Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada’s The Metal Voice conducted a live stream with Steve and Millie Grimmett in Swindon, England at Riff’s Bar on April 1 2017 where there was a Charity benefit concert for the Grimmetts to help pay their health and recovery costs. The Metal Voice was also joined by Youtuber guest Razor Fist (The Rageaholic)
Watch the streaming here:
When asked how Steve Grimmett’s recovery was coming along (11:50 mark)
“It’s going really good, I’m in training now getting my new leg (prosthetic), which I should have in about 4 weeks time. Then I can only put it on and take it off until I go to the Swindon hospital, where I am having my therapy and they will teach me how to walk. I know that is not easy and I know there is a lot of pain involved, I’m up for that, let’s get going. I’m still living on the ground floor at my house cause I can’t get up the stairs but that’s ok. I’m waiting for a company to install a chair lift and they make doors and bathroom wider so I can take a shower cause I haven’t had a shower since this happened, I fucken stink (laughs) I do wash.”
When asked when Steve would be returning to the stage for his first performance (14:20)
“We got a show in the middle of July 2017, in Germany at the Bang you head Festival, we are going to play whatever happens cause we have committed to it now but my team thinks that they can get me ready for that, which would be fantastic if not I will do it in a wheelchair. ”
When asked if Grim Reaper will be releasing a live album anytime soon (15:47)
“I do have a live album in the can, I got it ready to mix, I may start on that in a couple of months time, mix it and get it out (last tour of the United States).”
When asked about a new album and a new book (18:56)
“Ian Nash (guitar) and I, in the next couple of weeks are going to start the new album. I’m writing a book too that has taken a little bit of my time and it won’t be a normal sex drugs and rock and roll. It will be about this experience and some sex drugs and rock and roll (laughs). It’s going to be about losing of the leg and telling diabetics to shape up cause this could happen to them too.”
Live Stream tomorrow, April 1st, at 1pm EST (6pm GMT, 7pm CET) with Steve & Millie Grimmett at their home before leaving to Riff’s Bar in Swindon where there will be an all day Fundraiser show to aid with recovery and medical costs for the Grimmetts.
Host Jimmy Kay, Alan Dixon and Guest Razor Fist from Metal Mythos
PLUS REAPER ALL Stars Songs Update
Riff’s Bar Fundrasier Bands included are Toledo Steel, Dealer, The Darker My Horizon, King Fiction,Twisted State Of Mind, Mike Guerrero, Sound Bites, Fist Full of Foozy and many more.
Canada’s The Metal Voice recently streamed a REAPER-A-THON to help raise funds for Steve Grimmett‘s (Grim Reaper) medical and Recovery costs, as he and his Millie are stuck in Ecuador waiting for a green light from Doctors to fly back to the UK.
In the video stream Tony Dolan (Venom Inc) updated The Metal Voice about his initiative to re-record Grim Reaper songs with an All Star metal cast to raise funds for Grimmett. Dolan made two announcements, first they have chosen the Grim Reaper songs ‘See you in hell’, ‘Fear no Evil’ and ‘The Show Must go’ as the relief songs. Second, Testament‘s front man Chuck Billy will be joining in the recordings.
Dolan said,“there were quite a few choices we could make but once I asked the artists, everyone wanted to do SEE YOU IN HELL, it’s a classic and FEAR NO EVIL, THE SHOW MUST GO ON will also be included because that is what the man (Steve Grimmett) is going to do and that is what he is still doing being in Ecuador with a leg amputated, he is positive. We will put it out as a 7 inch as well as digital downloads.”
Millie Grimmett then gave The Metal Voice an update on Steve’s health,“Steve had another operation this morning (5th) which the open wound was stitched up and it went well, doctors are really pleased he is in recovery at the moment the countdown to come home will start today.”
