# Dick Dale touring... to stay alive **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163 "2015-08-06T15:58:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/1 "2015-08-06T15:58:33Z")
[Dick Dale Is In Very Rough Shape, But Keeps Touring To Afford Medical Treatment](http://www.stereogum.com/1820777/dick-dale-is-in-very-rough-shape-but-keeps-touring-to-afford-medical-treatment/news/?utm_source=share-fb&utm_medium=button) > [@](#): > > “I can’t stop touring because I will die,” Dale says. “Physically and literally, I will die. 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 … Sure, I’d love to stay home and build ships in a bottle and spend time with my wife in Hawaii, but I have to perform to save my life. I’ve been living like this for the past 15 years, but I’m still here and opening my eyes each morning.” > > \ > > According to Dale, he intends to go out “on stage in an explosion of body parts.” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/2 "2015-08-06T16:08:13Z")
That’s a shame. Things sound rough: > [@](#): > > He’s had rectal cancer twice, had parts of his stomach and intestines removed, and thus wears a colostomy bag under his clothes at all times. He’s currently in renal failure and refuses to go on dialysis. He has diabetes. And he suffers from vertebrae so damaged “that every time I stand up it’s like a double-edge sword going into my spine,” as he told the Pittsburgh City Paper in a new interview. I’m glad he is able to keep touring, and he sounds like he does get some enjoyment out of it. But it’s a shame that he has to in order to stay alive. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/3 "2015-08-06T16:16:09Z")
Didn’t know he was still around. It’s a shame he hasn’t received aid from the many musicians who benefited from the style he pioneered. I loved surfing music growing up in the 60s. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/4 "2015-08-06T16:17:40Z")
Damn, that’s horrible. Sadly, he doesn’t seem to have any merch for sale, or any obvious way to donate to him. So, going and seeing him play seems to be the only way to help. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/5 "2015-08-06T16:22:34Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > That’s a shame. Things sound rough: Yeah, he’d been in my Celebrity Death Pool every time I played. I wish I could see him play. I love his music. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/6 "2015-08-06T16:37:10Z")
\*According to Dale, he intends to go out “on stage in an explosion of body parts.” \* Ah, a tournado. What a tough bastard. I’ve great memories associated with so many of his songs. If he tours around here, we’re going! ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/7 "2015-08-06T17:23:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Didn’t know he was still around. It’s a shame he hasn’t received aid from the many musicians who benefited from the style he pioneered. I loved surfing music growing up in the 60s. This story has gone viral the last few days so hopefully they will. I hope someone can get some crowd-sourcing going. This is terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/8 "2015-08-06T17:29:59Z")
If only there was some sort of health care system that could be implemented in this country to keep things like this from happening… I saw Dick Dale in 2002 at The Chukker (unfortunately now closed) in Tuscaloosa, AL. He put on a hell of a show. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-dale-touring-to-stay-alive/727163/9 "2015-08-06T17:41:32Z")
Isn’t he old enough for Medicare? I realize they don’t pay for everything. I went to see him about 20 years ago with an old roommate, and she embarrassed the hell out of me by bowing down to him while he played. :o :smack: