessary. Without it, I was facing further permanent damage, including a very real risk of paralysis.
During the procedure, the damaged discs and bone pressing on my spinal cord were removed. Donor bone was placed between multiple vertebrae, which were secured with a metal plate and screws. So there’s officially a little more Metal in me now. \m/
The surgery went well, and I’m putting in the work on recovery. The neck and shoulder pain is easing, and my throat is healing. I’m walking 2–3 miles a day, doing Occupational Therapy for my right hand three times a week, following my doctor’s instructions, and playing LOTS of guitar.
Eight weeks to the day after surgery, I’ll be back on the road for our European tour. I’m looking forward to getting back out there. Making music is what I love, but it’s also how I make my living, and metal doesn’t come with paid medical leave.
I won’t be doing any more onstage headbanging, but that’s OK. I have done more than my share of headbanging during my career, and I am thankful that I can still actively tour and Make Metal for the fans.
Thanks and see you on tour soon!”
Sanders joins a lengthy list of acclaimed metal and rock musicians to have been forced into headbanging retirement due to injury and surgery. Slayer‘s Tom Araya, Megadeth‘s Dave Mustaine, Slipknot‘s Corey Taylor and more have preceded him.
Nile have been working on new material as of late, and recently shared the below tease of a demo review session:
