Ratdog’s lead guitarist, Mark Karan, posted this message on his web site last week:
A Message from MK
hey there groovy guys and groovy gals… it’s yr ol’ pal MK here with some less than stellar news. i will not be joining the boys on this july run thru the good ol’ USofA…
my MDs have decided that a lump i’ve had on my neck for quite some time may in fact be a bigger problem than they originally thought. they can’t say it’s cancer but they can’t say it isn’t either (all tests are negative so far but they are still quite concerned).
meanwhile, i have several wonderful healers that believe they can help me a lot with focused attention and hard work… so that’s what i’ll be doing for the next month. if all goes well… all good. otherwise it’s western style surgery and we’ll have to wait and see where the dust settles.
so get on out to the shows. they’ll be different and i’m sure they’ll be fun. if at all possible i plan on joining the boyz for a rockin’ good time on the august run.
much love to alla you boneheads!!!
mark karan
And this was posted on the Ratdog site:
As many of you know, RatDog’s sterling lead guitarist, Mark Karan, is experiencing a health problem.
Said Chief Dog Bob Weir, “The docs want to have a close look at our brother Mark over the next few weeks, and we’re gonna have to go with that. Our old friend Steve Kimock has graciously offered to cover for him for this tour, and so we’re thinking we should go with this. We’ll be in touch with Mark daily, and if his docs cut him loose, we’ll bring him out. The show must go on, I think, in everyone’s best interest. Here’s to Healing…â€
Steve chipped in. “First, I’d like to wish Mark a speedy recovery, and secondly, I’d like to thank Bob Weir & RatDog for this opportunity to serve our music, family, friends and community during Mark’s absence. Love is a service done. Gratefully, SK.”
Finally, we checked in with Mark. “I really appreciate all the love and good vibes I’ve received since announcing my need to take a ‘healing break.’ I’ll be very sorry to miss all these great summer shows this July, but I’ll be back ASAP and I’m sure my ol’ TOO-mate Senor Kimock will do his best to add something special to this run. Keep me in your prayers, and meantime…â€Hey, hey…come right away…come and join the party everyday.â€
Hmm, good thinking. See you down the road, Milwaukee first.
So let’s all keep a good thought for Mark’s health. I’ll pass along any news I hear.