The Reaper All-Star include Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus) Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Doro Pesch, Lips (Anvil), Neil Turbin (Deathriders), Tony Dolan (Venom Inc), Ross The Boss (Manowar), Jonas Hornqvist (Bleed the Hunger), Sy Keeler (Onslaught), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), Marta Gabriel (Crystal Viper), Blaze Bayley (ex Iron Maiden), Nick Bowcott (ex-Grim Reaper), John Gallagher (Raven), Mantas (Venom inc), Joe Cangelosi (Whiplash, Kreator) Chuck Billy (Testament). The songs will be produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Anvil Producer )
Steve Grimmett has been hospitalized in Ecuador since mid-January; the singer was amidst a tour in support of GRIM REAPER’s latest album, Walking In The Shadows. Millie Grimmett has been updating fans around the globe of the singer’s condition. Grimmett has endured multiple operations that have resulted in the near complete loss of his right leg.
The Metal Voice also asked John Gallagher for any updates on Raven he said, the band has new management with EMP. David Ellfson (Megadeth) as well as the band going into the Studio to record a new album in Sept 2017. Gallagher said,“We’ve been writing fiends, I have at least 20 really good songs, going to be a kick ass new album which we will go in and record in September 2017, we are still planning out who we will be doing it with.”
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice streamed live into the hospital in Ecuador where Steve Grimmett ( singer Grim Reaper) and wife Millie Grimmett updated their fans on Steve’s medical condition. Also joining the show Tony Dolan (Venom Inc) and former singer of Anthrax Neil Turbin.
Two announcements were made during the show, the first a fundraising show in their hometown of Swindon, England on April 1 organized by Brian Keene at the Riff’s Bar
The second announcnemt was well known Metal Artist coming together to re-record a Grim Reaper Song to help raise funds towards Steve Grimmett. medical and recovery costs. Spearheaded by Tony Dolan aided by Neil Turbin (Ex Anthrax) and Sy Keeler (Onslaught). The contribution artists include Gary Holt (Slayer Exodus) Ripper Owens (ex Judas Priest), Doro Pesch, Lipps (Anvil), Neil Turbin (Deathriders), Sy Keeler (Onslaught), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), Nick Bowcott (Ex Grim Reaper), John Gallagher (Raven), Mantas (Venom) and more to be announced soon, the song will be produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest)
Millie Grimmett gave The Metal Voice a medical status update on Steve’s present condition, “He has had four operations now, yesterday he had an operation to clean the wound a bit more, open it up a bit, put a drain in there to stop any further infections. So far the infection has stabilized. They have not stitched the wound up it’s still open, they got a drain in there they are hoping it might help stop any infections. He can’t fly until ten days after a big operation, so the earliest he can fly is this Friday. You got the high altitude because of the pressure of the plane, you have the risks of blood clotting, bleeding again, wounds opening so we have to make sure he can actually survive the flight because in total it is 19 hours door to door and we have to get two planes, it’s a gruelling journey for everybody “
Mille went on, “I have a meeting with the Doctor tomorrow morning to discuss how he is doing and recovery and there is another treatment they can use, using oxygen. So we are hoping they might be able to do that over the next few days. which could speed up the process of recovery. the donations have helped the both of us. Now I am here Steve has perked up a bit and it makes me feel a bot better to see him but we are still alone out here and we want to go home. “
Mille commented about the Hospital Staff, “They are very friendly, very nice, even though we both don’t speak the same language, we still have a laugh, making Steve laugh making him smile, they do what they can with what they got, they don’t have the same resources here. Steve said to me the other day that, last week he was in a ward downstairs and gentleman by him had heart failure and they didn’t have a defibrillator so unfortunately the gentleman died, they did all they could, they have done a great job with Steve.”
Lying on his hospital bed Steve Grimmett said a few words, I am very humbled I didn’t realize that I meant so much to other people, I got no words other than THANK YOU and when I am out on my new leg I’m going to come out and sing for a big party.”
