harmonicanick
646 posts
Mar 03, 2010
9:44 AM
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Just been reading about Paul Butterfield's life and he died aged 45.
He suffered from ill health for most of his adult life from aggravated stomach hernias bought on by his powerful harmonica playing.
I was not aware that harp playing could cause a rupture of the stomach lining, but I suppose it makes sense, after all hernias are caused by physical strain.
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jonsparrow
2479 posts
Mar 03, 2010
9:52 AM
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i believe it. i had a hernia from lifting stuff at work, an for a few weeks play harp really bothered it. still hurts but not so much that it bothers me when i play.
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The7thDave
55 posts
Mar 03, 2010
10:16 AM
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Nick: where did you read this?
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congaron
612 posts
Mar 03, 2010
10:19 AM
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Sounds misdiagnosed.
maybe stomach hernias aggrevated by his powerful harp playing, but not brought on by it.
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Maciekdraheim
60 posts
Mar 03, 2010
10:21 AM
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I also had a stomach hernia. I had a few months break in playing due to the surgery. I still don't know if it was connetced with harping or physical excersises.
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harmonicanick
647 posts
Mar 03, 2010
10:53 AM
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My reference is The Guiness Encyclopedia of Popular Music Volume 1 - Edited by Colin Larkin first published 1992 and in the US by New England publishing
There is 4 volumes, and each one weighs heavy, fascinating stuff.
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bluemoose
131 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:04 AM
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Mike Stevens, a Canadian blue grass harp player, has had 7 hernias from playing hard and fast.
I have a hiatus hernia (sphincter at top of stomach) that causes acid reflux problems if I don't keep it under control with medication. Don't know if it was caused by lifestyle, heredity or harp playing.
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Delta Dirt
129 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:07 AM
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Paul had a few bad habits (addictions)that brought on sicknesses.Like saying Elvis died of a heart attack. True in one regard but not totally. Opiate addiction is pure hell to kick.
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nacoran
1304 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:08 AM
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Where's BBQ? Oh OK, I'll do it. Play softer!
:)
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Nate
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harmonicanick
648 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:14 AM
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@nacoran
nice timing mate lol
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Kingley
966 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:25 AM
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Sadly addiction seems to go hand in hand with musicians. So many of the greats had/have problems with drink, drugs or both. Not to mention personality disorders of one sort or another.
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burrh
1 post
Mar 03, 2010
11:29 AM
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Hi guys.
I'm an intermediate player and don't claim to have the answers about the harmonica. However, I was a gigging tuba and trombone player earlier in life and have a clear understanding of moving high pressure air and in large volumes. When playing in orchestras my closest friends were trumpet players whose high pressure can contribute to aneurysm.
I can't possibly see how playing harmonica, even at comically high volume or extreme air compression could approach what brass players use on a regular basis. It's a little instrument that can be easily overwhelmed with too much air. High compression on harmonica has diminishing returns as I experience it (correct me if this is wrong due to my inexperience).
Several concerts out of the many hundreds I played brought me to the edge of blacking out ( thanks to Wagner's whole notes and the key of Bmaj ) and the volume and compression of air used is massive compared to what I can conceive on a harmonica.
My take on this is that if you have an injury from something ELSE, then yes, it could be aggravated by powerful harp playing, but the idea that it can be caused that way seems far fetched lacking clearly repeatable conditions and their results.
my $.02
-burr
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harmonicanick
650 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:48 AM
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burr
you are probably right, it was probably lifting a big heavy amp that did it!
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jonsparrow
2483 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:52 AM
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"Not sure how they arrived at that diagnosis but I have heard/read that he died because his internal organs were damaged from years of drug abuse. Specifically herion. Damged to the point that they eventually started shutting down. "
thats gotta be a shitty way to die.
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ZackPomerleau
775 posts
Mar 03, 2010
11:55 AM
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Hernias may have been in his body, but as others said, Paul did lots of drugs and drank a whole lot in his life.
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