Foreigner founding guitarist Mick Jones has revealed that he has been battling Parkinson's disease for the past few years. The legendary rocker revealed the state of his health in an open letter to his fans.
Jones is the only original member remaining in Foreigner, who are among this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees. In recent years, he has rarely performed with the band and has now revealed that it is his battle with Parkinson's disease that has kept him off the stage.
On Foreigner's social media pages, Jones wrote the following:
“Fans will have noticed that I haven't performed on stage with the band for some time. Several years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I want everyone to know that I'm okay. However, I have always liked to give my best when performing on stage and unfortunately, nowadays, I find that a bit difficult. I'm still very involved in the background with Foreigner and I'm still around. Parkinson's is a daily struggle; The important thing is to persevere and remember the wonderful career I have had in music. I thank all the fans who have supported Foreigner over the years and continue to attend our concerts. I want you to know that I appreciate your support; It always means a lot to me, but especially at this time in my life. -Mick Jones
Jones, who turned 79 in December, formed Foreigner in 1976 and has been the band's only constant member since. He has co-written most of her biggest hits, including “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” among others.
On recent Foreigner tours, Jones came out to sing a few songs each night, if at all. For the past 13 years, Bruce Watson has primarily played lead guitar in the band.
This year, Foreigner will embark on a co-headlining tour of North America with Styx. The summer excursion begins June 11 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and continues through August 28 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Foreigners also have several spring dates of their own before summer. Tickets for their upcoming shows are available here.
Get tickets for foreigners here
Despite taking a step back from acting, Jones remains an important member of Foreigner, making final business decisions and writing music for a possible long-awaited 2009 follow-up. I can't slow down.
Last year, bassist Jeff Pilson noted Billboard that Jones was working on new material with composer Marti Frederiksen. “There are a lot of things in different stages of completion,” she said. “We have things that go back a long time, so I think that could be something that's going to happen.”
Watch Mick Jones' open letter to fans in the Instagram post below.
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