Bob Seger Offers Brief Health Update

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Bob Seger performing in Pittsburgh on September 28, 2017

Bob Seger offered today (March 28, 2018) the briefest of updates to his recovery from the “intense spinal surgery” he had last October. In a post on his Facebook page, his social media team wrote:

“Bob continues to progress with his recovery and physical therapy. Returning to the concert stage is now our number one priority. We want you to know that your patience and well wishes are greatly appreciated.”

Seger released his I Knew You When album on Nov. 17, 2017, his first studio release since 2014. He suspended his Runaway Train tour on Oct. 3 upon receiving his doctor’s orders to attend to an urgent medical issue concerning his vertebrae.

When Seger postponed a sole date—his Sept. 30 concert in Columbus, OH—it appeared to be a case of the 72-year-old classic rock legend perhaps having overextending himself on his arena tour. Not so.

On Oct. 23, the classic rock legend’s social media team offered a brief medical update via his Facebook page: “Bob is on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery on Friday [Oct. 20] to address the medical issue causing the postponement of his tour. According to his doctors the surgery ‘couldn’t have gone better.’ Bob wants to thank all his fans for the outpouring of well wishes and support. We hope to have news regarding dates for the tour soon.”

On Nov. 22, Seger revealed to his hometown Detroit Free Press about the procedure. As the paper’s Bob McCollum noted, Seger felt a “numb tingle” creep into his hands three weeks into the tour, which began Aug. 24. “Whoa, this is weird,” he quoted the musician.

It turns out Seger had a ruptured disc in his neck, leading to “intense spinal surgery. I’ve been singing real hard for 52 years. That’s a strain on the upper shoulders and neck. And I guess I finally just popped one out.”

He continued to perform. “I’ll take care of this after the tour,” he said, though the doctors warned him that if the numbness spread to his legs, he’d have to stop. It did and he had a cervical laminectomy on Oct. 20.

When he postponed the tour, Seger said: “I’m so disappointed to have to suspend the tour as the band is on a great roll. It’s a privilege to play for our amazing fans. Hoping to be back out on the road very soon.”

The Free Press noted: “Rescheduled dates are being mapped out for a coast to coast reboot of the tour this spring.” Tickets will be available here.

Watch the lyric video for the title track from I Knew You When, which was released on Feb. 9