UPDATE 3:10 p.m.: Bad Brains have released a statement regarding Dr. Know. It reads:
“The Bad Brains family ask that you please keep Gary (Dr. Know) Miller in your thoughts and prayers. The family respectfully ask that their privacy be honored during this time and very much appreciate all the great energy that is being sent their way. Positive vibes and PMA!”
Our original post is below.
Word circulated online last night that Gary Miller, better known as Dr. Know, guitarist of hardcore punk legends Bad Brains, is allegedly hospitalized and currently on life support.
No one really knows what’s going on, but people are concerned.
The Dean Ween Group on Facebook posted the following message on Monday evening: “just got word that dr. know from bad brains (gary) is on life support in the hospital. pray for him, or at least smoke a huge spliff and keep him in your thoughts. one of my fave guitarists of the era–and always.”
Beyond that, there doesn’t seem to be any other confirmation anywhere else online, but other bands and musicians, including Living Colour, Lagwagon, and Mountain Goats, quickly expressed well-wishes for the 57-year-old Miller via social media.
And again, we’ll stress: Not much more information is currently known, and no one from the Bad Brains camp has made any sort of statement, either to confirm or deny the rumors.
In a private Facebook post that’s since been shared on Instagram by a member of P.O.D., Jimi Hazel of New York rock band 24/7 Spyz writes that Miller is currently “fighting for his life.” See his post below.
The Washington, D.C.-based Bad Brains formed in the late ’70s and were leaders in the city’s burgeoning hardcore punk scene in the next decade. Over nearly 40 years the band blended punk and reggae to become one of the most influential groups of their time. They’ve released nine studio albums, the first being 1982’s self-titled LP and the most recent being 2012’s Into the Future.
More to come as confirmed reports come in…
Sending positive healing vibrations, PMA and love to #DrKnow of #BADBRAINS
— Living Colour (@LivingColour) November 2, 2015
Dr Know is one of the most important players of heavy music ever. Love and gratitude and healing thoughts to him https://t.co/0XMxVLdp5T
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) November 3, 2015
Hoping the Bad Brains' Dr. Know is ok tonight..
— Salad Days Doc Film (@saladdazed) November 3, 2015
Please send all your Positive vibes and anything else you can to the great Dr Know of The Bad Brains so he can… https://t.co/3m5MfuP5OV
— Lagwagon (@lagwagon) November 3, 2015
A photo posted by Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.) (@officialmarcoscuriel) on