Grimmett continued about finally being reunited with his wife. ” it was such a relief to have somebody that I could talk to, cause she is not only my wife, she’s my best friend, she’s my sole mate, it makes everything easier. I found that in this metal community of ours we have love and respect for each other and to be fair I’ve never met any assholes.”
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently conduced an interview with Millie Grimmett, Wife and manager of singer Steve Grimmett‘s Grim Reaper as she explained the tragedy in detail.
When asked about how the infection Steve had, led to the amputation of his leg
They were only ten days into the South American tour and of last week Steve was starting to feel unwell and he thought maybe it was altitude sickness, so they gave him some tablets and then Saturday at the gig he was still feeling very unwell and it went downhill quite quickly. Now there was somebody there who was a Doctor and I believe it was somebody who had to do with the support bands. The Doctor, took one look at Steve and it was like, no you are not right you have to go to the hospital.
Steve is type two diabetic, he injects insulin twice a day and he takes quite a bit of tablets as well. Previous to all this for nearly a year, Steve had a diabetic ulcer on his foot, it’s been treated here, with a nurse every week and really looking after it and he had no problems with it whatsoever and it was really healing very nicely before they went to South America. Steve got the ulcer checked out not long after he left, as he always does. Once he got on stage I think he knew it was his foot and it was this ulcer because he was struggling to stand and it was very sore and he was feeling very unwell, his blood sugars were all over the place and I think he knew then he had an infection and this was quite serious and the doctor who happened to be there would confirm that as well. Doctor said we really need to get you to a hospital, Steve was determined to do the gig, so Steve went on stage apparently he lasted about two and a half minutes and nearly passed out so instead of stopping the gig, he said just give me a chair. The crowd was very patient and Steve did the rest of the gig sitting down. Steve was determined to do some signing afterwords, he did that for an hour I believe and that was the point where people were saying enough is enough you got to go to the hospital.
So late Saturday night they took him into a hospital took one look at his foot and rushed him into surgery because they could see that he had a big hole where the ulcer was, they could see it was all infected. So they took him into surgery and basically cut his foot open because they needed to make sure they could scrap all the infection out. The had to remove a big chunk between the big toe and the toe next to it on his right foot and they bandaged it up. Monday morning they scanned him and they said I’m afraid we didn’t get all the infection we thought we did, we are going to have to take you back into the operation room again and you are going to lose a few toes. possible a foot worse case scenario. First thing Tuesday morning they did more test on him and they said we’ve got to get you in surgery now we can’t wait the infection has already spread form your toes to your knee on your right leg and if we don’t operate now you will lose your whole leg any more couple of hours you may lose your life.
Steve phoned me and he went through it all, he’s very upbeat about it and he said at the end of the day the doctors have saved my life, yes there is a part of me missing but we will get over it.
When asked if they had health travel insurance
Yes, we got travel insurance but they won’t pay. The final bill is $6000 American dollars. It’s though a bank they wont pay. It’s two things, one, something that already affects him the foot ulcer that got infected again, predetermined condition. And also they now no longer cover work that is public facing so if you have a job that has nothing to do with the public whatsoever and you never ever see them they may cover you but that is what insuracne companies are like over here they try everything not pay.
When asked how there lives will change
Our life is now completely different, totally different, we have got to change our house, the layout, we’ve got the change our cars, If he had his left leg he could drive an automatic car but its his right leg.
When asked if there will be a medical team on the plane when Steve will be flown home
No, this is what scares me, no there is no medical team, if the insurance was covered, the insurance was going to fly back Steve on a medical plane but because it’s not Steve is on the standard airplane and he will be in coach.
Just spoke to Steve. The airline wouldn’t let him on the plane today (even though the British Embassy and airline have been liaising constantly). So Steve is booked on a plane to fly home on Thursday and is going back to the hospital in the meantime. The rest of the band will be flying back on the next available flight, as they missed there’s, which means Steve will be on his own in the hospital, but he says he’s ok with that and the Embassy have promised they will look after him and get him back to the UK safely
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