Doug Aldrich—guitarist extraordinaire, former WHITESNAKE shredder, and current axe-slinger for THE DEAD DAISIES—has just conquered one of the biggest battles of his life: throat cancer. But if you think that was going to keep him down, think again! In a candid and inspiring interview, Aldrich shared the highs, lows, and everything in between from his grueling treatment and recovery.
The rock world held its breath when Aldrich announced his diagnosis late last year. A small lump on his neck turned out to be HPV 16 throat cancer, throwing him into an unexpected and terrifying journey. “I never thought I would get cancer,” he admitted. “I’ve always been super healthy… but once I got the news, it was a nerve-racking situation because I’ve got kids. I didn’t want to leave yet.”
After undergoing surgery to remove his tonsil and lymph nodes, Aldrich faced six weeks of brutal radiation. “It was a pain in the ass,” he said bluntly. “Losing my taste, the fatigue, the swelling—it was no joke. But I kept pushing through.” Despite it all, the legendary guitarist never lost sight of his passion: music.
Now, with his latest bloodwork showing a big fat ZERO on the cancer scale, Aldrich is feeling “blessed” and ready to get back on stage. “I’ve been playing a lot, hitting the gym, and getting my energy back,” he revealed. “I’m just excited to be alive and doing what I love.”
And fans won’t have to wait long to see him in action. The DEAD DAISIES are set to hit Europe next month, with a revamped setlist and the unmistakable fire of a man who just stared down the biggest challenge of his life.
Aldrich’s message to fans? “Take care of yourself, get checked, and never stop fighting.” Because if rock ‘n’ roll has taught us anything, it’s that legends never fade—they only come back stronger.
