DC5's Mike Smith in Serious Condition

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 6:50 am

Mike Smith...Official Press Release - 09/16/03

Mike Smith, lead singer of the legendary 60's British rock group The Dave Clark Five, was admitted to a hospital in Cadiz, Spain on Saturday after suffering a spinal injury as a result of a fall at his home. His condition is deemed critical.

Smith, who resides in the south of Spain, has been transferred to a private hospital nearby that specializes in sports injuries, where he is under the care of his long-time London physician, Dr. Keith McKee, and a spinal specialist. Both doctors are cautiously optomistic.

It continues to be a bittersweet year for Smith, the man who Tom Petty calls "one of the best singers of the 60's." After receiving rave reviews from fans and press alike during his first US Tour in over three decades earlier this year, on June 1st, Mike's only son, Jamie, a 23 year old SCUBA instructor, died off the coast of Egypt while trying to rescue a lost group
of divers. In August, 2003, Smith again took to the US stages appearing at festivals and casinos in Las Vegas and the Mid-West.

"We're in the process of putting together a 2004 tour to mark the 40th Anniversary of the British Invasion," says Margo Lewis, Smith's agent at TCI in New York "and we have every confidence that Mike Smith will be a part of it."

Smith's recent US appearances included performances on Late Night With David Letterman and at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Good Luck Mike. I wish you a speedy recovery.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 7:33 am

Very sorry to hear that. Best wishes to Mike for a full recovery.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:12 am

He has an awesome voice and is too often overlooked. Best wishes to him.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 2:06 pm

The most recent reports that I have read from the UK are troubling and point to a poor prognosis. I hope they are wrong. It seems that Mike fell from a ladder while attempting to gain access to his own home, having been locked out. He has sustained a spinal cord injury that has resulted in some degree of paralysis.

360dave · Post by **360dave** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 4:03 pm

Peter....my father was trimming a tree and was on a ladder less than 6 feet off the ground. He lost his balance and his heel doubled under him and broke a vertabrae which damaged his spinal cord. Needless to say, his paralysis was total from the chest down. He lived a tortuous 10 more years.
From personal experience, it does not sound good for Mike.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 1:17 pm

Additonal new information regarding Mike Smith today.

Mike Smith, lead singer of the legendary 60's British rock group The DaveClark Five, underwent surgery in Spain on Monday to repair three broken vertebrae in his neck. Smith's injuries were sustained as a result of a recent fall at his home. According to doctors the operation was successful and Smith is resting comfortably.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 4:56 am

That's good news. Hope he does well. BTW Peter, can you tell us how Gerry Marsden is doing?

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:27 am

From the LIverpool Echo September 26, 2003

Gerry goes home and he is not alone
Sep 26 2003
By Jenny Watson Echo Reporter

MERSEYBEAT star Gerry Marsden has been released from hospital after major heart surgery.

The 61-year old musician is being cared for by his family and passing his time reading the hundreds of get well messages which flooded into his Wirral home.

Gerry had a triple heart bypass operation last Monday.

He was released from hospital yesterday and has been ordered to rest for three months.

Wife Pauline, 60, said: "This has put the boot on the other foot in our house - now my daughters and I have got to entertain Gerry.

"He is still in quite considerable pain and we have to treat him as though he is in still in hospital.

"We know his recovery will be a slow process as it was such a major operation but we know he will get better slowly but surely. We have been sent so many cards and flowers I don't know where to put them all."

Pauline remained at her husband's bedside during his eight-day stay in the Cardiothoracic centre in Broadgreen. Daughters Vicky, 23, and Yvette, 36, are also helping care for him.

Pauline added: "All Gerry's showbusiness friends have been phoning to see how he is doing, as well as family and fans, but at the moment he is not allowed to have visitors apart from immediate family.

"He has been so touched to know everyone in Liverpool has been thinking of him, and enjoyed reading all their best wishes printed in the ECHO."

Gerry, of Gerry and the Pacmakers, underwent surgery after routine medical tests revealed he needed the operation to prevent a future heart attack.

Surgery took place less than a week after his last engagement - a Philharmonic Hall gig to mark the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack.

dougwurzler · Post by **dougwurzler** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 12:30 pm

Sorry to hear this about Mike Smith, Glad-all-over to hear he's doing better....Boy, try finding a DC5 CD, almost impossible. Remember seeing the DC5 live in Texas, they had some great songs, too bad you can't find them anymore on cassette or CD.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 5:33 am

I haven't tried to find a DC5 CD, but the news that they are hard to find is odd, considering what an astute businessman Dave Clark is. If I understand correctly, he owns the rights to a lot of '60's music shows, as well as DC5 stuff. I hear he figured way back when there'd be gold in them thar hills.

BTW, on a weekly British Invasion radio program here, they of course play DC5, and Smith's voice still sounds awesome. He could have sung in any era/genre of rock, IMHO.

dougp · Post by **dougp** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 9:56 am

There was an excellent double-CD retrospective about 10 years ago, approved by mr. Clark, but it may be out-of-print now.